Derry hurlers face Meath in must win Christy Ring Cup clash

The penultimate round of group fixtures find Johnny McGarvey's men second in the table, with only score difference separating them from Royals. Both counties are two points behind leaders Kerry who are expected to continue their own relentless march to the final with a fourth successive victory when they entertain Wicklow in Tralee.

Donegal sit two points behind Derry and Meath ahead of their home tie against Roscommon but considering Donegal and Meath meet in the final round of group fixtures - and given the fact Derry already hold the head to head against Donegal - victory over Meath this weekend would book Derry a fourth successive final appearance.

Straight-forward? Well it is for McGarvey and his players who are determined to remain masters of their own championship fate.

"That is just the way things are at the moment," smiled the Derry boss when asked if it was their biggest game of the season, "This game is massive for both counties. You can't really call it a semi-final as such but a win would be huge, so it's massive from our end.

"It is very much in our own hands and we've said all along, if we keep it in our own hands then we have only ourselves to blame so that's where we're at. We are looking forward to it. We've been training really well since the Donegal match and we’re in good enough shape so we've just got to go and try to get a performance now."

Derry will be without Eamon Conway after an ACL injury ended his season but otherwise McGarvey should have the same squad that impressed with victory over Donegal two weeks ago.

Saturday will be Derry's second trip to Trim this season after a controversial league defeat in February saw Meath win 1-20 to 1-18, that following a hotly disputed throw ball decision in jury time when the teams were level. So will Derry be travelling with a point to prove this weekend?

"Not really," added McGarvey, "There is plenty of learning to take from that game but I think Meath will be looking at it that way as well. That league game was just the way ourselves and Meath have been over the last number of years. It was tight, it was competitive; we didn't do enough damage when we had the breeze that day and they did.

"Of course there’s stuff to take out of the game but the ground has dried up since and the weather has changed so it will be a different kettle of fish come the weekend.

"I expect it to be as tight as it has been previously. There have been games we've gone to when you can think; 'if we play well here we will win and we will win well' but this is one of those games where you could play very well and you'd still be in the dogfight right to the very end, which is fair enough. We're happy enough with that.

"It's proper championship hurling and, look, it’s why you do the work all year, to try and get to days like this. As I say, if you keep it in your own hands then you have done your job."