When Ciaran Mullan was suddenly summonsed from the bench as early as the 22nd minute in Derry's Ulster semi-final win over Armagh he responded superbly to the task of repairing leaks in the defence.

Now the Coleraine clubman is poised to gain a starting place against Donegal in tomorrow's provincial final, conscious that he faces a much bigger task on this occasion.

Mullan's versatility - he can play in virtually any defensive role - affords manager John Brennan options that he may well require to exercise during the course of the actual game.

Mullan is one of several Coleraine players who have shot to prominence in the wake of the club's unexpected triumph in the Derry County Championship last year.

His Eoghan Rua colleague Barry McGoldrick will captain Derry tomorrow and Mullan himself is delighted to see the Coleraine influence so marked within the Oak Leaf team.

"It's great to see players from our club recognised at county level and I'm just delighted to be part of John Brennan's squad.

"The Ulster final is where you want to be as a player and this is a great opportunity for us to end the title drought that Derry has experienced in recent years," says Mullan.

Given his defensive capabilities, it is rather surprising to learn that his favourite position is corner-forward.

"But to be honest I haven't got the feet for that role," he smiles.

"I would be glad to play anywhere, though. Donegal have an excellent forward line and in Michael Murphy and Colm McFadden in particular they have big, strong players who know how to create and take scores."

While Donegal's victory over Derry in the National League earlier in the year was viewed as a setback by Mullan and the rest of the squad, he believes that the real test comes tomorrow.

"To be honest we made a lot of silly wee errors in that league game - me especially - but now we are getting the chance to show what we really can do.

"Everybody in Derry expects us to win and the fact that we will have good support is very encouraging," says Mullan.

His tenacious man-marking skills, coolness under pressure and precise passing should help to solidify the Derry rearguard again and his success with Coleraine has increased his own level of confidence.

"Obviously the loss of Eoin and Paddy Bradley is a major disappointment from our perspective but everyone is very positive and we feel we can more than do ourselves justice.

"We will certainly give it a good rattle," adds Mullan.