BY TOMMY NETHERY

SHORTCOMINGS emphatically exposed which culminated in the ultimate pain of defeat at the hands of a clinical Cork side is all the motivation Tyrone should need as they prepare to face Ulster rivals Donegal at Healy Park on Saturday night, that's according to the county's inspirational defender Ryan McMenamin.

Less than a fortnight ago Mickey Harte's previously unbeaten Tyrone outfit not only suffered their first defeat of 2007 but were humiliated as the Rebels put the northerners to the sword during an one-sided 60 minutes.

Most disappointing of all was the fact that the Red Hands never once offered any resistance; the white flag of surrender was well and truly lofted long before the Leesiders had recorded an eye-catching 0-15 to 0-7 victory.

In their hour of need, Tyrone lacked a real motivator, someone to lead the troops out of the trenches and someone who was prepared to roll up their sleeves, to die for the cause if need be. Unfortunately the individual most likely to do that, the suspended McMenamin, was sitting on the sidelines watching the nightmare performance unfold before his very eyes.

But the good news is that the influential corner-back is again available for selection, having served his ban resulting from the sending off during the historic victory over Dublin in Croke Park early last month.

And the stand-in captain, like his team-mates, believes the Saturday night showdown with the Tir Chonaill is the perfect opportunity to banish the memory of that horror show in Cork.

"We are all champing at the bit," said the Dromore man.

"The manner of the defeat against Cork hurt the players a lot. The mood in the dressing room afterwards was one of disappointment and dejection.

"We were outplayed for the entire 60 minutes and during my years playing with Tyrone I can't remember the last time we lost by such a massive margin.

"Hopefully the players will carry the pain of that reverse onto the field on Saturday night and use it to our advantage. After Cork and the subsequent post mortem the players should be questioning themselves and asking what more they can bring to the table for Tyrone.

"The players should be up for the game against Donegal. It's an opportunity to set the record straight and hopefully it will show in our performance on Saturday."

While most pundits were surprised by the manner of the Red Hands defeat in Cork, Ricey claims it shouldn't have come as any great shock given that there were periods in the previous games, against Donegal in the Gaelic Life McKenna Cup final and for a spell in the National League confrontation with Fermanagh, that's Harte's charges were second best.

In the McKenna Cup final Tyrone triumphed over Brian McIvor's men by 2-9 to 0-5, however it was only after Colm McCullagh netted a second-half goal that the Red Hands rode off into the sunset during a barnstorming finale.

"The final scoreline didn't tell the whole story," insisted the St Dympna's man.

"We were second best in the first half and if we're truthful Donegal should have been five or six points to the good at the break. At least half a dozen times they kicked the ball straight into Packie's (Pascal McConnell) hands whereas Cork were converting similar opportunities the following week.

"The final 15 minutes in the McKenna Cup final certainly glossed over our frailties. There is no way there was ever 10 points between the two sides and I am sure Donegal will be keen to make that very point when they come to Healy Park."

Saturday's heavyweight tussle under lights will go along way in deciding which county emerges as favourites to qualify for the National League semi-finals and two points in Omagh may well be enough for the visitors, given they have already posted their maximum entitlement in their opening three fixtures.

The points are equally important, if not more so, for Tyrone. Victories against the Dubs and neighbours Fermanagh left them well placed to secure a top four slot, however the Cork debacle has thrown a spanner in the works. Another defeat and McMenamin and company could become involved with issues at the wrong end of the table.

"That's the last thing we would need," insisted the defender.

"You're into a lottery situation then. Hopefully, after Saturday that won't be our concern.

"Some of the talk coming out of the Donegal camp is of exacting revenge for the McKenna Cup Final defeat. There is no doubt they will be out to prove a point. We have also something to prove. It should be an intriguing battle, it always is against Donegal."

While all the ingredients appear to be in place for a classic encounter, Ricey is anticipating anything but.

"There's a lot at stake. The weather, if it continues in the same vein, won't be conducive to flowing football and given the under-21s are playing in the curtain raiser then there isn't likely to a lot left in the pitch.

"Expect a tough battle. Whichever side displays the greater work-rate, desire and hunger is more than likely to come out on top."