Your guide to the Ulster Club Football Championship

The Seamus McFerran Cup

With the county champions crowned across Ulster, nine teams now turn their attention to provincial glory as the Ulster Club Football Championship throws-in this weekend.

There are just four teams returning from last year, highlighting what a thrilling club season it has been with some long gaps between titles bridged and others tasting success for the first time.

Perhaps that will carry into the next phase of the club season, or maybe the experience of playing late in the year will prove crucial when the Seamus McFerran Cup is handed out in early December.

Either way, it's all set up to be a thrilling competition this year.

When does the Ulster Club Championship start?

The action gets underway at Owenbeg on Saturday at 18:00 GMT as Derry champions Newbridge take on Dunloy of Antrim.

The winner has a quick turnaround as the quarter-finals are scheduled for the following weekend (8/9 November) with Armagh champions Madden awaiting the winner.

Should it be Newbridge, the game will be played in the Athletic Grounds, while Dunloy will have home advantage should they prevail.

The full list of quarter-finals:

Kingscourt Stars v Erne Gaels (Breffni Park, Saturday, 8 November, 17:30 GMT)

Loughmacrory v Kilcoo (Healy Park, Saturday, 8 November, 19:15 GMT)

Scotstown v Naomh Conaill (Clones, Sunday, 9 November, 13:30 GMT)

Madden v Newbridge/Dunloy (Sunday, 9 November, time and venue TBC)

The semi-finals are scheduled for the weekend of 22/23 November, with the final on the weekend of 6/7 December.

What does the winner get?

The Seamus McFerran Cup is the prize on offer for the winner, with the Ulster champions then advancing into an All-Ireland semi-final against the Connacht champions on the first weekend in January.

What happened last year's competition?

Tyrone's Errigal Ciaran were 2024 champions

Errigal Ciaran bridged a 22-year gap by claiming their third Ulster title.

The Tyrone side edged out Kilcoo in the provincial decider with Joe Aguz finding the net and Peter Og McCartan kicking the late winner.

They went on to beat Dr Crokes of Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-finals before losing to Dublin side Cuala in the final.

Kilcoo are one of just four returnees for this year's provincial championship with Erne Gales, Scotstown and Newbridge also involved in 2024.

How did the teams get here?

Newbridge celebrate retaining the Derry title

Newbridge: Having come through Derry's group stage, Newbridge saw off Lavey by three points in the quarters before edging out Slaughtneil in the semi-final that wasn't without its controversy. Despite the defending champions going into the final against Magherafelt as underdogs, they had enough to come through 1-17 to 1-15.

Dunloy: An 89-year wait for the Cuchulllains came to an end as they hit their stride at the right time, edging St Brigid's in the last eight before powering into the final with a semi-final victory over Portglenone. They saved their best for last as they made up for a group stage defeat to Cargin with a 3-12 to 2-8 win in the final.

Kingscourt Stars: Emerging from the round robin stage, Kingscourt overcame Ballyhaise in the quarters and then squeezed past Ramor United in the semi-finals. Despite wearing the underdog tag for the final, they impressed against Gowna, winning 2-16 to 0-13.

Erne Gaels: To win the Fermanagh Championship, Erne Gaels had to take the scenic route as a second-place finish in the group phase forced them into a quarter-final where they swept past Lisnaskea. However, it was much tighter in the semi-final as they edged out Ederney and it took a replay to see off Derrygonnelly in the final, winning 1-12 to 1-9.

Erne Gaels won the Fermanagh title after a replay

Loughmacrory: One of the history makers of 2025, Loughmacrory claimed the club's first ever Tyrone senior title. With a straight knockout format in the O'Neill County, Loughmacrory saw off Killyclogher and Donaghmore, it took a replay to get past parish rivals Carrickmore in the semi-final before they scored a stirring 0-18 to 2-11 win in the final against Trillick with Gareth Donaghy kicking the winner.

Kilcoo: The Magpies won a seventh-straight Down title but it wasn't without its drama as after early wins against Bryansford and Clonduff, they were pushed hard by Loughinisland in the last eight before escaping with a one-point win in a semi-final rematch with Clonduff. Just as they have done countless times, they saved their best for last with a 1-17 to 1-11 win over Carryduff.

Scotstown: Despite a third-place finish in the group phase, Scotstown upped it a gear in the knockout phase, sweeping past Latton and then Clontibret. It took extra-time in the final against Inniskeen, but they came through 0-22 to 0-17.

Naomh Conaill: Following a preliminary quarter-final win against Killybegs, Naomh Conaill were forced to show their fighting qualities as they were one-point winners against Termon and then fought back to defeat Four Masters. In the final against Gaoth Dobhair, they found themselves in a bigger hole when trailing by seven at the half, but fought back to force extra-time where they emerged 2-18 to 1-19.

Madden: Another club with a maiden senior title, Madden proved too strong for Armagh Harps before edging out Maghery in the quarters. They dethroned Clann Eireann in the semi-finals before a dominant display in the final against Cullyhanna, winning 0-20 to 0-9.

Players to watch

Seaan Elliott (Dunloy), Miceal Rooney (Kilcoo), Eoin McElholm (Loughmacrory) and Darragh McMullen (Madden) are all key figures

Newbridge: With plenty of emerging stars, Newbridge are not short of talent, but Conor McAteer is a leader in every sense of the word with five points in the county final highlighting his class.

Dunloy: Their free-flowing style has won plenty of admirers in Antrim and the birth of the two-pointer has been embraced by the Cuchullains with Seaan Elliott epitomising their play with direct running, an eye for goal and ability to sling over from deep.

Kingscourt Stars: Jordan Morris feared his season was over in spring, but returned to play a starring role for Meath in the summer and then continued with his native Kingscourt throughout the Cavan championship and will be a headache for any defence he comes up against.

Erne Gaels: At one stage, Ultan Kelm was eyeing up a move to the AFL but Erne Gaels will be delighted he hung around as he was central to their county success. The Fermanagh ace bagged 1-3 in the final replay and had led by example throughout the campaign.

Loughmacrory: They will consider every member of the panel as a hero in Loughmacrory, but in Eoin McElholm, they have an undoubted star. The U20 Football of the Year has undoubted talent, but also the temperament to match and will be a central figure for his club in Ulster.

Kilcoo: Perhaps the collective is Kilcoo's biggest strength but in Miceal Rooney, they have a top-class operator who is not only a fine defender, but one with the ability to attack and take a score.

Scotstown: It probably comes as no surprise but Rory Beggan continues to be one of the most complete footballers. Despite lining out behind the posts, his restarts are crucial and ability to get forward for scores. It's an obvious choice but one that is hard to argue with.

Naomh Conaill: At the beginning of 2025, Finbarr Roarty was viewed as a talent, but by the time Naomh Conaill had claimed the Donegal title, he was a central figure for county and club - a sticky defender who will be assigned to nullify the opposition's main threat.

Madden: With a man-of-the-match display in the Armagh final, Darragh McMullen highlighted his attacking prowess from open play and dead ball, but his ability to bring others into play is also a key feature.