Under normal circumstances, their All Ireland credentials would have been under the national spotlight but thanks to Ward and Tunnelgate, Clones is now third on today's GAA billing.

In terms of the chase for All Ireland glory though, this is the day's biggest match. After the drawn 2003 Ulster "nal, Mickey Harte said that if his team had lost, then so too was the All Ireland; a "rst All Ireland had to be won through the front door. The record shows the wisdom of that statement and while Donegal can claim their league title gives them the dispensation and con"dence to win the other national title through the back door, Harte had a league too when he said that. Donegal have to win Ulster, not just for the sake of winning an All Ireland but for the sake of winning Ulster itself.

So do Tyrone. John Allen told his players before last year's Munster "nal that if they lost, they'd then have won only two out of four Munsters.

"For a team of this talent, being 50 percenters isn't good enough."

Tyrone under Harte are in danger of becoming the 20 percenters.

Donegal look the more capable of winning, both today and the All Ireland. Brendan Devenney (right) will get "tter and has already shown good form this year. Stephen O'Neill cannot say the same. If Tyrone are to challenge for Sam, they need Owen Mulligan to have a summer like O'Neill had in '05 - and O'Neill to catch a wave like Mulligan did in '05, but what are the chances of that happening again? It is that very law of averages that tells us Tyrone will shade this. Colm McFadden's left foot will hardly be afforded the scope it enjoyed when these two met three years ago. The day Raymond Mulgrew announces his freakish, McGuigan-esque talent to the country is getting close. The last two games played were decided by a point. Similar margin today.

Verdict Tyrone.

DONEGAL P Durcan; N McGee, P Campbell, K Lacey; P McConigley, B Monaghan, B Dunnion; N Gallagher, K Cassidy; B Roper, C Bonner, R Kavanagh; C McFadden, B Devenney, M Hegarty TYRONE J Devine; R McMenamin, C McGinley, D Carlin; D Harte, C Gormley, P Jordan; K Hughes, S Cavanagh; B Dooher, R Mulgrew, E McGinley; C McCullagh, C Cavanagh, O Mulligan