Sean Cavanagh believes referee Joe McQuillan's linesmen will have a crucial role to play in Sunday's Ulster SFC quarter-final between Tyrone and Donegal.

Anticipating a "white hot atmosphere" in Ballybofey, the Tyrone midfielder reckons the Cavan whistler will need all the help he can get from his fellow match officials.

"It's going to be hard and he is going to need plenty of help from sideline officials and umpires and I have always advocated that in the GAA," Cavanagh said at the launch of Newstalk's championship coverage.

"The referees do need help. There'll probably be a lot of off the ball stuff going on, that's not saying that it will be always Donegal, but it will be a difficult game to referee and with the supporters so close to the pitch the atmosphere will be white hot so it's a tricky game.

"Let's just hope for a good game because it's going to be a great spectacle and a shop window for the GAA."

The Moy clubman is predicting a completely different game to the recent Allianz League final between Tyrone and Dublin.

"In the league final it was the wide open spaces in Croke Park and it was free flowing football with 15 v 15 but on Sunday it's going to be negative.

"You know you're going into a full house and a white hot atmosphere and it'll be tactical game and it's a massive challenge." Tweet

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