Over the past few seasons there has been a real competitive thrust to Division Two. For a time it seemed that the teams coming down from Division One were destined to bounce straight back up again but the same certainty cannot be applied now.

This year it is Maguiresbridge and Tempo who find themselves looking for a path straight back to the top division. The latter have seen a steady decline since the heady days of 2012 when they won the senior league and championship double. There has been a big turnover in players since this and this has no doubt contributed to their downward spiral. This year however they do see the return of Daryl Keenan who has hardly played in two seasons due to a prolonged injury and he will add much needed cutting edge to their attack.

The Bridge are a team who have generally been progressing well over the past number of years. They enjoyed a few seasons in Division One and with the help of Ryan Hyde and Daniel Teague in particular to spearhead their challenge they will be expecting to challenge strongly.

Of all the teams in Division Two last year St Patrick’s Donagh must count themselves the most unfortunate. They won 16 games from 18 and topped the table but failed to gain promotion in the playoffs that ensued. They are a team full of youthful pace and exuberance and they should be fancying their chances of another good run.

Newtownbutler finished in third spot last year and were Junior championship winners. They can once again challenge at the top of the table. Undoubtedly no longer the force they once were they still have tradition and some wily veterans that will make them a formidable challenge.

Enniskillen Gaels are another side who finds themselves a long way from their recent illustrious past. The county town side are likely the youngest squad in the county and they are still in a period of rebuilding. They are without Richard O’Callaghan this season and his loss could be felt as they look to challenge for honours.

Aghadrumsee enjoyed a very decent season in 2016 finishing fifth in the table and eight points ahead of the Gaels and just one point away from a playoff spot. Attention obviously falls on county man Eddie Courtney but they are a team who play with a very good system and who are very difficult to beat and it will be interesting to see can they follow up last seasons positivity with more improvement.

Derrylin have former Tyrone player Damien Gormley in charge and will be looking to push themselves further up the table this season. They secured just four wins from 18 league games last season with only Brookeborough conceding more than the O’Connells so tightening up their defence will be Gormley’s first priority.

Turning our attention to the Heber McMahons it was a truly chastening league campaign in 2016 for the Brookeborough men. They are going through an exceptionally tough period over the past few seasons. Any shift from the bottom of the table will represent progress for Brookeborough.

Coa and Belnaleck finished on nine points apiece in the league last year. Both clubs have a healthy sprinkling of county talent with Cathal Beacom and Eoin Donnelly bolstering Coa’s ambitions. The O’Dwyers also have the likes of Ryan Hanna and Darren McQuade in their ranks and they are a team who should be pushing up the table.

So to Belanaleck who can call on the Cullen twins, Che and Lee, and Kane Connor who have all been playing regularly with Fermanagh during the division two league campaign. The Art McMurroughs have plenty of talent elsewhere as well and should be setting mid table as the bare minimum goal for their campaign.

All in all the division has the look of another highly competitive scrap with perhaps eight teams out of the ten having genuine ambitions of reaching the top four. Tempo, Maguiresbridge and St Pat’s look like the early favourites to claim promotion but in a league where so many teams can beat each other, expect a very contracted league table at the end of the season.