Derry boss Rory Gallagher says his team has “a burning desire” to become one of the best teams in the country.

After capturing their county’s first Ulster SFC crown in 24 years last month, the Oak Leafers face Clare at Croke Park on Saturday (3.45pm) looking to advance to the All-Ireland semi-finals.

Speaking to BBC Sport NI ahead of the clash, Gallagher says holding the favourites’ tag going into the clash against the Banner men means nothing.

"We would like to become one of the top teams in the country. We would like to be favourites going into every match. That's our burning desire but in order to do that we've to earn the right by showing the desire against Clare.

"We beat three Division 1 teams and we came out of the hat against a Division Two team.

"After winning Ulster the way we did, I would expect us probably to have been favourites against any of them (their four possible opponents in the draw) but it means nothing.

"The same way that when Tyrone, Monaghan and Donegal were favourites against us, it meant nothing.

"It's all about who produces on the day and there's not much between any of the top 10 teams in Ireland with the exception of Dublin and Kerry who seem to be ahead of everybody else but that's not our problem at the minute."

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