The Junior Championship gets underway this weekend as Aghadrumsee takes on Brookeborough while Lisnaskea face Coa as four of Fermanagh’s teams look to pick up some silverware and move into next year’s intermediate competition.

Aghadrumsee were beaten finalists last year and manager Mickey Cadden is looking to get off to a winning start despite only picking up one league win following a promising Club Players’ campaign.

“Training has been very good, we’ve stepped it up to three nights a week. Things are going well, and we are getting more lads back to full fitness now after some injuries.

“I would be expecting all the teams to be tough games, I wouldn’t think there will be any easy games in this championship. To be honest, we haven’t looked past the first game against Brookeborough, It’s a local derby and it’s always a tight one.

“I think the result will all be dependent on how we play. If we play well then hopefully, we can come away with a win but, otherwise, it will be a grind. We are expecting a real tough game, It would have been nicer to have come away with a few more league wins but we are just hoping to come out on top next week.”

Brookeborough manager Paul Quinn will be missing key men in their opening encounter but knows his side can use the Junior Championship format to their advantage.

“With the format of the Junior Championship and having a second bite of the cherry it takes a bit of pressure off the first game knowing you have another day out either way, however we are going out to try and win.

“Aghadrumsee will obviously be going in as favourites and even though we will be down three or four main starting players for the first round we will still be going out to put in a solid performance and get something to build on for two weeks later.

“From what I’ve seen so far in the league, Lisnaskea would be going into this championship as big favourites. I do believe if the younger members of our squad can rise to the occasion and deliver on the potential they have, I’ve no doubt we’ll be a match for either of them on our day.

“If this squad of players would take the confidence and attitude, they apply into their training recently onto the field this coming Saturday we’ll be a force for any of these teams we come up against and I just hope they do themselves justice on the day and with a bit of luck or rub of the green who knows what will happen,” said Quinn.

Lisnaskea will no doubt be the frontrunners for this year’s competition following their relegation from the Intermediate Championship last year. Manager John Reihill is keen to make a return at the first time of asking.

“The lads are in good shape and going into the championship with some confidence with the end of the league getting us some wins,” said Reihill.

“No game is easy in the championship at the level you’re in so we are in the Junior Championship knowing only good performances from us will be sufficient enough for us to get the success we desire.

“Our goal is to win every game and win well by playing our best football. You have to beat whatever teams in front of you and we know over the three or four games we play that it’s going to be nothing but tough. We hope we are up to the task.”

Lisnaskea’s first test will come in the form of Coa as player/manager Gary Lynch hopes to build on a decent league campaign for the O’Dwyers.

“Preparation has been really good. We’ve had three or four weeks now to really focus and we have a young team with lads looking to prove a point at senior football.

“We have played each of the teams twice already this year so we’re fairly familiar with all three teams,” said Lynch.

And Lynch stresses that their goal is to secure the Junior Championship.

Tough games lie ahead I expect but our objective is simple, I don’t mind saying; it is to win the Junior Championship. We are a young team with loads of quality, a wee bit inconsistent yet with performances but that will come.

“Playing in these types of games will bring them on leaps and bounds, ‘Skea are big favourites and rightly so any team coming down from the Intermediate has to expect that, though I believe we have a good enough team to win it. No one will fancy us and that’s great. If we turn up and play like we can then we won’t be far away.”