Division Two is set to be an enthralling spectacle for Fermanagh and Western viewers, with what feels like every team vying for promotion to the Mercer League.

Two teams came up from Division Three, in Ballinamallard United Reserves and Newtownstewart United, while three teams suffered the drop from Division One in Castlederg United, Magheraveely and Enniskillen Athletic.

Mountfield and Omagh Hospitals just missed out on the top two last year and will be hoping they can replicate their form from last year to go one step further.

Mountjoy secured a fifth-place finish last season leapfrogging Lisnaskea Rovers after an 8-0 win in their final league game.

Newtownstewart United and Ballinamallard United will look to build on their momentum from last season after gaining promotion.

Ally Irwin’s Ballinamallard side won 14 and drew two of their 16 games to take top spot in Division Three.

When asked, where his side is hoping are hoping to finish this year, Irwin said: “I think if you ask that question to any Division Two team, they’d tell you that they’re hoping to finish in the top two.

"The ambition is no different to ourselves. In football, you always want to finish as high as you can and ultimately the only two positions that matter in the second division is first and second.

"Outside of that, if you're not getting relegated, you're just in no man’s land. So, my ambition is like any other team, be the first or second best in the division.”

While their players predominantly come up from Mallard's youth teams, they have made one signing in the form of Jack Beatty from Kesh Reserves, with the forward impressing so far in pre-season.

Looking to the competition, Irwin added: “I expect the relegated teams to be strong. I expect Magheraveely to be strong. I expect (Enniskillen) Athletic to be strong, and I expect Castlederg to give it a push.

"I hear Orchard Farm have made a few signings, so, I expect them to be up for it. In the teams that I haven’t mentioned, you’ve still got Mountjoy, Lisnaskea Rovers, and Newtownstewart, which have come up with us.

"If you look down that panel of Division Two teams, I think you’ve got the strongest Division Two you’ve probably had in the Fermanagh and Western in a very long time, if not ever.

"You’ve got, pretty much, all the clubs looking to make a serious push for promotion.”

Manager Shane O’Donnell has made the switch from Lisnaskea Rovers to Orchard Farm and has brought forward pair Seamie Quigley and Brian McDermott along with him.

O’Donnell made the move, citing frustration at a lack of numbers at the beginning of the season due to GAA commitments being a factor.

He’ll be joined in the dug-out by Omagh native Stephen Marron, as the pair look to mount a promotion push following on from last season’s Mulhern Cup quarter-final appearance, a first for the club.

“I would be thinking at least top four when the full squad is out with new signings,” O’Donnell said.

Ryan Hannigan, Michael McGrath and Johnny O’Reilly have also made the switch from Rovers to Farm.

O’Donnell added: “Pre-season is going well, we have seven or eight games played. Castlederg United, Magheraveely and Ballinamallard will be right up there, in terms of promotion and we are hoping to push them all the way.”

Castlederg United, Magheraveely and Enniskillen Athletic will be looking for a swift return to the topflight.

Like Lisnaskea Rovers, Athletic’s aspirations have been hindered due to the majority of their squad being involved in GAA action.

Emmett Cassidy has taken over the reins from Darren Rogers and is targeting more of a settled squad than in years gone by.

“Looking to try and get much more of a consistent line-up out throughout the season, rather than the constant chopping and changing we had last year,” Cassidy said.

“[We] want to be challenging for promotion but it’s going to be very competitive.

"Magheraveely and Ballinamallard will be tough to stop I’d imagine, but there’s several teams that will be aiming to get promoted this year in particular.”