TYRONE’S Niall Sludden says their Ulster Championship clash with Derry on Sunday will be a “different story” from last year’s handy victory over the Oak Leafers.
In the rain, the Red Hands breezed to an 11-point win over their hosts, making it five wins on the trot over their neighbours in 2016.
Sludden, who made his Championship debut in the last year’s corresponding fixture, also feels that Tyrone are in a good place entering the Ulster series despite losing their last three League games [to Donegal, Mayo and Kerry].
Reflecting on the last 12 months, the Dromore man says: “It's been a blur, a quick year and getting into the team and playing a good role. But now it's back to square one; it's Derry again and we know it'll be a different story from last year.
“[This year] We’ve added a number of new players to the panel and made a good start to the League, though we didn't keep that going and lost a bit of consistency but I don't think we're in a bad place.
“We let the Mayo game slip. We had a number of chances and if we'd been a bit more clinical up front we should have taken that game.
“You get punished against the top teams and that's the difference at the end of the day if we want to take it to the next level.
“But we're very confident in our ability to play against any team but first and foremost it's Derry and that's all we're looking at, that first game. Hopefully we can drive through and into the semi-final.”
Sludden’s renowned versatility will be of huge value to Tyrone this weekend with defenders Justin McMahon (quad) and Cathal McCarron (hamstring) almost certainly ruled out of contention, while Johnny Munroe has stepped away from the panel.
Earlier this week, manager Mickey Harte said: “I suppose this ‘middle eight’ is a very fluid situation. Somebody who is playing wing-forward can play wing-back just as well.
“It’s a very similar type game. It’s not as rigid, positionally, as it used to be. There is that degree of versatility.”
Sludden is equally adept at wing-back as anywhere along the three-quarter line.
“I'm just happy to play anywhere,” he says.
“If Mickey decides you're in defence or you're in an attacking role you just have to take that on.
“That's just the way the modern game is. There are so many players can play attack and defence in our team and it's great to have that balance within our squad. It really adds to our team.”
Sludden produced one of the best performances seen in Division One this year against Dublin at Croke Park but injury ruled him out of Tyrone’s wins over Cavan and Monaghan.
And when he did force his way back into the Red Hand line-up he picked up a black card in both the Mayo and Kerry games.
“I love playing in the defence as well because I do see myself as an aggressive player as well. But wherever, I don't really care.
“I've played at 11 and had a bit of consistency with it but I wouldn't be surprised if I'm back in defence the next day and I won't mind that because I've had a lot of my game-time across the half-back line.”
Due to their disappointing finish to their League campaign, some observers rank Monaghan and Donegal as more impressive contenders for Ulster.
“If some people want to back us," says Sludden, "that's great and if they don't want to back us, well, they can do that as well. I just think it's important that whatever we instil in the camp, that's the critical thing.”
