Keith Duggan talks to Eamonn O'Hara who is eager for something morethan moral victories to show for Sligo's development under Peter Ford

After endless years of watching from afar, suddenly Sligo can't get enough of Croke Park. They celebrated a 26-year exile from Jones's Road with a famous win against Kildare last summer and on Sunday face another do-or-die game.

"We are delighted with the draw," said Eamonn O'Hara yesterday. "We knew at this stage that there was never going to be any easy passage through.

"Tyrone have been listed as joint favourites for the All-Ireland already, and already illustrated their form in the league. So we will go in again as underdogs and the fact that it is in Croke Park makes an event out of it."

In the rain of the Connacht final against Galway, O'Hara gave one of the more accomplished performances of his nine-year career. He was at the centre of a late surge by Sligo that was praised for its gallantry and commitment. It is the kind of hollow consolation that he has grown tired of and even now he refuses to see that final as anything other than an opportunity squandered.

"Days like that don't come along too often for Sligo. I have been playing for nine years and that was my second final. The problem was that we had too many passengers on the day. We didn't have enough players willing to put a head in where it hurts, willing to work hard enough. And we have to be honest enough to stand up and say that. It has been pointed out to the players.

"It's no good having nine or 10 lads playing hard, we need all 15 operating at their best to have a chance. But that didn't happen and it is frustrating and again, we have won nothing."

Recent history has little to offer on Sligo and Tyrone. O'Hara recalls meeting the Ulster side in the league in 1996, the year they went as far as the All-Ireland semi-final. Since then, there has been no official competition between the counties although they met for a challenge game in Enniskillen in the build-up to the Connacht final.

"So we know their form from that and from watching them on television. They are a strong and fast young side. Our game ended up in a draw but you wouldn't read too much into that.

"Sligo have a habit of doing well in challenge games and then not performing when it matters so we need to begin doing it when it counts.

"The annoying thing is that we have nothing material yet to show for our development under Peter Ford."

Sunday is to be savoured, however. Many people will be drawn to Dublin for the novelty of the wonder of the new Croke Park and Sligo will have plenty additional support from the Donegal crowd. Also, their experiences there last year, with that scintillating win over Kildare dampened by a flat follow-up against Dublin, will be of benefit.

"That is the hope. Tyrone have played there a lot as minors but not as a senior side in recent times and maybe it will have a distracting effect on them. I'm really looking forward to it and whether we bring 10 people or 10,000, it is important that we go out and perform in a way that does us justice.

"Last year was fine at the time but when all is said and done, it was really just a moral victory. It doesn't matter now, it is finished with."

Sligo weren't all that far away against Galway but sooner or later, they need to bridge that final gap against the elite teams. Outsiders again on Sunday, this is the game of the season for O'Hara.

"I just really hope we can give it a good shot. We learned a lesson in the Connacht final and we just have to apply it the next day, otherwise we will be gone for another year. This is it. We know what has to be done."