By Barry O'Donnell

TYRONE will be out to avoid a 'back-alley mugging' in the tight confines of the Gaelic Grounds in Drogheda after being paired with Louth in the first round of the All-Ireland Qualifiers.

A tricky back-door assignment with the 'Wee' County of course rekindles fresh memories of the recent Championship clashes between the teams back in 2006 at the same stage of the competition. After a rip-roaring extra-time classic in Navan which ended 2-16 apiece, Tyrone, then defending All-Ireland kingpins, eventually took the spoils in the replay at Healy Park 1-12 to 1-7.

This time around Louth were loathe to surrender their home advantage having been drawn out of the hat first and insisted that the match go ahead in their traditional county ground in Drogheda. Thus, the first-round qualifier is fixed for the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday July 19th (throw-in 7pm) though due to the 6,000 capacity restrictions, the contest will be an all-ticket affair.

Ironically the last competitive fixture between the counties to be played at that venue ended in a 1-9 to 1-7 National League Division Two triumph for Louth on a foul November day in 1994.

The visitors will be desperately hoping that history doesn't repeat itself.

Current Tyrone assistant manager Tony Donnelly has no qualms about travelling into the 'lion's den' to take on the Leinster upstarts, insisting that Louth had every right to stage the eagerly-anticipated encounter in their own backyard.

" I assume the pitch will be a lot tighter than the likes of Navan or Omagh but it should make for a great atmosphere. You can't fault Louth for wanting to play at home and the fact they've been given approval to host the game is only right. You can't deny them that advantage when they're the first team drawn from the hat.

" The size of the pitch and the conditions will all have to be considered as part of our preparations. It's up to us to get our game plan right and to prepare mentally and physically to meet whatever challenge Louth pose for us."

After the gut-wrenching disappointment of that epic Ulster exit in the Marshes, the Tyrone squad have had three weeks to lick their wounds, and while the majority of the players will be pre-occupied with the Club Championship over the next few days, Donnelly stresses that they are determined to chart a successful route through the 'back-door' when the Qualifiers get underway later this month.

" The lads are keen to get going again. There's no getting away from the disappointment of the Down defeat, especially after they gave their all in Newry, but there's a great desire in the camp to make progress through the Qualifiers."

There won't be an ounce of complacency in the Red Hand camp about this task having so nearly stumbled in '06 though Donnelly contends that Louth will also take great heart from those previous titanic tussles.

" The fact that we've played them a couple of times recently will benefit both teams. We will know not to take them lightly after what happened in Navan while Louth will relish the opportunity to get another crack at Tyrone. We know after the experience of 2006 not to take them for granted.

" They have a few changes in personnel but the mainstays of their team are still there. They had a magnificent first half against Dublin in the Leinster Championship recently but then fell apart in the second half so they will feel they have something to prove.

" A small ground, packed with their own supporters who no doubt will be very vocal gives them a chance of pulling off a giant killing I suppose. It's going to make for a very interesting tie but you'd rather play in that sort of match with a tremendous atmosphere than maybe heading further down south and playing in front of a few hundred supporters."

Donnelly also reported more positive news on the injury front as a quartet of key players, including Enda McGinley, Eoin Mulligan, Raymond Mulgrew and Brian McGuigan, seek to report a clean bill of health before action resumes.

" Enda (McGinley) went off there playing for Errigal against Omagh last week complaining of a soreness. He's coming along gradually though obviously with any sort of neck injury you have to urge on the side of caution and be wary of the effect of any sort of contact.

" The news on Mugsy is more encouraging. His lingering hamstring injury was caused by a back problem but he's now training up to 40-45 minutes at a time, doing routines like straight line running, so that is good news.

" Raymie took that shoulder knock at training last month but was able to take part in a full training session on Sunday morning in Killeeshil and came through that without reporting any problems. So he's well back on the road to recovery, while Brian had muscle problems around the rib area which caused him discomfort after the drawn Down match in Omagh, but again he is okay now and taking a full part in training."

Meanwhile Louth manager Eamonn McEneaney is in his third year in charge and the tie with Tyrone will be his first proper home championship match. With the vital advantage of playing at Drogheda confirmed, he is hoping his players can give their supporters a night to remember at the O'Raghallaighs.

"This is a chance for our team to redeem themselves after a poor final 20 minutes against Dublin," he said.