Earlier this year, Errigal Ciaran became the first Tyrone club to reach an All-Ireland SFC final, but next week they could be the first to exit the 2025 county championship.
The defending champions will open the series in a first round clash with Ardboe, and midfielder Eoin Kelly has admitted the pressure is palpable.
The loughshore men have been building steadily through the league with the big O’Neill Cup date in sharp focus, and they’re primed to cause a shock.
Read more: Barry Dillon says Ardboe striving for consistency ahead of tough Tyrone SFC opener
“They’re definitely a dangerous outfit. We played them down there in the league the night after the championship draw, and they put on an exhibition, and they were missing a few boys too,” said Kelly.
“They’re always a team that you have to be wary of, they have a lot of pace and youth mixed with experience, so it’s not an easy task.
“You need everyone there giving it their all, but you can have all the talent you want but if it’s not clicking together it’s no good to anybody.”
Tyrone’s annual festival of football begins on Thursday week, bringing with it all the jeopardy of the traditional straight knock-out format.
A huge crowd is expected at O’Neill Park in Dungannon for Errigal’s first defence of their county and provincial titles, with no second chances available for the losers.
“When you get a chance to get going in the Tyrone championship you have to take it. It’s do or die on the day, and when you’re there, you have to make the most of it.
“That’s’ why it is the best championship about. If you’re not on your game you pay the price and you have a long winter ahead of you, so you need to have your A game ready to go.
“It’s the best time of year, not just with your own game, but watching every other game. We’re the first game on the Thursday night, and after that, there’s a long weekend of football to look forward to.”
A highly competitive league has enabled Enda McGinley’s side to maintain momentum, and they’re still in contention for the Division One title, having reached the knock-out stage.
“We’re very happy with what we have there and everything is going well,” said Kelly.
“There were a few games that we weren’t too happy with, but we used the league to get up and going, especially with the way it’s set up, the league finishes up and you’re straight in to the championship.
“It’s about getting everything right and everything in motion, because you have to be ready to go once the championship is there.”
Errigal may be favourites to win the O’Neill Cup for a second successive year, but history has tacked the odds in a different direction.
No team has managed to retain the trophy since Carrickmore went back-to-back 20 years ago, eight different clubs having been crowned champions in the meantime.
“It’s a lot of noise, but we haven’t taken our eye off Ardboe. That’s our only focus and Ardboe is a team that can definitely catch you out, with all the talent and players that they have, so we’re no looking any further than that.
“Every team sets off at this stage in the exact same position, so it’s just about the team that can hit form at the right time and be ready to go from there.”
Kelly will play no part in this year’s championship, having suffered a season-ending cruciate injury in the early stages of a league game against Moortown last month.
“It was devastating, it took a few weeks to get over it, but that’s part of football unfortunately, that’s the way it works.
“You work all year preparing for the championship, and it’s unfortunate, but when it comes, you just have to accept it for what it is.”
