All-Ireland SFC/Qualifiers Focus on Derry: Kevin McCloy has been operating around the Derry square for several years now. Sometimes in the corner, sometimes out at centre back. In short, Mickey Moran tends to find a place for the 26-year-old civil engineer.

Last season they had to make do without the big Lavey man as a fractured cheekbone, sustained against Tyrone, was followed by a broken bone in his hand. Although unfit, Moran valued his presence enough to put him on the bench for the All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry, so until this Saturday his last run-out in Croke Park was against Galway in 2001.

With Niall McCusker out with a long-term pelvic injury McCloy has been handed the number-three shirt on a permanent basis. Seán Marty Lockhart has settled just in front of him and the defence has been working as a finely-tuned unit.

"It's probably going back as far as Henry Downey since we had a good centre half back," says McCloy. "I play full back for my club. It's where I have always played so I prefer being in the centre as there are usually quick men in the corners and I'm more one for the tussle and high balls."

His wish came true in the Ulster semi-final. Part of the reason Armagh are motoring again is the return to form of Ronan Clarke. The full forward is the focal point for most of their attacks, which ensures Steven McDonnell is brought into the game and that normally means curtains for the opposition.

Marking Clarke is like dealing with a deadly virus. It becomes a matter of containment. The virus is going to infect people so just make sure it doesn't wipe out the population. McCloy kept him to one point. Beside him, Kevin McGuckin did likewise with McDonnell.

"At the end of the day that's why I play football. You want to go out and nullify the influence of their big player. It's all psychological. If you are marking their best player you know you have a part to play in that game."

It was a frustrating afternoon for Derry defenders as they were doing their job but the wide count was mounting up at the other end. Armagh eventually turned the screw. The crucial goal still came from midfielder John Toal, only after McCloy blocked the initial shot.

Then first up in the qualifiers came Down in Newry. Perfect. This time the Derry forwards did hit the target with regularity but it still went to the final seconds when the Derry backs were again forced into desperate measures to deny Benny Coulter and company. They survived by two points.

"Against Down, Benny Coulter provided as tough a test as I have had yet but I probably came out of that one 50-50. I was disappointed with the goal he scored off me."

It was more 60-40. Late on, as Coulter glided down the endline we expected one of two things: a goal or, as McCloy closed in, a foul. Instead, we got a lesson in how to delicately pickpocket the football. McCloy turned and calmly moved the ball on. It ended up in the hands of Eoin Bradley on halfway. The young attacker dropped the shoulder, shrugged off three defenders before blasting to the net. It was the goal of the season but Derry folk hope by no means the highlight.

Next came Limerick, for the second year running, and although Paddy Bradley was the difference, players like Mark Lynch and Eoin Bradley were beginning to excel at the standard.

"Mark and Eoin scored some colossal points against Limerick at important stages of the match. But that's what you want from these players. They might be young but as the man says you either do it now or don't do it at all (we imagine the man to be Mickey Moran - it sounds like something he'd say)."

If Enda Muldoon and Fergal Doherty can make it back from hamstring and ankle injuries, respectively Derry look like the one team to spoil the progress of the provincial finalists. That is, if they can contain the Laois forwards?

"Their running game seems very hard to stop. They are very fit all over the pitch. But it will not be a different game for me. The forward doesn't mark you, you have to go out and mark him out of the game. With Laois we will not be trying to stop them running but try and read the short ball in instead.

"It's a wee bit harder if the work is not being done out the field because the quality ball will start coming in, especially in Croke Park."