Final expectations on Derry are 'madness' - Meenagh

Meenagh was interim boss when Derry won their last Ulster title in 2023 [Getty Images]

Derry manager Ciaran Meenagh says it is "madness" to install his side as favourite to reach this year's Ulster final.

The Oak Leafers open on Saturday against Antrim at Celtic Park [17:00 BST, live on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer, website & app] and are odds-on to advance into a semi-final against either Monaghan or Cavan.

Meenagh was at the helm on an interim basis when Derry last captured the Angle Celt Cup in 2023 and after a positive Division Two league campaign, they enter the provincial championship with raised expectations after a difficult few years.

However, the Derry boss is not buying into that and insists they can't look past this week's challenge.

"Monaghan have operated at a higher level than Derry for a long, long time; Cavan were more than a match for Derry in the last league game, a game that we just about won," Meenagh said.

"You look at Antrim last year against Armagh and they led by a point at half-time and after 45 minutes.

"It will be preparing to win one game and if you are lucky enough to win that game, it is about winning another game.

"What will help us is getting all our players on the pitch. If you look at the Derry team over the last two years, the reasons why it didn't go well, ultimately the management didn't have the full quota of players."

The sides met at the beginning of the year in the Dr McKenna Cup, a game won by Derry who pulled away in the second half.

The championship arena is a different proposition and with Antrim's new management team now settled into the role with the Saffrons winning their last four games in Division Four, Meenagh is not downplaying this week's task.

"You have to give everybody their due respect and I've a lot of respect for Mark [Doran], Paul Bradley, the McCanns [Mick and Eamon], I'd be a fool if I didn't.

"We played them in the McKenna Cup and both teams would have a good few players played that night. It'll be all focus on them.

"Winning's a habit and they've won four games in a row, so they go into the championship with a bit of momentum as well."