PREVIEW: SFL Division One: No relegation means focus is on championship

Derrygonnelly Harps

Manager: Sean Flanagan/Brendan Rasdale

Key Players: Michael Jones, Ryan Jones, Shane McGullion, Conall Jones

Last Year League: Division One champions

Last Year Championship: SFC winners

Hopes for the season: “Our hopes would be straight forward enough in that we want to get through the early league games, we would be a bit wary of injuries after a long lay off and a short turnaround in games so we need to manage that, but then we will look to get a bit of rhythm into our play and get fellas into a pattern of play. We will also be looking to make sure that the attitude is right because the championship comes along very quickly. I think teams will have one eye on the championship in those early league games and they will be competitive.” - Sean Flanagan

Roslea Shamrocks

Manager: Peter McGinnity

Key Players: James McMahon, Sean Quigley, Conor Quigley, Nigel Cosgrove

Last Year League: 6th in Division One

Last Year Championship: Beaten SFC Finalists

Hopes for the season: “It’s a strange season but I know the players and myself are looking forward to it. However, I do think one of the biggest problems is going to be dealing with injuries. You have seen the players in the Premier League being hit with hamstring injuries since they returned and with a short season if we lose somebody to injury then in all likelihood their season is going to be over so it is something we have to be careful about in the league. There is no doubt that we got a tough championship draw against Derrygonnelly who will be looking to win six in a row but we will just get on with it.” - Peter McGinnity

Ederney St Joseph's

Manager: Mickey Cassidy

Key Players: Declan McCusker, Paul McCusker, Sean Cassidy, Marty McGrath

Last Year League: Beaten Division One finalists

Last Year Championship: Beaten SFC quarter-finalists

Hopes for the season: “Look, like every year you set out to win every game you play but this is definitely a different year. It’s hard to know what way teams are going to approach the league but from our perspective it is about trying to build momentum and trying to get players in form in those opening games before the championship. You really need to hit form early and we know that we have a tough game against Belnaleck to come in the championship.” - Mickey Cassidy

Belnaleck Art McMurroughs

Manager: Colm Bradley

Key Players: Che Cullen, Kane Connor, Darragh McGurn, Darragh McBrien

Last Year’s League: Promoted from Division Two

Last Year’s Championship: SFC Semi-Finalists

Hopes for the season: “This year’s league is going to be strange in that there is nothing to play for in terms of there being no relegation so it is going to be used by sides to prepare for the championship. With everything being played off in a short spell this year teams will want to figure out their strongest side quickly and will use those first five league games to do that. In saying that, injuries will also have to be carefully managed and teams won’t take a risk with players who have knocks in case it rules them out of championship. We would not have a lot of experience at playing at this level so the early league games will give us a chance to keep learning at this level and build towards Ederney in the championship.” - Colm Bradley

Enniskillen Gaels

Manager: John Reihill

Key Players: Richard O’Callaghan, Jonny Cassidy, Brandon Horan, Callum Jones

Last Year League: 2nd in Division One

Last Year Championship: Beaten IFC Quarter Finalists

Hopes for the season: “It would be nice to do well and compete in Division One but with no relegation this year, we, like most other clubs, will be using the league as a way of preparing for championship. Championship is our aim and we want to do as well as possible in it but we know that the Intermediate Championship is very tough with some very good sides so we will focus solely on our quarter final against Irvinestown.” - John Reihill

Irvinestown St Molaise

Manager: Paddy O’Brien

Key Players: Josh Largo-Elis, Kevin McDonnell, Liam McQuaid, Kevin Duffy

Last Year League: 9th in Division One

Last Year Championship: Beaten IFC Semi Finalists

Hopes for the season: “We are trying to build a bit of a platform for the championship which is what we are worried about because with the league there is no relegation. We are using the league to look at players and try and blood new players and hopefully we will be ready come championship time.” - Paddy O’Brien

Devenish St. Mary's

Manager: Sid Mulrone/Marty O’Brien

Key Players: Tom Treacy, Barry Mulrone, Jason Love, Joe O’Brien

Last Year League: 5th in Division One

Last Year Championship: Relegated from SFC

Hopes for the season: “Like every other Division One side, without relegation it is just a matter of trying to get good performances and trying to win as many games as possible in the league and then it will be all about championship. The Intermediate Championship has a lot of good sides, it’s not an easy championship and we can’t look beyond Aghadrumsee.” - Sid Mulrone

Kinawley Brian Borus

Manager: Ollie Fay

Key Players: Tomás Corrigan, Ruairi Corrigan, James Allen, Conor Murphy

Last Year League: 7th in Division One

Last Year Championship: IFC winners

Hopes for the season: “We are in the senior championship this year and like everybody else we want to do as well as we can in it. We have Erne Gaels in the quarter final and we know that they are a good side so that is what we will be concentrating on and we will be using the league matches to try and get everyone up to speed and hopefully keep everyone injury free so that we can go into that championship game with a full deck.” - Niall Bogue

Erne Gaels Belleek

Manager: Andy Dolan

Key Players: Tommy McCaffrey, Ultan Kelm, Barry McCann, Jack McCann

Last Year League: 4th in Division One

Last Year Championship: Beaten SFC Quarter Finalists

Hopes for the season: “We’re looking forward to getting back into the swing of it after the break and we’d be hoping to bring a few of the younger lads into the team who have been showing well in training and challenge games for us so far this year. We have some tough games at the start of the league against the likes Belnaleck and Derrygonnelly, so the early rounds of the league will give us a good indication as to where we are at but they will also give us the opportunity to sharpen up and work on a few things and help prepare us for Kinawley in the championship. Kinawley have been coming strong the last couple of years and have shown that they can compete well with the bigger teams so they will definitely be a tough task, they have some key players that can be a handful.” - Jack McCann

Tempo Maguires

Manager: Pat McNabb

Key Players: Aidan Breen, Lorcan McStravick, Tiarnan Bogue, Paul Breen

Last Year League: Division Two champions

Last Year Championship: Beaten SFC Semi Finalists

Hopes for the season: “Covid has hit us with a few players not coming out because of it. I think we’ll know better where we are after a couple of games but the boys have been training well and with no relegation in the league it takes a bit of pressure off and we can maybe have a look at a few young lads. At the minute it is about trying to find out what our best 15 will be heading into the championship game against Teemore.” - Pat McNabb