‘We want to produce a performance to match our preparations’ - Flanagan

The Harps recorded only their second win in the competition when they defeated Cargin in Corrigan Park in the preliminary round just under two weeks ago and manager Sean Flanagan states that preparations have been going very well since then.

“We’re perfectly happy with how the run up to the game has gone. We feel that sessions are going well and we have concentrated on the things that we want to do in the game and feel that the lads are clear on what we want to do.

“We just now want to get that performance that will match how well they have prepared and I’ve every confidence that we will do that,” he said.

There is no doubt that the Harps will come into this Sunday’s clash at Brewster Park with added confidence following that win over the Antrim champions and Flanagan believes that it has given them greater belief.

“To win another Ulster Club game and to win one away from home was a good landmark for this group of players and you can see that there has been a good spring in their step since that.

“Also, you can just sense that it has just given us another bit of conviction and belief although they are a group of players who are probably strong in that department anyway,” he added.

Sunday’s encounter with Trillick will also be on familiar soil for the Harps who are very accustomed to playing at Brewster Park where they have a good record in recent years in championship games.

“We have played a lot in Brewster Park and personally I would feel that it should be worth a point or two. and the fact that we are familiar with the pitch is no bad thing,” he commented.

Flanagan is though more than aware of the size of the challenge that faces the Harps on Sunday afternoon.

Trillick came through a tough Tyrone championship to seal the title with wins over the likes of Dromore, Coalisland and Errigal Ciaran and it is going to take another step up from the Harps if they are to progress to the last four.

“They have a good mixture of mobility and power and have a lot of top level experience within the team.

“It is going to be a step up. Trillick are the top team in Tyrone and the fact that they have been contenders for the last four or five years is a clear indication of that.

“ I feel that both ourselves and Trillick are coming in perfectly primed and we are going to have to play better than we did against Cargin if we are to win the game,” he said.

Certainly, Trillick have quality in their ranks in the likes of the Donnellys, Mattie and Richie, and the Brennans, Rory and Lee. However, the Harps boss believes that his side cannot get too caught up in focusing on what their opponents will do.

“We respect all those players but while you respect them you have got to be careful that you don’t end up over focusing on your opponent to the detriment of what you are going to do in the game.

“You could tie yourself up in knots trying to solve problems that the opposition will give you instead of focusing on your own game.

“We are clear that they are good players but Trillick will know that we have five or six county standard footballers as well,” he stated.

When looking at their own game, Derrygonnelly will know that they cannot afford to waste too many scoring opportunities if they are to be on the right end of the scoreline at the finish.

“I think we will need the percentage of our scores to chances to be very good. Ulster Club games tend to be tight and you have to have those percentages pretty much on the money to win games,” said Flanagan.

He does though believe that it is tight going into the latter stages then his side will be in with a great chance of claiming the victory.

“The tighter the game means that we are in the contest and definitely with how well things have gone I think that if we are still there and if we keep it as competitive as we would like we think we can do a good enough job towards the end of the game,” he concluded.