Ulster champions Scotstown get their 2026 provincial campaign under way this afternoon against Derry champions Magherafelt in St Tiernach's Park, Clones

“It was fairly stressful" - Conor McCluskey hopes Derry final stands to Magherafelt as they face Ulster Club champions Scotstown

The mind games began a dozen days before they’ll lock horns in St Tiernach’s Park.

Nobody wanted to be labelled as favourites, even if the bookies were always going to attach that tag on the defending provincial champions.

Scotstown’s Rory Beggan claimed that facing Magherafelt was the toughest draw the holders could have gotten.

His reasoning is sound.

Derry are the most successful county in the long history of the Ulster Club Championship, winning six of the last 12 renewals.

Yet, history won’t help Magherafelt on Sunday insists their captain Conor McCluskey.

Their last venture into the Ulster arena ended with a 1-11 to 0-9 quarter-final loss to Kilcoo.

Although determined to give a better account of themselves this time around, the past success of Derry teams means little.

“You don't want to rest on the laurels of a county Championship,” said McCluskey.

“Every team are county champions and they are county champions for a reason.

“They've won very competitive Championships in their own right. Just because we've won Derry doesn't make us in a better position than anyone else in this competition, but we have to take confidence from what we can.

“From 2019, we want to give a better impression than we did. We were playing Ulster champions then, we're playing Ulster champions now, but this time we really want to show that we belong at this level, and we're here to stay at this level.”