'We'll try the traditional route this time'

Ulster SFC semi-final: It was supposed to be the other way around. A high-tempo and bruising Ulster semi-final was to end with a brave young Donegal team headed off to the qualifiers. Having toppled Tyrone on day one, Derry were supposed to take this chance to muscle in on the duopoly of Ulster football.

But life rarely works out as planned and Donegal instead will attempt to end the domination of Tyrone and Armagh. Despite some bone-crunching hits from Derry, they were unable to maintain the pace of the Donegal athletes, who now get an opportunity to reclaim a provincial title for the first time since that magical year of 1992.

"Many of the pundits felt Donegal would be heading through the back door very early in the season," smiled manager Brian McIver afterwards. "I think the players decided, no, we'll try the traditional route this time."

So who would be the ideal opposition, Fermanagh or the three-in-a-row-chasing Armagh?

"If it's Fermanagh I'm in really big trouble with the family (McIver's in-laws hail from the Erne County). If it happens to be Armagh I'm in big trouble with my teaching colleagues, so you can't win."

Ah, Brian, that's where you are wrong. After overcoming the team that so convincingly beat Tyrone in Omagh, winning on July 9th is now a distinct possibility.

"We knew coming out here to face Derry on the back of their performance against Tyrone that we would have to play exceptionally well. But we did play exceptionally well. Good first half with the goal from Michael Doherty very crucial.

"Once we got that break and got on top I thought we worked some great scores and played some tremendous football. Karl Lacey coming up from corner back to kick a couple of scores. I don't want to pre-empt anything, but he was man of the match."

He went on to single out Neil Gallagher in midfield and the rising star that is Rory Kavanagh. Also a word for Paddy Campbell, who has now kept Benny Coulter and Paddy Bradley under wraps: "Outstanding."

"(They are) a very young Donegal side, but fair play to them, they grew up there today. Big time."

There is supposed to be a massive invisible gulf between Division One and Division Two, but both Division Two finalists have proved that to be somewhat overstated. The play-offs are actually a perfect fine-tuning process for championship.

"I said at the time, when the draw came out, that we were hopefully going to reach a national league semi-final or final to keep us up to scratch. The game with Westmeath and those two games with Louth really proved beneficial to us. Since that we've taken a lot of stick for defeat to Louth but the players didn't say a word - they just got on with it."

Derry manager Paddy Crozier kept his true thoughts to himself. He also maintained his dignity when questioned about the scenic route upon which Derry must yet again embark to save the season.

"We just failed to get to terms with a fast-running team. They were on top of us from the very start, in fairness, and once they got the goal we were chasing the ball thereafter. A hungrier Donegal team. What more can I say?"