In February, Steelstown were crowned All-Ireland Intermediate football champions, but the next few weeks will determine whether or not they can remain in the senior ranks in Derry.
On Sunday, they face an in-form Lavey side at Dungiven in the first round proper of the Derry Senior Football Championship.
Brian Óg’s lost all three of their group games to Slaughtneil, Ballinderry and Newbridge, but manager Hugh McGrath feels his side have improved with each game.
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“It has been a difficult season, but we used a lot of League games to give a lot of players game time,” said McGrath.
“We didn’t panic too much. The group stages of the Championship was about getting boys back into the team who’d been in America and whatever else.
“It was just getting those players involved again. Now, we’re into the ‘real’ football - it is knockout football and, hopefully, we can see a turnaround in fortunes and see what these guys are about at this level.
“I think we looked like we weren’t that far away for 40 minutes against Ballinderry. For maybe 50 minutes against Newbridge recently, we looked something like our old selves.
“For us, it is now about keeping that going for the full 60 minutes against Lavey at the weekend.”
The seeded draw for the knockout stage meant that the Derry City side were guaranteed to face one of the group winners.
McGrath insists his side will need to up their game at the weekend to avoid the relegation play-off for the beaten sides with four teams set to drop to Intermediate level next year.
“We have the personnel and they are capable of doing the job,” added McGrath.
“We just need to see the game out. It certainly won’t be easy. Lavey were semi-finalists last year and they’ll want to be on the march again.
“I could see both teams going at it and I think it has the makings of a good game.
“It doesn’t matter who you play at this level - it is always going to be a challenge.
“We’ve faced difficult games before and we’ve come out on the right side of it. Our players went on a great run last year. It is back to knockout football again and we have to get back to that level.”
Defending champions Glen will be overwhelming favourites against Ballinascreen at Swatragh on Saturday afternoon.
Earlier at Swatragh, 2019 champions Magherafelt will also be fancied to get the better of Kilrea.
Before Steelstown and Lavey go head-to-head at Dungiven, Slaughtneil, minus the injured Brendan Rogers, will be in action against Claudy.
The two double-headers at Owenbeg on Saturday and Sunday are, arguably, the hardest games to call at the weekend with the threat of the relegation play-offs hanging over all teams.
Saturday, September 17
Magherafelt v Kilrea (Swatragh, 2pm)
Glen v Ballinascreen (Swatragh, 3.30pm)
Dungiven v Banagher (Owenbeg, 5.45pm)
Bellaghy v Swatragh (Owenbeg, 7.15pm)
Sunday, September 18
Slaughtneil v Claudy (Dungiven, 1.30pm)
Lavey v Steelstown (Dungiven, 3pm)
Ballinderry v Coleraine (Owenbeg, 5pm)
The Loup v Newbridge (Owenbeg, 6.30pm)
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