Another eagerly anticipated Ulster Senior Football Championship commences this weekend.

Tyrone, All Ireland finalists last year, face Derry in the preliminary round, while several other counties believe that provincial glory can be attained.

Donegal were worthy winners in 2018. Will Declan Bonner's charges prevail again? Can Tyrone or Monaghan return to the summit? Who will emerge as contenders from the pack?

ANTRIM

Manager: Lenny Harbinson

Captain: Declan Lynch

Fixture: May 25, Quarter-final v Antrim/Derry, Venue TBC

League Form: Antrim won three and lost four as they finished third in Division Four. They lost by just a point to each of the finalists, Derry and Leitrim, but ultimately finished well below that pair in the League standings in Lenny Harbinson’s second season in charge.

Team news: Antrim have suffered a significant turnover of players since last year, and will enter the Championship without the services of Mark Sweeney and Peter Healy, while Sean Burke and Sean McVeigh have retired. Experienced goalkeeper Chris Kerr also called time on his inter-county career, while Patrick McAleer has moved abroad. Midfielder Niall McKeever is not involved either.

Creggan full-back Ricky Johnston has returned to the fold after missing the 2018 campaign, while Harbinson called up Eoghan McCabe (St Gall’s), Fintan Burke (Creggan), Owen McKeown (Lamh Dhearg) and Patrick Finnegan (St Brigid’s).

Player to watch: Matthew Fitzpatrick showed his class throughout the league with some impressive scoring displays. Fitzpatrick's presence is all the more important given that he is based in Liverpool where he is studying.

Prospects: Ryan Murray, Patrick McBride and Fitzpatrick have been in top scoring form over the course of the league while the likes of Patrick Gallagher and skipper Declan Lynch impressed in defence, but Harbinson will face a stiff test in the quarter-final, potentially against last year’s All-Ireland finalists Tyrone.

ARMAGH

Manager: Kieran McGeeney

Captain: Rory Grugan

Fixture: May 19, Quarter-final v Down at Páirc Esler, Newry, 4pm

League Form: The Orchard County men held their own in an ultra-competitive Division Two, finishing fifth with two wins, two draws and three losses.

Team news: The return of Stefan Campbell and Jamie Clarke this season has rejuvenated Armagh’s attacking options as Kieran McGeeney targets a long overdue championship win.

Crossmaglen Rangers ace Oisin O’Neill played no part in the Keague due to a hip injury but is expected to be in contention for a place for the Ulster Championship campaign. Maghery midfielder Ben Crealey is back in the squad, while Andrew Murnin is hoping be available after a long stint out recovering from tendinopathy in both knees. Murnin hasn’t featured for the Orchard County since last summer's All-Ireland qualifier fourth round exit at the hands of Roscommon. Ryan McShane is understood to have parted company with the squad.

Player to watch: Jarlath Óg Burns was the engine in the middle of the St. Mary’s University Belfast team this year that made the Sigerson Cup final. Blessed with plenty of athletic ability, Burns’ direct running and fielding ability is a great option for McGeeney in Armagh’s middle third.

Prospects: Now in his fifth year in charge, McGeeney is yet to sample a Championship win in Ulster. Where better to get one than in the backyard of neighbouring rivals Down? A win there, and they could be well in with a shout of claiming a place in a provincial final.

CAVAN

Manager: Mickey Graham

Captain: Dara McVeety

Fixture: May 18, Quarter-final v Monaghan at Kingspan Breffni Park, Cavan, 7pm

League Form: Cavan suffered demotion from Division One after just one win from seven. However the manner of their performances suggested they were much better value than that return of two league points.

Team news: Former Ulster Under 21 winners Jack Brady and Gerard Smith are back in the senior panel, while new recruit Conor Rehill has been thoroughly impressive in his debut season, starting every league game. Michael Argue and Kevin Tierney played in the early rounds of the league but sustained injuries and are doubtful for next weekend’s opener against Monaghan, while Ciaran Brady will miss the game also due to injury.

Player to watch: Conor Madden found the net twice against Roscommon to give Mickey Graham's side their only League win. The Gowna man came off the bench to land a last-gasp winning point against Tipperary last year that sealed Cavan’s promotion to Division One. On his day, he is a match-winner,

Prospects: Mickey Graham will be hoping for a win in his Championship bow as Cavan boss, but his side face a stern test in the form of last year’s All Ireland semi-finalists Monaghan. Home advantage at Kingspan Breffni Park could be a huge factor. Cavan supporters will be buoyed that key men Dara McVeety, Gearoid McKiernan, Killian Clarke and Martin Reilly are all fit and available for selection.

DERRY

Manager: Damian McErlain

Captain: Christopher McKaigue

Fixture: May 11, Preliminary round v Tyrone at Healy Park, Omagh, 4pm

League Form: Promotion straight back out of the basement division of the football league was the absolute requisite for Declan McErlain’s team, and they delivered it with seven wins from seven, the only 100 per cent team in the league. Victory over a gallant Leitrim in the Division Four final in Croke Park in March was further proof that Derry were far too good for the grade.

Team news: A wrist injury will rule out Eamon McGill, while Michael McEvoy and Niall Toner have formally taken their leave of the Derry squad to go travelling to the US.

Player to watch: Shane McGuigan was another star turn in the St Mary’s Belfast side this season, and his scoring touch was keenly felt for Derry as they captured the League title. The most prolific scorer in the Sigerson Cup competition, the Slaughtneil man is capable of producing some magic scores with his left foot.

Prospects: The odds will be stacked against Derry going into the preliminary round tie with Tyrone this weekend, a foe they’ve only beaten once in the past eight meetings back 17 years.

DONEGAL

Manager: Declan Bonner

Captain: Michael Murphy

Fixture: May 26, Quarter-final v Fermanagh at Brewster Park, Enniskillen, 2pm

League Form: Donegal navigated their way through the choppy waters of Division Two to win promotion and seal a place in the final, where a brilliant second half display against Meath in Croke Park ensured the silverware would be heading up to the North West.

Team news: Four members of the Donegal squad - Martin O'Reilly, Martin McElhinney, Mark Anthony McGinley and Odhran MacNiallais - have taken the exit door from Declan Bonner’s camp.

Bonner has been given a welcome boost however with Patrick McBrearty now fully recovered from a serious knee injury that kept him side-lined for most of the past year. The Kilcar clubman has been getting plenty of valuable game time for his club in over the past month.

Ciaran Thompson, who missed the Division Two Allianz League final win over Meath, is also expected to be back in contention for a place in the starting line-up. A shoulder injury sustained by talented, teenage forward Oisín Gallen is an unfortunate setback.

Player to watch: Jamie Brennan took up the mantle of carrying Donegal’s scoring threat in the absence of Michael Murphy and Patrick McBrearty in the league. A powerful athlete with a direct approach to the game, his scoring totals have been consistent and he is a real threat in the Donegal attack.

Prospects: The current holders of the Anglo-Celt Cup, Donegal will very much be in the reckoning this year again, and with the return of McBrearty and talisman Murphy as influential as ever, they will be intent on hanging onto the trophy.

DOWN

Manager: Paddy Tally

Captain: Darren O’Hagan

Fixture: May 19, Quarter-final v Armagh at Páirc Esler, Newry, 4pm

League Form: The Mournemen agonisingly missed out on promotion from Division Three by a single point on score difference, after finishing level with top two Laois and Westmeath on ten points/

Team news: Paddy Tally used the League to blood in newcomers such as Rory Burns, Ruairi Wells, Daniel Guinness and Pierce Laverty, however David McKibben, Marc Reid, Stephen McConville and Ceilum Doherty have all left the setup ahead of the Championship opener with Armagh next weekend.

Player to watch: Donal O’Hare – The Burren man accumulated a huge 4-22 throughout the league, including a hat-trick of goals against Longford, and will be tasked with carrying the brunt of the scoring responsibilities again in this Championship season.

Prospects: The home advantage of Newry against Armagh will be vital for Tally’s troops. They’ll be relying on the likes of the experienced Kevin McKernan and Caolan Mooney, and the accurate O’Hare to progress to the last four.

FERMANAGH

Manager: Rory Gallagher

Captain: Eoin Donnelly

Fixture: May 26, Quarter-final v Donegal at Brewster Park, Enniskillen, 2pm

League Form: Fermanagh’s defence was the meanest in the entire league, but it was not enough to secure promotion from Division Two after finishing third with three wins, two losses and two draws.

Team news: The unavailability of Séamus Quigley is a hindrance to Rory Gallagher. Quigley enjoyed a successful 2018 despite being dropped for the Ulster Championship semi-final victory over Monaghan for breaking a team rule. Fellow forward Tomas Corrigan missed the beginning of 2019 due to a stint travelling.

Defender Johnny Cassidy won an Ulster minor club title with Enniskillen Gaels as recently as last year and played in every league game, while another teenager, Ultan Kelm, has impressed so far this year. Ciaran Corrigan was playing county hurling but was drafted into the football setup after playing in St Mary's Belfast’s Sigerson Cup campaign. Ciaran Flaherty and Richie O’Callaghan have come back into the squad.

Player to watch: Che Cullen was rock solid at full back as they stormed their way into the Ulster final with underdog victories over both Armagh and Monaghan. He Conor McManus scoreless from play for the entire 70 minutes of the latter game.

Prospects: 12 points separated Fermanagh and their opponents on Sunday fortnight, Donegal, in last year’s Ulster Final, but the Erne County’s league form suggests they have tightened up their defence. What’s telling though is that their scoring return in that campaign was also the lowest across all four divisions, and stat that will have to improve if they are to make it back to the decider in 2019.

MONAGHAN

Manager: Malachy O’Rourke

Captain: Colin Walshe

Fixture: May 18, Quarter-final v Cavan at Kingspan Breffni Park, Cavan, 7pm

League Form: After an eye-catching win over Dublin in the opening weekend, Monaghan stumbled through the remainder of the campaign, but did enough to hang onto their Division One status.

Team news: The big news in Monaghan has been the return of Niall Kearns. The 21-year-old enjoyed a sensational debut season in 2018, earning an All-Star nomination for his role in Monaghan’s trip to their first All-Ireland semi-final in 30 years. He was forced to undergo heart surgery at the end of last season, and was sorely missed in the Farneymen’s league campaign this year.

A player who may not feature immediately is Kieran Hughes, who has been battling back from a hamstring injury, meanwhile a broken ankle sustained in club action by Darren Hughes is a huge blow ahead of the quarter-final against Cavan next Saturday.

Player to watch: Stephen O’Hanlon announced himself in Monaghan’s opening league game against Dublin with a terrific high catch and goal that set the Farney men on their way to a three point win in Clones. The livewire corner forward came to the attention of many in the county last August when he scored 2-11 for Carrickmacross in the Monaghan Under 21 club final, and February’s goal against Dublin showcased his athletic prowess as a former Ireland U20s basketball star.

Prospects: With the quality of Conor McManus, Monaghan are always in the conversation. The likes of Conor McCarthy and Jack McCarron will be vital to support the Clontibret star in attack. Having beaten the then holders Tyrone last year in the quarter-final, the smash-and-grab manner of the defeat to Fermanagh in the subsequent semi will still rankle with the Farney Army.

TYRONE

Manager: Mickey Harte

Captain: Matthew Donnelly

Fixture: May 11, Preliminary round v Derry at Healy Park, Omagh, 4pm

League Form: Tyrone’s League campaign was night and day. After opening defeats to Kerry and Mayo, and a draw against Roscommon, the threat of relegation loomed for the Red Hands. However they turned their campaign around, rattling off four wins in their last four games, including an eye-catching victory over Dubin in Croke Park. In the end, they narrowly missed out on a place in the Division One final.

Team news: Some of the new faces on the Tyrone panel this year include Derrylaughan man Brian Kennedy, who featured regularly at midfield throughout the league, and Galbally defender Liam Rafferty, a standout player for Sigerson Cup runners-up St Mary’s Belfast.

Ronan O’Neill, Mickey O’Neill and Mark Bradley have opted off the panel for 2019, while Cathal McCarron called time on his inter-county career due to persistent injuries and taking up residence to Kildare. Attackers Kyle Coney and Darren McCurry were recalled after time away from Mickey Harte’s setup.

Player to watch: Kieran McGeary’s stock has been steadily rising in recent seasons. The All-Ireland U21 winning captain from 2015, the Pomeroy man played a key role when introduced off the bench in last year’s run to the All-Ireland final, and this year he looks to have cemented a place in the starting Tyrone forward line this summer due to his industrious, honest displays.

Prospects: Eyes will be firmly fixed on regaining the Anglo-Celt Cup following last year’s quarter-final defeat to Monaghan in Healy Park. While Tyrone ultimately toppled the Farneymen and last year’s Ulster champions Donegal later that summer, entry to the All-Ireland Quarter Final series via a provincial title will be ideal scenario for Mickey Harte. They will be a lot of people’s favourites going into the competition, but a potential semi-final meeting against Donegal will be a true test of their credentials before summer truly kicks in.