There is a feeling that this year's senior championship could be one of the most wide open in recent years with a number of teams looking to bring Derrygonnelly's reign at the top to an end.

The Harps are going in search of a fifth New York Cup in a row but they have been hit with injuries and unavailability of players throughout this season and are going to have to be at their best if they are to hit that milestone. In saying that, while their league form was patchy at times, they did finish in the top four and with their county players back in the groove they will still take a lot of beating.

The Harps defence as always will be hard to breakdown with the likes of Tiernan Daly, Eamon McHugh, Garvan McGinley and Shane McGullion all key players while in the middle third, Ryan Jones and Garvan Jones will provide them with a solid platform. The loss of Paul Ward to injury has been a massive blow though for Derrygonnelly and it will see them rely even more on Conall Jones for scores.

The longer the holder go in the competition though the more difficult they will be to beat although their whole focus will be on their quarter-final clash with Devenish.

The St Mary's side were in contention for a top four spot in the league up to the closing games but to have ensured their safety in the division would have been a goal at the start of the season and they will now hope to push on in the championship.

Defensively, the experienced Marty O'Brien, Barry Mulrone and Martin Doherty are important performers for the Garrison men. At midfield they will then look to the likes of the O'Flanagan brothers Terry and John, who will both also be expected to contribute on the scoreboard and further up front the return of Joe O'Brien has been a good boost with Chris O'Brien also a dangerous threat.

The sides won one each of the league meetings this season but Derrygonnelly will go into Friday night's game as favourites although with it being a derby anything can happen.

If Derrygonnelly are to be toppled this year then Ederney are the team that are tipped to do it. Mickey Cassidy's side suffered defeat in last year's championship final but have had a very strong league campaign that saw them top the table with only two defeats.

They are a well balanced side who have scoring threats from all over the pitch.

At the back, Ederney will look to goalkeeper Chris Snow, Enda Cassidy, John Irvine and Aaron Dennison. Veteran Marty McGrath is still a key figure in the middle of the park while a lively attack includes the likes of Declan McCusker, Paul McCusker, Sean Cassidy and Mark McCauley.

However, they will know that they cannot afford to underestimate Belnaleck in the quarter-final.

The Art McMurroughs have won Junior and Intermediate titles in successive seasons and when they have everybody available they are a serious threat.

Colm Bradley will be happy to see his side with the underdog tag but they are not a side who can be taken lightly with no shortage of inter-county experience in their ranks.

The Cullen twins, Lee and Che, Kane Connor, Darragh McGurn and Ciaran McBrien were all part of the Fermanagh set up this year while Conor McCauley and Bryan Owens are other key performers. On top of that they have a number of players who were involved in with the victorious St Michael's side including talented forward Darragh McBrien and if they are in form then they will give Ederney problems.

Erne Gaels could possibly be dark horses for the championship but they face a tough opener against Peter McGinnity's Roslea outfit. The Belleek men sealed their place in the top four in the league and on their day are a handful for anybody.

They have no shortage of quality in their ranks with Ultan Kelm and Ryan Lyons supported by the likes of Jack McCann, Barry McCann, Seamus Ryder and Tommy McCaffrey while the experienced Shane Lyons has also returned to the club.

They would hope to have enough to edge out Roslea but the Shamrocks cannot be discounted. They have a lot of championship experience in their ranks with James McMahon a defensive lynchpin while at the other end of the pitch Sean Quigley will be expected to provide the bulk of his side's scores.

The other game will see Division Two table toppers Tempo face Teemore for a place in the semi-final.

Tempo have shown good form in the league and defeated Saturday night's opponents in a Championship relegation play off last year.

Aidan Breen, Ryan Breen, Lorcan McStravick, Tiernan Bogue and Daryl Keenan will all be expected to play important roles for John McElroy's side as they look to progress to the semi-finals.

Teemore finished in the bottom four but they are maybe unfortunate not to have finished on more points having drawn six of their games.

The loss of Eoin McManus to injury is obviously a massive blow for the Shamrocks but Cian McManus, Liam Martin, Sean McNally, Colm McNally and Damian Lee are all strong players and this will be expected to be a tight game with a last four spot the prize for the winner.