By Michael McMullan

SLEACHT Néill are reigning Ulster champions and have landed a 13th successive Derry title but Paul McCormack’s eyes are wide open ahead of Sunday.

The Emmet’s face Portaferry in a rematch of last year’s Ulster final. McCormack was present in Páirc Esler to run his eye over the four-in-a-row Down champions but his thoughts also come flooding back from last season.

Speaking at the Ulster Club launch, a day after the Down final, the Sleacht Néill boss lays his cards on the table. His words are calm and his points are clear.

“We’ve got work to do, there’s no doubt about it,” he said. “We came with a late run, a really good late run,” he said of victory over Portaferry in last year’s final.

“For us to do that again and have the same level of performance, that wouldn’t be good enough this year. We’ll be emphasising that to the players.”

After emerging from an epic semi-final with Cushendall, Sleacht Néill played second fiddle against Portaferry until goals from Sé McGuigan and Shéa Cassidy dug them out of a hole.

“With 15 minutes to go, that’s when we kicked in and showed our true qualities. Some of the skill level and the execution of our play really just kicked intto gear, but before that we were off it.

“Last year we were making excuses that it was the hangover from the Cushendall game and the emotion of that whole night but we have no excuses this year.

“We need to get to the pitch of the game straight away because these boys are coming hard for us,” he added, referring to Portaferry’s performance in the Down decider.

“They’ve added to their panel, they’re in good shape, they’ve a good brand of hurling and they can score from anywhere, so it’s going to be a real tight game coming.”

After the week in, week out nature of mixing football and hurling during the Derry championship, a controversial ending saw them lose out against Newbridge in the football semi-final.

“It was cruel on them,” McCormack of the football defeat. “It was really disappointing and I felt for them. They should have won the match and they didn’t.”

Players were given space to process defeat, nurse any knocks and mentally charge ahead of their Ulster hurling title defence.

“In some regards, it was needed for some men,” McCormack said of the two-week break. “Other men like that momentum and preparing week-to-week. That’s what they’re used to.

“We are looking ahead to the next game and delighted to be in that position. We’re still training. The lights are on and it’s a brilliant competition.

“We know it’s a real challenge from now. You just have to look at the papers, seeing all the county finals throughout the country. We’re one of them that’s still standing. We’re just brilliant again to be there.”