St. Michael’s coach Dom Corrigan accepts that his side will go into Sunday’s MacRory Cup play-off away St. Mary’s Magherafelt at O’Donovan Rossas, Magherafelt (1pm) as underdogs but he feels that if he can get a massive performance from his charges then there is no reason why they cannot make it through to the last eight of the competition.

“This group of Magherafelt players have contested Rannafast, Brock and Corn na nÓg finals so they would have been one of the pre-tournament favourites and it is going to be a massive test for us. It is in their backyard as well which makes it even more difficult but we are primed and ready to give it our best shot,” he said.

Magherafelt are back-boned by seven Derry minor players while they can also call on Tyrone minor Adam Connolly and Antrim’s Liam Quinn.

Indeed, they carry a serious attacking threat and Corrigan states that St. Michael’s must curb this danger if they are to progress.

“We really have to stifle their forward division because they are really strong in attack. We have to stop them from opening up the way they have in some of their league games when they put up some massive scores,” he added.

Preparations have gone well for St. Michael’s with good challenge games against St. Gerald’s Castlebar, St. Patrick’s Maghera and St. Colman’s Newry.

Corrigan will be looking for strong performances from goalkeeper Cian Newman and Dara McQuaid and Ultan Kelm in the centre of the defence.

Captain Michael Óg McGarrigle and Shane McGullion will have important roles to play in the middle of the park while in attack the Fermanagh college will look to Lorcan McStravick, Tiarnan Bogue, James Garrity and Conall Quinn.

However, they will be without some key players with Pol McKervey having suffered a broken ankle while Eoghan Curran, Timmy Boyd and Ronan Quinn haven’t featured during the campaign due to injury.

Corrigan though is confident that if his side play to their potential then they are capable of springing an upset.

“We know it is going to be a massive challenge but it is one that we are really looking forward to. Knock-out football on any day, no matter what level, it is about performing and if we go down there and perform to the best of our ability then we have a good chance. The underdog tag sits nicely with us. We have been written off but that’s good. What I’m looking for is a massive performance from the boys and if we get that we can get that result,” he said.