Tyrones ladies senior side hold their future involvement in Division one A in their own hands this weekend as they go to Dublin for a must-win clash against a side they have already beaten this season in the Suzuki national league.
. The scenario is a simple one; Win, and Tyrone stay to play Division One football next year. Lose, and it's a drop to Division Two.
 A four point defeat last week to lowly Waterford has put Tyrone in this undesirable position, as once again Tyrone's improved performance failed to generate the league points they deserved. The 2-06 to 1-14 defeat could have been a very different story had Tyrone been able to latch on scores, and will count themselves unlucky to have seen a number of efforts rebound off the woodwork. Minor vice captain Sarah Connolly continued her impressive run of scoring form, notching 1-2, while captain Maura Kelly also found the net. Sinead Mc Laughlin and Lynda Donnelly worked hard in defence to keep the Waterford attack at bay, while at the other end of the field Gemma Begley was the pick of the Tyrone attackers. Waterford's 11 first-half points set them on their way to victory, and opened up an advantage that Tyrone could not pull back.
A second battle of the season  then against Dublin, and Tyrone will be hoping for a similarly positive result to the 1-11 to 0-07 victory they enjoyed over the Jackeens in the earlier rounds. That was Tyrones only win of the campaign, and they will be all too aware of the importance of Sundays clash. A much improved performance overall is required in what is in effect a championship tie for Tyrone given what's at stake.
Pride in the jersey will certainly be the rallying call for John McAleers side and certainly now the management team must be feeling the heat as well after a poor league season again.
No doubt that management team have spent much time this week weighing up their options and formulating what they hope will be a winning combination, as Tyrone head into a game which is arguably their toughest assignment in recent years.
The Ulster minor opener against Antrim has been fixed for Cookstown at 3pm this Saturday.