Company representative Gilligan, who shared in Ballinderry's All Ireland Club title success in 2002, hopes to take a decisive step towards achieving this by helping Derry to overcome Fermanagh in Saturday's Ulster semi-final at Healy Park, Omagh (6.00).

The Ulster Council's decision to stage the match on a Saturday evening initially caused mild surprise but the indications are that there will not be too many empty spaces in the stand or on the terraces.

Gilligan, a creative force in the Derry half-forward division as well as being a proven finisher, is playing down Derry's role as favourites to land the provincial crown.

"Yes, it's flattering surely but just because we maybe won the National League, some people seem to think that we will carry on and win the Ulster crown. But it's not going to be as straightforward as that. We are going in against a Fermanagh side that shocked Monaghan," maintains Gilligan.

It was in a torrid contest against Donegal at the start of this month that Derry announced their arrival on the Championship stage. They looked to be in danger in the first-half until the arrival of James Conway into the fray steadied their midfield after the break.

Now, with Fergal Doherty out of Saturday's semi-final after a four-week ban was imposed in view of his clash with Donegal's Rory Kavanagh, Gilligan believes that Derry's midfield will be under more pressure.

"As we have seen from the championship matches so far, midfield is a key area. We are maybe fortunate in that we have people like Joe Diver, James Conway and Enda Muldoon well capable of taking charge there although it's disappointing that Fergal Doherty is supended," says McGilligan.

Derry have to go back a full decade for their last Championship triumph and the feeling within the Oak Leaf county is that this is a protracted famine.

"Obviously we have had to look on as Armagh and Tyrone have dominated the Ulster scene but we now have a chance of maybe making it into the final. We are looking no further than Saturday's game. Fermanagh will have been very pumped up following that win over Monaghan - they certainly will have no qualms about facing us in Omagh," maintains Gilligan.

Derry manager Paddy Crozier, aware that his side have been thrust into pole position for the province's top honour, is at pains to stress that " four teams and not one" are in the race.

"When you look at the way results have been going in the country as a whole, you certainly would not even think of taking anything for granted. We will be going in with our eyes open, aware that Fermanagh not only showed consistent form during the National League but are demonstrating that they can reach a higher level," says Crozier.

Derry have a worry over experienced defender Sean Martin Lockhart - again. It is understood that he damaged a thigh muscle and may again miss an important match through injury. He was forced to pull out of the side at the eleventh hour for the clash with Donegal at Ballybofey because of 'flu.