Interview with Mickey Moran: The last vestige of the team that brought Sam Maguire back to the Derry in 1993 disappeared with Anthony Tohill's retirement last year. For manager Mickey Moran it signalled the ideal time to rebuild for the future. Gavin Cummiskey reports.

"They are a bunch of cubs but the major surgery had to be done at some stage," he says. "Anthony was one of the greatest footballers ever to wear a Derry jersey but it was his time to go. It was the end of an era. So, what better time to rebuild?

"We've been criticised for making too many changes but you have to sweep with a new broom sooner or later. I've no doubt it's a long road ahead."

The expectations levels are so low that they alleviate some of the pressure on Moran's young side in advance of their opening Ulster championship match with Tyrone on Sunday. Granted, a summer showdown of this magnitude in Clones is going to be a pressure cooker environment but it's the All-Ireland champions who are expected to deliver.

"We are going out to win," continued Moran. "But if we can perform well against them and continue that form and gain the essential experience then next year we can really concentrate on progressing."

The task is not impossible. Derry nearly caught the Red Hand cold last year in the provincial quarter-finals. An inability to close out the game, coupled with Tyrone's relentless drive, ensured another day out for both sides and Mickey Harte's men produced an overpowering performance in the replay to progress 0-17 to 1-5.

"You can't really read too much into that match," said Moran of the drawn encounter. "Tyrone fell into their team that day. Mickey Harte found his positions for his players. Now after winning the All-Ireland they have a new type of experience that will make them a much tougher proposition."

Undoubtedly true, but it is a damn sight harder to retain an Ulster championship title, never mind an All-Ireland, as Monaghan showed Armagh at this stage last year.

Nevertheless, Moran refused to be baited into admitting his side are anything but underdogs: "Armagh may have been All-Ireland champions last year but they had been going for five years, or so, at the highest level. This Tyrone side are still very young and still very fresh. They have not taken their foot off the pedal as you could see from the National League."

The league illustrated where both these sides are presently at in the general scheme of things. Dominance versus development. Despite the disruption to Tyrone's preparation this year due to the tragic death of Cormac McAnallen and continued absence of Peter Canavan, it still took an excellent performance from Galway to end their bid for three titles in succession.

Meanwhile, Derry had a poor campaign in Division Two B, where they will remain in 2005. Defeats to Wicklow and Tipperary in their final matches left them in the lower region of the table. They were some bright spots, including three wins over Louth, Waterford and Antrim.

"We were the top scorers in the league and never actually had a full squad for any of our away games," adds Moran.

The injury problems have cleared up and with players of the calibre of Paddy Bradley, Enda Muldoon and fit-again Johnny McBridge involved anything is possible in the white heat of one of Ulster's most ferocious battles. What better way to start a summer of football.