Damian Barton has appealed to the media not to turn the Ulster SFC quarter-final between Derry and Tyrone into a grudge match.

There is no love lost between the neighbouring counties, with Barton having received an eight-week ban following an incident in January's McKenna Cup final. But it's his wish that the May 22 showdown at Celtic Park will be a sporting contest and will be remembered for all the right reasons.

"I can't see there's any sparks gonna' fly particularly between Derry and Tyrone as any other contest," the Oak Leaf manager is quoted in the Irish News.

"Again, I just hope the media don't go down that route, and whip this up to something it's not. I think the media has exaggerated it out of all proportion. It obviously makes good press, it sells papers, and at 80p a pop it's not bad.

"But what do you want to do? Do you want to look back at the history of the GAA and confrontation, and what this game is all about. It's a physical contest between not just 15 players, but beyond that. Isn't that the beauty, or one of the beauties of this game?"

 

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