GARY COLEMAN has been handed the hardest job in Gaelic football to mark Tyrone captain and sharp shooter Peter Canavan in the Ulster Championship semifinal at Clones on Sunday.

When the Derry team was finalised at training last night team boss Brian Mullins made just one change from the side which comfortably beat Armagh with Damien McCusker assuming the goalkeeper's berth from Johnny Kelly.

But Coleman, the Magherafelt postman who man marked Donegal danger man Tony Boyle so effectively in the National League final last month, and also looked accomplished in his new position against Armagh, is again given the full back posting.

The 23 year old defender had only played in the full back position on one occasion prior to the League final, but Mullins decision to utilise Coleman, a son of former manager Eamon, in the number three jersey has proven to be quite inspirational.

Sean Lockhardt and Johnny McGurk, who had been troubled by niggling injuries in recent days, have fully recovered and will fake their places in the half forward line. Dermot McNicholl, who missed Derry's first outing in the championship this season because of a wrist injury, has failed to win a place in the line up.

The Derry selectors also resisted the temptation to start Dermot Heaney, who was introduced as a substitute against Armagh. The substitutes bench for Sunday's showdown with the defending champ ions has yet to be finalised.

The vibes emanating from both Derry and Tyrone camps suggests two extremely focussed, teams. And Derry selector Frankie Kearney, for one, is, convinced preparations couldn't have gone any better for them.

"There is an air of determination to make up for last year's defeat," he admitted. "The lads will be going in with a very positive attitude."

Indeed, the Derry back room team has attempted to keep minds concentrated purely on, Sunday's big match, although. Kearney says the job is made that much easier by the players' experience. "Their minds are focussed on this match, and only this match," he said. "The amount of experience they have at this stage is a big help, though."

The bookmakers may have in.stalled Derry as All Ireland favourites along with Dublin as soon as the National League title was claimed, but the team management have ensured Derry feet stay firmly on the ground. "We tend to go with the old adage that you take one game at a time. To us, Sunday's match is like a final," said Kearney.

"I believe if we play to our capabilities we are going to win, and that's no disrespect to Tyrone. Things couldn't have gone better in our preparations and I certainly won't have any fears regarding fitness. The team has great reserves of stamina."

While the Limerick Clare game captured the country's imagination two weeks ago, there is a certain aura surrounding the Derry Tyrone clash as well. The derby element and the teams recent rivalry adds, to the occasion.

Kearney is well aware of the pressures. Because we are neighbours, there is certain to be a great cut and thrust in the game," he said. However, after some poor enough matches in the Ulster campaign to date, perhaps the supporters and neutrals are pinning their hopes on the northern giants to really kick start the entire football championship into life.

Clare's wing forward Gerry Killeen's fate will be decided at training tonight. A vacancy was left in the attack to enable Killeen undergo a fitness test on a knock he sustained in the Munster Championship semi final drawn encounter with Cork last Sunday.

However, Killeen is expected to be added to the team when he undergoes the test tonight as Clare, who have agreed to travel to Pairc Ui Chaoimh for the replay, attempt to dethrone the defending Munster champions.

And Cork captain Mark O'Connor has appealed to the county's supporters to get behind the team. "In Cusack Park last Sunday, our fans were outnumbered ten to one we would love Cork supporters to be present in large numbers for the replay.

Meanwhile, Donegal captain Noel Hegarty has received a two months suspension following an incident during a county championship match on June 2nd.

Hegarty, who led Donegal to the National Football League final, was sent off for an alleged incident with referee Austin Wallace during the Naomh Columba Red Hughs club match and the Donegal County Board has now imposed a two months ban on the player.

. A storming second half display by Tipperary, in Cashel clinched their place in the Munster minor hurling semi final, as they swept aside a disappointing Cork side to win by four points, 0-16 to 1-9.

Cork were the better team in the first half but wasted chances and should have led by more than 0-7 to 0-5 at the interval.