By Tommy Nethery

STEPPING up to the plate on a more consistent basis remains the biggest challenge facing Tyrone teams as they attempt to end Enniskillen Town's unyielding stranglehold on the Mercer Cup.

Town are gunning for a record-breaking sixth title triumph in Division One and on the cusp of another season Rory Judge's men would still appear to be the side to beat.

The Enniskillen side has monopolised the Fermanagh and Western League's premier silverware in recent times, initially under the guidance of the astute Gerry Love for four seasons and then under Judge for the greater part of the 2008-09 campaign.

Questions were raised of Town's ability to maintain their challenge following Love's departure but those doubts were emphatically answered when the Sky Blues, after an initial blip, finished the season strongly to register their five-in-a-row. That said, Judge and company didn't get it all their own way last season with Lisbellaw United, Ballinamallard United Reserves and Tummery Athletic all in contention until the Fermanagh men clinched the prestigious crown on the final day by defeating NFC Kesh Reserves 6-0.

The last time a Tyrone team tasted league success was when Shelbourne defeated Killen Rangers in a play-off to claim the Division One title in 2002/03.

A few days later the Shels completed the double by annexing the Mulhern Cup and some pundits are predicting that the Omagh side could figure prominently in the months to come.

A cagey Mickey O'Sullivan though remains realistic about his side's chances.

"Admittedly we have added a few names to the squad, the likes of Paul O'Neill, Gary Taggart and Conor McCullagh and possibly one or two others, so I would like to think we will be more competitive. We have the nucleus of the squad from last season and I would like to think that we can kick on.

"I will certainly be hoping that we will give a good account of ourselves. It's going to be a difficult division this season and I firmly believe Town will face a bigger challenge. Even the new boys, Glebe United and Fintona Swifts will be no pushovers."

Swifts, last year's Division two champions, certainly haven't battled their way to the top table just to make up the numbers and their manager Kevin Marlow is quietly confident that his charges possess the ability to establish themselves in the safety of mid table.

Fintona have been an emerging force over recent seasons, evidenced by their Mulhern Cup Final appearance in 2007, and along with Glebe could provide a few upsets along the way.

"That's the plan anyway," said Marlow, the inspiration behind that thrilling Mulhern Cup odyssey.

"We are relying on the same panel of players. It's plain and simple, mid-table is our aim and if we can reproduce the same team effort and commitment that has served us well in recent seasons then that should be achievable."

Shelbourne apart, an experienced Tummery Athletic would appear to be the Tyrone side best placed to mount an audacious bid for league glory. Over the past decade the Dromore men have been knocking on the door but increased expectation has ultimately ended in abject failure.

Three Mulhern Cup Final appearances in five years, resulting in back-toback in two triumphs, confirms they have the quality but a lack of consistency has been their downfall. It remains to be seen whether the Crawford's Lane outfit can address their shortcomings to be considered realistic contenders come spring 2009.

The leading Fermanagh challengers to the Enniskillen side's attempt to break the long-standing record set by cross-town rivals Enniskillen Rangers between 1961 and 1966, is again likely to be Lisbellaw United, who have signed striker Paul Baron from Ballinamallard United and Darren Rodgers from Enniskillen Santos, and Ballinamallard United Reserves, a team that should, on paper at least, benefit from the introduction of the 'one player one club' ruling.

Among the rank outsiders for the title is the unpredictable and somewhat unknown quantity of Enniskillen Santos, who are believed to have recruited a number of new players from the north Tyrone region, 2009 Mulhern Cup winners Churchtown, who start without the services of attackers Gary McHugh and Gary McGuigan and Strathroy Harps, now under the watchful eye of Dominic McMullin, mastermind of previous title wins in the lower echelons of the league and a Mulhern Cup triumph in 2007.