Ian O'Riordan talks to Tyrone joint manager Art McRory who is aiming to gain revenge for his side's defeat by Derry in last year's quarter-final

The first All-Ireland qualifier of the season with a distinctly Ulster flavour is set for Casement Park tomorrow evening and Tyrone joint manager Art McRory seems to be only half jesting when he suggests it will be the true Ulster football final.

It's not just that Tyrone and Derry need no introduction. Last year the sides were drawn together at the quarter-final stage and newly-crowned Ulster champions Tyrone were well beaten by Derry, a team they had already defeated in the provincial championship.

Tyrone recovered to win the National League, only to suffer an unexpected loss to Armagh in the Ulster championship first round. Derry fell victim to a rejuvenated Donegal but, no less than their opponents, feel they still have a say in this year's championship.

"Ay, it gives us the chance to set the record straight from last year," said McRory yesterday, again in only half jesting mood. "My first reaction when we drew Derry was that I would have preferred someone else. But I suppose we were due a good, hard type of game and we'll definitely get that now."

After all the hype surrounding Tyrone's league success few could have predicted that they would have taken the qualifier route from the start of the summer. But after first drawing with Armagh and then falling after a replay, they suddenly found themselves on the road to Wexford for round one.

McRory looks back on the game with Armagh and accepts that some complacency may have slipped in because of the ease with which Tyrone had won the league. But there's no denying either that Armagh deserved to progress.

"Well it's clear then, and even more so now, that Armagh are back to their best. They are a very real force again and they're not about to give anything away easily.

"We had a few problems for the replay in that we were missing Peter Canavan with injury. Though I was still very pleased with the way our lads performed. I mean we were still in that game until the last few minutes, before Armagh got their late goal. Though I was disappointed too when we conceded the goal before half-time."

So it was down the qualifying route, a journey McRory admits has been a step into the unknown: "Sure it's been a big learning experience. The games have been coming along frequently, which is nice, though I have to say the club football has suffered in the county in a big way.

"But I was disappointed too that less consideration was made in regard to the times of the games. The first game against Wexford was a 6.15 start and it meant that we didn't get home until 3.0 in the morning. And of course it was the same for the supporters.

"The game with Leitrim in Carrick-on-Shannon was a little better in that it started at 5.0 but it was still after midnight when we got home. But there've been some positives as well in that we've been able to utilise and try out more players, which may prove to be a good thing."

Up to now, however, the qualifying route has burnt the edges of Tyrone's championship picture. "I think it has reduced the anticipation, and certainly the expectation of the Tyrone public. But it's put a lot of people's feet on the ground again. I mean some of them were walking on air after the league result.

"Still I feel that whoever does come out on Saturday will be well set for a good crack at the next round. It's a big game for us and one we're really looking forward to."

And again, only half jesting, he says it's a game for Derry "as good as their All-Ireland final".