Its unfamiliar territory for Tyrone ladies on Sunday as they meet Monaghan in the TG4 Ulster ladies final at Brewster Park. The decision to host the Provincial final at 7pm on a Sunday evening though on a weekend when the WJ Dolan senior football championship first round continues in Tyrone and Monahan´s championship features remains more than a poor one. The ladies Ulster council continues to try and market the ladies game in the province but despite a mouth watering tie at the new look Enniskillen venue, they appear to have shot themselves in the foot.

Ulster president Gerry Doherty confirmed that the games venue and date had been set to coincide with the Feile in Cavan, sadly it will be the players of Tyrone and Monaghan who will miss out with attention very much on those club games.

Carrickmore and Loughmacrory meet at Killyclogher, both clubs traditionally big supporters and promoters of the ladies game. Carrickmore have a host of players involved in the ladies game, so there will certainly be split loyalties in several households. The same will be repeated throughout the county and also in the Oriel county.

On to the game itself and Tyrone are back in the Ulster final again but this occasion affords them a real chance of claiming the title again for the first time since 2005 when they beat a good Monaghan. Armagh also scuppered Monaghans chances a year later and The orchard girls ended Tyrone hopes last term in an entertaining tie at Clones.

There´s connections to that last meeting between Tyrone and Monaghan none bigger than on the touchline, Tyrone are managed by Michaela O´Neill who played in that tie while Tyrone boss on that occassion John McAleer is now back with his native county.

McAleer took the reigns mid season after Owen McNally left Monaghan in the lurch. It adds a wee bit more spice to what will already be a spicy enough affair.

Tyrone ran riot in the opening15 minutes against Down in the semi-final but took their foot of the gas and the Mourne girls really caused Tyrone hearts to miss a beat.

This Sunday Tyrone can not afford to do the same, Monaghan showed resilience and power to come back against Donegal at Omagh and seal the all important final spot.

Edel Byrne returned to county colours to inspire Monaghan to that single point victory. The Magheracloone star last lined out for her county against Kerry in 2004 but returned to show yet again what a talent she has. Byrne contributed 1-3, the goal edging her side in front five minutes from time to clinch a place in the final. Its likely Byrne will start once again , if she does continue at centre half forward it could well be a head to head with Neamh Woods, the young Tyrone starlet, injured in the semi-final would be fancied to win that race despite the experience of Byrne.

Woods has been awe inspiring over the past two years and although playing at centre half back has utilised her pace and ability all over the park as Tyrone continue to build on the 2007 championship run. Tyrone struggled at times in the middle of the park though against Down and with Casey and Kearns good last time out for McAleers side this is one area that Tyrone must improve on. McCloskey and Donnelly went out off the game at Newry but minor captain Shannon Quinn made the difference on her introduction. Lynda Donnelly also produced the goods again when the chips were down in a tense last quarter. The St Macartans defender was the picture of coolness and experience as the clock ticked down, certainly putting herself in contention for a final start.

Michaela O´Neill has an abundance of talent to call on but Tyrone will have to improve on that outing three weeks ago, a fact not lost on O´Neill and ace forward Gemma Begey,

" We found the goals easy to come by early on against Down but I think we took our foot of the gas and we just didn´t play as well as we could, we must improve against Monaghan at Enniskillen, we know them inside out, and know what to expect."

Says Begley who herself found the net twice but also missed a spot kick.

The Carrickmore forward was stunning in last years all Ireland championship, she was runner up in the top scorers chart and will be again in the running, she admits though that Monaghan will be a stern examination of her and Tyrones credentials,

" With knowing the girls so well and having met them so often over the years we are well aware of what we are up against at Brewster Park, the last Ulster final we met in was against a very different Monaghan, they now have a host of new girls in the team and mixed with those experienced players they are certainly on the way back."

There´s been plenty made of the John McAleer factor but it does not really come into the minds of the Tyrone players,

" We all know John and he will certainly know us but its not an issue in terms of the build up, we are focused on our own build up and to be fair that build up has been good overall, after all we can only look after ourselves"

The Carrickmore player will be joined by team mates Lynette Hughes and Eilish Gormley in the starting line up on Sunday, yet its expected that with the mens game going ahead there will be a lot less Carrickmore fans on route to Brewster, there´s little can be done about that says Begley,

" Its disappointing for us all, the men´s game will take away from our game, but sure we just have to get on with it, it´s the same for both teams but certainly its something that he Ulster council might need to look at in the future."

Looking to look after Begley on the park on Sunday evening will be one of he quality defenders on this Monaghan team, Sharon Courtney , its not a role that many players relish but the Donamoyne club player is looking forward to it,

"Tyrone are good, they showed that last year and I know that Gemma and all the forwards will be a handful, we have the players though in defence to stop them but yes it won´t be easy, overall we have the belief in ourselves and against Donegal we showed that we have the hunger."

The winners will have a straight run to the quarter final of the new look all Ireland series, the losers drop into round two of the qualifiers, Armagh, Down and Donegal all in the mix  for now.

This tie has all the hall marks of being a real thriller once again, the fact that the minor teams will also meet again in the all Ireland minor semi-final later in the month after a gem of a tie in the Ulster final adds to the occasion.

All will be revealed on Sunday but the question is who will be there to watch it.