The difference between Rathnew and Ballinderry? The Leinster village is a metropolis in comparison to the Derry club which is made up of players from about 300 families that exist in an almost notional townland close to Lough Neagh, about 10 miles south of Magherafelt.

The parish actually breaches the border into Co Tyrone and on this crossing point is home to the senior team manager, Brian McIver .

"It's not really a village at all. But we do have a few pubs. Sure it wouldn't do to have an Irish community without at least a few of those. But from what I hear, Rathnew is more of a self-contained village. We wouldn't be that big," he laughs.

Another difference. Ballinderry's progression to this Sunday's All-Ireland club semi-final has been painful and slow-coming. Twice they absorbed defeat at Bellaghy and last year watched as their rivals went on to take the Ulster club title. This year, they seemed to be heading for another defeat when the county final was turned on a goal from Declan Bateson. Since then, they have been living close to the edge.

"Very much so," McIver agrees. "Bellaghy would have been favourites to retain that title and even though we came through, we were very close to defeat against St Galls in the first round of Ulster. Again, we were dependent on a late goal, this time from Enda Muldoon and we were pleased to draw. I think that match made us aware of what exactly it was going to take to go on and the replay was very beneficial to us."

From that point their form has been irresistible against two resurgent clubs, Cavan Gaels and Mayobridge of Down, against whom they contested the Ulster final.

"They were two very good games. Against Cavan, we played in Clones on a beautiful day when the pitch was immaculate and just hit form. Both semi-finals were played there and the standard was high."

Another perfectly-timed Muldoon goal set Ballinderry up for a 1-10 to 1-07 win against Mayobridge after which they dismantled the London champions with little fuss. But once out of Ulster, they began studying Rathnew.

"All the replays in Leinster gave us plenty of opportunity to study the potential opposition there. What impressed about Rathnew was that even though at times in their two games against Na Fianna it looked as if the game was leaving them they hung in and turned it round.

"Their captain Trevor Doyle looked an extremely good player as did the Coffeys. And they have plenty of threats up front, with the likes of Ronan Coffey and Tommy Gill. They have come through a very tough draw in Leinster, you know." However, the likelihood is that the Ulster side will be expected to go through.

"That may be so. But my logic is that if Na Fianna were here, they would be favourites. Rathnew outplayed Na Fianna over two games so shouldn't they be expected to go on? I'm not being coy about the favourites tag, if you have it, you get on with it, but it is a point."

Win or lose, Ballinderry will remain a strong Ulster force. The minor side, Shamrocks, are also county champions, the third under-age title the club has taken in recent years. The senior side has reached the perfect blend of maturity and has fine honed the habit of winning awkward games. And there is little doubt the Leinster champions will prove thorny opposition.

"Their pedigree speaks for itself. You don't come out of Leinster unless you are a good team. I hope it is a good game, I think it will be. I suppose you are dependent on the weather at this time of year. A dry day would certainly suit us. But you take what you are given and I just hope we keep this going," says McIver.