Kinawley enter the Championship arena this weekend when they take on Derrygonnelly in the round robin stage of the Fermanagh Senior Championship - and a tight game is expected.

The Senior Championship is contested by three teams with Enniskillen the other side in the trio but it is Brian Borus and the Harps who will be expected to progress to the final and in that regard this Saturday’s encounter in Belcoo could be seen as a bit of shadow boxing ahead of the real deal.

The Harps recorded a thumping win over Enniskillen last weekend and it would be a surprise if last season’s Ulster Intermediate champions, Kinawley, didn’t do likewise when the sides meet - but first there is the clash of what is widely regarded as the top two teams in the county.

Mark Cunningham has taken over the reins of Kinawley this year and he is expecting a tough test on Saturday night.

“Derrygonnelly had a very convincing win at the weekend in the first round and we are well aware that in the last couple of years there has been nothing bettwen the sides, just the kick of a ball in league and championship, and we are expecting pretty much the same at ther weekend,” he said.

Cunningham admits that preparations have been difficult without any competitive games and that they have had to go outside the county for challenge games as they get ready for the championship.

“We have only played one league game which was ten days ago, so it has been a challenge to keep the players motivated when there was no fixed schedule as to when league and championship games where going to start.

“We have been depending on challenge matches to see where we are at against teams from other counties but you are playing teams from counties who have finished their leagues so they have had ten or 12 rounds of league games and they were in a stronger position than we were going to play the games. But, in saying that we would be relatively happy with how we have competed in matches over recent weeks.”

Kinawley will be without the scoring prowess of Joanne Doonan who is in Australia but they have the Maguire sisters, Danielle and Lisa, back on board.

“We have lost Joanne to Australia and a couple of girls to America on J1s but we have a couple of girls back who have been away for a couple of years so we just have to see where that leaves us.

“I would be confident that there is still a good strong panel there, the girls are committed and so we’ll see how we go,” he said.

Derrygonnelly enter this weekend’s game on the back of that resounding 9-27 yo 0-02 win over Enniskillen.

Harps manager Garry Smyth knows though that a much tougher test lies ahead this Saturday but he says that his players are just delighted to have their senior competitions up and running.

“For the neutral, I am sure a close game would be welcome, and going on encounters over the last year it would point to there not being much in it at the finish.

“Our group are glad to have the senior competitions underway after a long wait over the spring and summer and are looking forward to the challenge that not only this Saturday’s game brings but also to playing a compacted league programme over the next few weeks,” said Smyth.

He added: “Any day you go out to play Kinawley you know you are going to meet a committed and well organised team.

“Having retained the County title and taken provincial honours last year I’m sure Kinawley will be keen to see how far they can go this season, particularly under new management which always gives a positive bounce.”

The sides have got to know each other well in recent years but Smyth acknowledges that there is always changes to teams each year.

“The teams do know each other well but there is always a change in personnel in sides from one season to the next so it will be interesting to see how that impacts things.

“Despite having lost Joanne Doonan to Australia Kinawley will be pleased to have the experienced Maguire sisters back on board,” he said.