Tyrone U20 manager Paul Devlin insists that Derry are favourites against the Ulster and All-Ireland champion Red Hands

Dalata Hotel Group Ulster Under 20 Football Championship: Derry v Tyrone (Owenbeg, April 23), Throw-in: 7.30pm

TYRONE will need to be clinical with every scoring opportunity they create at Owenbeg on Wednesday evening, where they put their provincial and All-Ireland U20 titles on the line in an Ulster semi-final against Derry.

That’s the view of manager Paul Devlin as he prepares his side to take on an opponent that has been performing with power and flair in the series.

“Tyrone against Derry is always nip and tuck, and it’s important that you’re taking those opportunities,” he said.

Read more:

• Tyrone U20s boss Paul Devlin turns focus to Derry after late surge sees off Armagh
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“We need to be very alert to everything that happens, and take our opportunities when they arise.

“We need to work really hard. No matter how hard you work, there’s still that wee bit more you can get out of yourself.

“As you go on through this competition, the games get tighter, the opposition gets tougher and better, so we have to get tougher and tighter and better as well.

“What we have done so far has got us over the line, but to go to that next stage, we have to step it up again.”

The Oak Leafers cruised through the group stage unbeaten with a string of slick displays, going straight through to the last four as table-toppers, while Tyrone had to contest a quarter-final after losing to Donegal.

“Derry have been going fantastically well, and we’re going to Owenbeg, so Derry will be hot favourites going into this game,” said Devlin.

“It’s a big challenge, but we’ll prepare and get ready for the game as best as possible.

“It’s a massive game for us, but it’s a game we’re more than capable of getting a result from too.

“At Owenbeg, everything is in their favour, so we will have to raise the bar big-time.”

Attacker Eoin McElholm starred for the Red Hands last week as they got past Armagh, just three days after playing for the seniors against Cavan.

And he faces another busy week, with the Ulster SFC semi-final clash with All-Ireland champions Armagh coming up at the weekend.

But Devlin insisted he is available for the U20s, and will line out against Derry this evening.

“Eoin is available to play for us, nothing has changed. He will be raring to go.

“Eoin McElholm was the last guy out of the changing room last Wednesday night, he was brushing the floors.

“They leave them the way we got them, and a couple of the lads did that, Liam Og Mossey and Lorcan McCullagh, it just shows the attitude of the lads, to leave the place the way we got it.”

Tyrone’s super-charged surge in the final quarter saw them sweep Armagh’s challenge aside last week, but it was a contest that provided the champions with valuable lessons that will stand to them as they take on the next challenge.

“You’re learning every day you go out, and until the day those boys quit playing football, they’ll be learning every day, and the day we quit coaching, we’ll be learning,” said the manager.

“Every day takes a different road, and if we all knew how a game was going to pan out, it would be a wonderful situation to be in.

“We have to give credit to the fellows, they kept the heads down, they knew things weren’t working for them, and they kept at it.”