Gaelic Games

Image source, Getty Images

Armagh will face Tyrone in the preliminary round of the 2026 Ulster Championship, while holders Donegal are potential semi-final opponents.

Kieran McGeeney's side, who have lost three Ulster finals in a row, will have to battle past Tyrone in a tantalising provincial opener.

The sides played out a thrilling semi-final in last year's Ulster Championship as Armagh ran out one-point winners.

Armagh last won the Anglo Celt Cup in 2008 while Tyrone last triumphed in 2021.

The winner of that tie will face Fermanagh in the quarter-finals, while Donegal or Down will then await in the last four.

Jim McGuinness' Donegal have defeated Armagh in the past two deciders and are aiming to become the first county to win the Ulster final three times in a row since the Orchard County's treble 20 years ago.

On the top half of the draw, Derry will be heavy favourites against Antrim in their quarter-final and the winner will take on Monaghan or Cavan, who were paired together in an intriguing derby, in the last four.

Dates for the fixtures will be announced by the GAA in due course.

Ulster Championship

Preliminary round: Armagh v Tyrone.

Quarter-finals: Derry v Antrim, Monaghan v Cavan, Donegal v Down, Fermanagh v Armagh/Tyrone.

Semi-finals: Derry/ Antrim v Monaghan/Cavan, Donegal/Down v Fermanagh/Armagh/Tyrone.

Leinster Championship

Round One: Carlow v Wicklow, Westmeath v Longford, Offaly v Laois.

Quarter-finals: Kildare v Offaly/Laois, Meath v Westmeath/Longford, Louth v Wexford, Dublin v Carlow/Wicklow.

Semi-finals: Kildare/Offaly/Laois v Meath/Westmeath/Longford, Louth/Wexford v Dublin/Carlow/Wicklow.

Connacht Championship

Quarter-finals: New York v Roscommon, London v Mayo, Sligo v Leitrim.

Semi-finals: London/Mayo v New York

Munster Championship

Quarter-finals: Tipperary v Waterford, Limerick v Cork

Semi-finals: Tipperary/Waterford v Lmerick v Cork, Clare v Kerry

Image source, LGFA

The Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) has confirmed Lyn Savage as its new chief executive officer.

Savage will replace long-serving Helen O'Rourke on 9 March, 2026.

Former Louth player Savage is currently the LGFA's national development manager, having previously served as national development officer.

She has also previously worked with Dublin GAA.

"Lyn brings a wealth of experience, deep knowledge of our game, and a long-standing commitment to the development of women's sport," said LGFA president Trina Murray.

"Throughout her career, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic insight, and a genuine dedication to supporting players, volunteers, staff, and communities across the country and in our International units.

"We are confident she will continue to strengthen the foundations of the LGFA and guide the organisation into its next chapter.

"As we welcome Lyn, we also honour Helen O'Rourke's 28 years of service. Her leadership has built the strong, committed, and united team that will carry the organisation forward, providing a solid foundation for this next phase."

Image source, Inpho

There will be a repeat of the 2024 Dr McKenna Cup final as Tuesday's draw saw holders Derry and Ulster champions Donegal matched in the same group.

The pre-season competition returns in January after a one-season hiatus with the full schedule of fixtures to be confirmed in the coming days.

Derry scored a 0-12 to 0-6 win over Jim McGuinness' men in the final and both sides are joined by Antrim in Group C.

In Group A, Kieran McGeeney's Armagh have been drawn alongside neighbours Tyrone and Down, while in Group B, there is another derby in prospect with Cavan and Monaghan in the same section alongside Fermanagh.

Ulster GAA confirmed the competition's return in September for what will be the 100th anniversary of the Dr McKenna Cup.

Last year, it was estimated the Ulster Council lost upwards of £300,000 in gate receipts with the competition shelved on the basis of player welfare, but the pre-season competitions across the provinces have been given the green light to return.

2026 Dr McKenna Cup draw

Group A: Armagh, Down, Tyrone

Group B: Cavan, Fermanagh, Monaghan

Group C: Antrim, Derry, Donegal

Image source, Getty Images

Fermanagh's Blaithin Bogue is one of five former Gaelic footballers named on the All-Australian AFLW team of 2025.

Bogue made the switch to Australian Rules side North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos in late 2023, but would make her long-awaited debut in August following a 2024 spent battling injury and readjusting to life in Australia.

However, from her debut against Geelong Cats in August, the 25-year-old kicked 21 goals in 12 matches, helping steer North Melbourne into this Saturday's Grand Final against Brisbane Lions.

Of the 21 players honoured, Bogue picked up one of the five interchange players on the team, with former Donegal player Niamh McLoughlin also named in that position.

McLoughlin, co-captain at Gold Coast Suns, is another Australian Rules convert, with the 32-year-old making the switch last year and also earns her first selection on the All-Australian team.

Dublin's Jennifer Dunne - who will face Bogue in Saturday's Grand Final - has been selected as one of the five defenders alongside Mayo's Dayna Finn, while in the forwards, Galway's Áine McDonagh has been selected.

Image source, Inpho

Kilcoo manager Martin Corey says his side are "happy" to be in the Ulster Club football final after their 4-12 to 1-10 victory over Erne Gaels at the Athletic Grounds.

Paul Devlin and Eugene Branagan found the net in the first period before Shealan Johnston and Ceilum Doherty scored goals after the restart.

The Femanagh side couldn't spark a late comeback after two two-pointed efforts from Ryan Lyons and a late goal from Seamus Ryder and ended up finishing with 14 players after Shane Rooney was sent-off in second-half injury time.

"Happy to be there," Corey replied when asked how it felt for Kilcoo to make their fifth Ulster Club football fine in six years.

"Our objective coming here today was to try and win the game and get back into the last two.

"We didn't plan to play the way we did, particularly in the first half but it is something to work on for the next day."

Corey's side will either face Derry champions Newbridge or Monaghan champions Scotstown in the final with those two sides playing on Sunday, November 23, in Omagh.

Kilcoo were last year's runners up but will be hoping to lift the trophy after this year's final which will take place on the weekend of 6-7 December.

"We will go to the game and watch it [the second semi-final]," Corey continued.

"It is two very good teams and both teams will be chasing silverware, so we need to do the work next week, try to get the bodies recovered and get ready."

Image source, Inpho

A haul of 1-10 from Roisin McCormick powered Loughgiel to a fourth-straight Ulster Senior Camogie title with a 2-15 to 1-11 win over Clonduff at Armagh's Athletic Grounds on Sunday.

The Antrim champions played over half the game with 14 players as Lucia McNaughton was shown a red card in the 27th minute, but the Shamrocks powered on in the second period to defeat the Down side.

After points from McCormick either side of Clonduff's opener from Paula O'Hagan, a dropping free was turned into the Loughgiel net by Cassie Fitzpatrick.

However, McCormick hit back immediately when racing clear to rattle the net at the other end.

The gap was one when McNaughton saw red as O'Hagan tied the game with the resultant free and then put her side ahead after good work from Sara Louise Graffin.

Loughgiel would edge ahead at the half with two from McCormick with her side leading 1-6 to 1-5.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Loughgiel took charge early in the second period with scores through Annie Lynn, McCormick (free) and Marie Laverty.

Graffin carried the fight for Clonduff with a brace and after Katie McKillop hit back, two frees from O'Hagan reduced the gap to the minimum entering the final quarter.

However, Loughgiel rose to the challenge with McCormick converting three frees, while McKillop and Anna Connolly also chipped in to put some daylight between the teams.

McKillop would put a final gloss on the board with a late goal as Loughgiel made it four in a row in Ulster.

Image source, Inpho

Moneyglass beat Errigal Ciaran 3-10 to 0-6 at Brewster Park to win their first ever Ulster ladies senior club title.

Three first half goals from Leah Stewart, Cathy Carey and Maria O'Neill sent the Antrim champions well on their way.

St Ergnat's became the first ever club from Antrim to win the senior ladies crown and they will now represent Ulster in the All-Ireland semi-final later this year.

It was the Tyrone champions who made the brighter start, racing into an early 0-2 to no score lead before they were awarded a penalty, but Maria Canavan sent the effort to the right and wide.

Moneyglass did settle with their first score on 12 minutes through Cathy Carey and that score was quickly followed with their opening goal.

Stewart reacted fastest to a free that dropped short to finish soccer style to the net.

Minutes later, the goalscorer became the provider as Stewart set-up Carey to finish to the net.

O'Neill added a third goal before half-time as the Antrim champions led 3-1 to 0-4 at the break.

Carey continued to lead the charge for Moneyglass as they outscored Errigal 0-9 to 0-2 over the course of the second half.

The Tyrone champions would go 28 second half minutes without a score before they were awarded a second penalty.

Canavan stepped up once again and had her effort palmed over the bar by Bronagh Devlin with the final act of the game to seal a maiden Ulster title for Moneyglass.