Hi °C | Lo °C Tyrone will go into tomorrow's Ulster Minor Football Championship tie against Down in Omagh (2.00pm) as hot favourites.
The dominance of both Omagh CBS and St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon in the colleges' sector ensures that Raymond Munroe's side will now be in pole position to book a semi-final meeting against either Cavan or Armagh.
The Academy won both the MacRory and Hogan Cups this year and in the process flashed out the message that the O'Neill county talent conveyor belt is still operating at full throttle. But manager Munroe, the former Tyrone senior player, is paying no heed to the predictions.
"No matter what championship match you face, you have to treat it as a potential banana skin. And that's the way we're looking at Down. This will help to keep us on our toes," raps Munroe.
But a platoon of talented young stars like Ryan Pickering, Kevin Mossey and Niall McKenna among others not only suggests that Tyrone can win tomorrow but can go on to claim the provincial honour to add to the Ulster Minor League crown they won following a replay victory over Meath in the decider.
Down tended to blow hot and cold in the Minor League although their cause was not helped as they were rarely at full strength.
On the other side of the draw, Monaghan and Derry are already through to what promises to be an interesting last four contest, the Farney county having overcome Fermanagh and Derry having outgunned Donegal last weekend at Ballybofey.
