This season’s race for league honours takes on a very interesting format thanks to the Club Player’s Competition.

The competition, which splits both Division One and Two into two groups, allowed teams to get some competitive action under the belts without the involvement of county players.

It also gave clubs the chance to get some points on the board for the beginning of the Senior league proper.

While all teams were guaranteed a point if they fulfilled all their fixtures, the chance to take a further three points into the league as group winners was a huge incentive.

Clubs were hampered by the absence of their most influential players due to county commitments, and did not fare as well as they will be expected to when the league gets under way on Sunday, July 18.

In Division One, Ollie Fay’s Kinawley and Seamus Ryder’s Erne Gaels picked up the four points on offer as they won their respective groups, with both sides not overly hampered by the absence of county players.

It was the same with the runners-up in Division 1A and 1B, Derrygonnelly and Devenish.

Being able to pick from more or less a full hand, they put their best foot forward in the Club Players’ Competition and will start with three points in the league.

In Division 1A, Ederney claimed two points, while Enniskillen did the same in 1B. Both sides had a heavy contingent of county players from Senior right down to U-17 that were unavailable, and it would be expected that with the return of these players for the league, their fortunes will be a lot different over the next 10 or so weeks of football.

Tempo were another team who were missing key individuals, such as Aidan Breen, Tiarnan Bogue and Lorcan McStravick, as they picked up a solitary point.

Irvinestown were without Kevin O’Donnell and Josh Largo-Elis as they lost all their games, while Belnaleck and Roslea will certainly be stronger when they welcome back their county players into the fold.

in Division Two, St. Pat’s Donagh and Lisnaskea will start in front as they picked up the four points.

Donagh in particular were impressive, racking up high scores in most of their games, with goals being a particular feature.

But with no county players to come back into the squad, it will be interesting to see how they fare when sides show a stronger hand.

Peter Clarke’s Skea side have a good mixture of youth and experience, and with four points on the board, a couple of early wins will give them the confidence that they can return to Division One after several years away.

Aghadrumsee and Derrylin will start with three points in Division Two.

The Magpies have no county players to come back in, while Derrylin will welcome back Luke Flanagan and Danny Leonard from the Fermanagh senior squad.

Available

Sean McNally and Cian McManus will return for Teemore, while they also have players involved at underage level that should be available for the beginning of the league to help them add to the two points they have already collected alongside Belcoo.

The remaining four teams of Maguiresbridge, Coa, Brookeborough and Newtownbutler will all begin with one point each.

Maguiresbridge will be strengthened by the availability of Ciaran Corrigan and Daniel Teague; Coa will have Eoin Donnelly back on the pitch; while Diarmuid King will give Newtown a boost.

The new set-up makes for an interesting league where there will be very little room for error.

A strong start from the teams with points on the board will put them in a strong position for league honours and promotion.

The teams lower down who have also those aspirations cannot afford to slip up, as early defeats will see them slip out of contention quickly.