Published: Thursday, 4th February, 2010 2:56pm

Positive opening the key in competitive division

Matthew Keenan in action against Wexford in the Division Three final in 2008. Both sides will be hoping that they are involved in the promotion battle this year.<<

Division Three has the look of a very close league this season with a number of the sides appearing to be evenly matched.

Malachy O'Rourke will obviously be targeting promotion back to Division Two but to do that the side are going to have to hit the ground running as a number of teams in the division will have the same goals as Fermanagh.

The vital thing in this division will be to make a good start, and whoever can achieve this could put themselves in the picture for promotion while a poor opening couple of games means that sides will have the worry of looking over their shoulders at relegation to Division Four.

Offaly, Antrim, Wexford and Sligo will all have aspirations of promotion so it is going to take a consistent run of good form from any side to make it into the Division Three final, and ultimately a place in Division Two for the 2011 season.

A trip to Tullamore is no easy way of opening the campaign but if Fermanagh can return home with the two points in the bag from that game against the Faithful then it could set them up nicely for an assault on promotion in Division Three although Offaly will be hoping to go one further than last season when they finished third in the table.

Roscommon will visit Brewster Park the following Saturday night and they will be keen to make a push in the league this year having finished in a mid table position last time around but O'Rourke will looking for his side to make Brewster Park a fortress and if Fermanagh are going to have any chance in the league then they must win their home games.

A three week break follows the Roscommon game after which Fermanagh face a big clash with Antrim at Casement Park. O'Rourke has pencilled in a return for Marty McGrath for this date which would certainly be a boost.

Antrim took great strides last year under the leadership of Liam Bradley, gaining promotion from Division Four and reaching the Ulster Final where they lost out to Tyrone before pushing eventual All Ireland champions Kerry all the way in the qualifiers. The key for the Saffrons this year will be to build on their progress in 2009, and top of the agenda for them will be to gain promotion for a second successive season.

Antrim will be without their St. Gall's players until their All Ireland Club campaign is over, and as Fermanagh are only too aware, the second season can see teams slip back, but if Bradley can get them playing like they did in 2009 then they are going to be serious contenders in the league.

Louth will be next up when they come to Brewster Park on Sunday March 14. With a new manager in the shape of Peter Fitzpatrick in place it will be a fresh start for Louth and as when a new man comes in everybody will be eager to impress. And they have been showing early season promise with the Wee County having progressed through to the Byrne Cup final, defeating Kildare in last Sunday's semi-final. However, this is a game that Fermanagh, with home advantage, should be winning.

It will be a familiar foe the next Sunday when Fermanagh travel to Wexford Park to play Wexford, the sides having meet each other on a regular basis in recent years, including the Division Three final in 2008 which Wexford won after extra time.

Like Fermanagh, Jason Ryan's side struggled to find their feet last year after making the All Ireland semi-final in 2008 but they may well be one of the main challengers in Division Three while this is followed by a home game against Sligo. These games will come at the pivotal stage of the league campaign, and like Wexford, Sligo are another side who would hope to be in the mix going into the last couple of rounds. Sligo always provide a stern test for Fermanagh and a close contest will be expected when the sides meet on March 28 at Brewster Park.

And there is an intriguing game to conclude the league for Malachy O'Rourke's side with a visit to Breffni Park to take on neighbours Cavan.

This could well be a decisive game in the league with both sides having hopes of doing well while it is also a dry run for the championship when the sides will again meet in Breffni Park for a place in the Ulster semi-final.

It is clear to see that this is a competitive division but if Fermanagh can continue to show the same attitude, work rate and intensity that they displayed in the McKenna Cup then they have every chance of challenging towards the top of the table.