By Shaun Casey

AFTER earning victory against Antrim on the opening day of the All-Ireland series, Derry are hoping to back up that win as they host Tipperary on Saturday, but Oak Leaf boss PJ O’Mullan knows his side will be up against it.

Tipperary won the Division One league title and picked up three first-round points last weekend with a three-point triumph over Munster foes Waterford.

Tipp posted 1-19 in the first round while Derry hit 3-17 against Antrim and both sides favour strong, attack-minded play so Saturday’s encounter could become a real shootout.

“We’ve got good forwards and they have very good forwards as well so we’re just going to go in and we’re going to have a go at it,” said O’Mullan. “We’ve got nothing to lose, we’re at home, we’re just going to have a cut at it and see where it gets us.

“If it gets us where we want to be, very good, if not, we’ll learn from it and move on to the following week, but we definitely are going to have a cut, because when you’re playing home games, you have to try and get something from them.

“We scored 3-17 and we’re happy with that result and happy with that performance. It’s a different ball game this weekend, we’re going in against one of the favourites for the All-Ireland, but we have to concentrate ourselves and try and get the best out of ourselves.

“We’ll be hoping that the result last weekend, that the girls will gain confidence. Hopefully they’ll take something from it, and they can go out this weekend and just play without fear.”

Although opening with a win, Derry aren’t at 100 per cent when it comes to playing personnel and O’Mullan said that the talent depth is being given a sturdy examination.

“We’ve got a couple of injuries but that’s the nature of the competition. You play for three weeks in a row, so your squad gets tested, but we have a good squad and if somebody’s injured, we bring somebody else in, and that’s just the way it is.

“We have a couple of big injuries now ahead of the weekend but hopefully by Saturday things will have improved a lot. A lot of them have been in seeing the physio, so hopefully we get positive news before the end of the week on the injury front.”

Derry will enjoy the comforts of home advantage in their next two outings, against Tipperary and Limerick, but O’Mullan explains that no matter where the games are played, Derry will come up against stiff competition.

“They’re all against teams that have been plying their trade in Division One. We’re looking forward to the challenge and we hope that the home support will cheer the girls on, they deserve it. They work hard and it’d be nice to see everybody there.”