Determining the start of summer can be rather arbitrary – does it start when the clocks change? Is it June 1st? Or is it when the GAA Championship starts? If you think it’s the latter, dust off your sunglasses when we arrive.
The Football Championship throw-in across four provinces gets underway in Ulster and it all starts with a bang, with Armagh heading into a mouth-watering qualifier against Tyrone at the Sports Ground on Sunday [16:15 BST] – You can watch the match live on the BBC.
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We’ve already had some exciting things happening in the league this year but with the start of the Anglo-Celtic Cup it’s time to take it to the next level.
There’s a lot to think about as the next five weeks unfold, so let’s take a look at the runners and riders.
Antrim
Ryan McQuillan has emerged as one of Antrim’s top attackers [Getty Images]
Antrim were the lowest-placed of the nine teams entering the Championship, missing out on promotion from League Four.
Much of this had to do with a poor start, losing their first three games to Carlow, Tipperary and Longford, but turning things around by winning their remaining four games – a slow start they must now regret.
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Mark Doran, who is in his first season in charge of the Saffrons, feels league action comes weeks too early for his side and will take some time to settle, while Patrick McBride departs after a defeat to Tipperary.
His influence and leadership will be greatly missed, apart from the two-point prowess he displayed in Ulster FC’s defeat to Armagh last year when Saffron led the then All-Ireland champions at half-time. Now, Adam Loughran, Ryan McQuillan, Dominic McHill, Neal Burns and Pat Shivers will lead the charge.
This year, they will travel to Celtic Park on April 18 [17:00] They appear to have rediscovered their mojo against a Derry side, but if Antrim needs the Oak Leafs inside, their manager should have it after taking charge of Slaughtneil last year.
They will go into this game as outsiders, ending their wait for a first win at Ulster SFC since 2014, but they will come to Derry with a win and the pressure off their shoulders.
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alma
Oisin Konati is in solid form in the league [Getty Images]
The 2024 All-Ireland champions enter the season with no shortage of motivation.
Of course, Sam Maguire’s success two years ago was the realization of the ultimate dream for this generation of Orchard stars, but the question of making up for the recent provincial final heartbreak remains.
It’s almost unbelievable to think that the last time an Armagh skipper lifted the Anglo-Celtic Cup was in 2008, and that the previous three finals had been close but no cigars.
The penalty shootout defeats to Derry and Donegal in the 2023 and 2024 finals respectively were heart-wrenching, as was last year’s extra-time comeback against Donegal.
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Tyrone await in Sunday’s preliminary round and if they beat their neighbours, their next game will be against Fermanagh on April 25 before facing either Donegal or Down in the semi-finals on May 3.
Kieran McGeeney’s side are in a mini-transition period, with key figures such as Stefan Campbell, Ryan O’Neill and Neil Grimley no longer part of the group, but they still have plenty of firepower, with Oisin Conaty, Oisin O’Neill, Sean McConville and Connor Tebbit having performed well in a fairly positive league campaign to stay in League One and therefore stay away from outsiders heading into the Championship.
Cavan
Gearoid McKiernan remains key to Cavan [Getty Images]
Dermot McCabe’s side reached the Championship after winning just two of seven games after being relegated from League Two.
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However, with defeats to newly promoted Cork and Meath, the Breffni side were only outplayed late on and will feel they have more to offer than meets the eye.
Paddy Lynch, Gilroy McKiernan and Dara McVitie have impressed throughout but will feel they are a bit further behind in the league.
Now that that’s behind us, if there was ever a reason to refocus, an Ulster quarter-final tie at home to neighbors and rivals Monaghan is that reason.
They will face off on Sunday, April 19, with the winner advancing to the last four against Derry or Antrim.
They beat their neighbors in the 2024 preliminary round but lost to Tyrone in the first hurdle last year.
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While Cavan is not one of Ulster’s favourites, he is certainly capable of beating most teams on the day and won’t be afraid of any of the drawn teams.
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Lachlan Murray has emerged as a key figure for the Oak Leafs [Getty Images]
When Ciaran Mina’s side lost to Meath in their league opener at Croke Park earlier this year, it was a continuation of a run of league and Championship defeats that has stretched into 2024.
However, all it took was a spark and a win over Tyrone the next day saw the Oak Leafs find their form as they performed well in the league and secured victory.
It wasn’t enough to gain promotion to League Two as defeat to Louth proved fatal to those hopes – a reminder that Derry are not done yet, but they will go into this year’s Championship with renewed confidence.
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The quarter-final at home to Antrim on April 18 is a game they will go into as favorites, with Monaghan or Cavan next in line if all goes to script.
Derry recently won the Ulster Championship in 2023 and still have a number of players who won league honors the following year, including Sean McGuigan, Connor Glass and Brendan Rodgers, while Lachlan Murray has cemented his place in the attack.
Reaching the Ulster final should be their minimum target to continue their recent resurgence.
Donegal
Shea Malone is one of Donegal’s new faces for 2026 [Getty Images]
Donegal are seeking their first treble having won the title in 2024 and 2025 and if Jim McGuinness’ side can do that they will become the first Ulster treble since Armagh 20 years ago.
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McGuinness won the competition again this year to take the league title into the bag and if he takes home provincial honours, he will join Mickey Hart as the league’s winningest head coach with six.
Donegal have been stung by last year’s All-Ireland final defeat but have adopted a win-or-learn approach and while the loss of talisman Patrick McBrearty due to injury has left a huge void, they have discovered some new talent across the league, with Shay Malone impressing in goal and Max Campbell emerging in the league final and impressing.
‘One game at a time’ may be the route for Donegal, but they will certainly be keen to maintain their lead in Ulster this year with the added benefit of a home game in the first round of the All-Ireland Championship.
They will begin their defense of the Ulster Championship against Down in Letterkenny on April 26 and if they advance, Armagh, Tyrone or Fermanagh will reach the last four on May 3.
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down
Daniel Guinness is one of the many key figures in Down Syndrome [Getty Images]
It’s one of those clichés in sport to focus on yourself, but Down will be looking at other provinces, which could determine whether they compete in the All-Ireland SFC competition this summer.
They can remove all doubts if they can reach the Ulster final on May 17, but they face a tough task to do so.
Conor Laverty’s side face their toughest task yet when they face Donegal in the quarter-finals at Lettrekenny on April 26, but they go into this game in good form having won the Division Three title.
Last year they proved worthy of a place in the hunt for Sam Maguire after an impressive performance against Donegal in the provincial semi-finals before emerging from the group stages, and the Mourners’ dial is clearly moving in the right direction.
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Outside their own county borders, few would suggest they face Armagh, Tyrone or Fermanagh in the Ulster semi-finals, but County Down have troublesome players in the form of Audran Murdoch, Pat Harvin, Daniel Guinness, John McGeough and Salem Doherty.
Whether they are good enough to beat the reigning Ulster champions remains to be seen, but they will relish the test ahead of them.
Fermanagh
Dara McGurn one of Fermanagh’s bright spots in disappointing league campaign [Getty Images]
Life on the sidelines in Fermanagh didn’t get off to a great start for Declan Bonner as the Earneside side finished bottom of Division Three and went into the Championship with plenty of questions.
One of which is beyond their control as they await the winner of Armagh’s quarter-final against Tyrone on April 25, but they will go into this game as underdogs regardless.
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Nonetheless, Fermanagh proved they are capable of a strong performance in Ulster last year and looked on course to beat County Down at the quarter-final stage for a first provincial win since 2018, only to be thwarted by two late goals.
Although their fate has been sealed in Division Three this year, despite an encouraging win over Laois in the penultimate round, they were once again chased by Limerick on the final day despite outstanding performances from Dara McGurn, Connor Love and Gavin Jones.
Watching games is an issue Fermanagh will have to address, but whether they will find themselves in this position later this month is another matter.
Like Antrim, the Titean Cup appears to be home to the Earneside side, but they could also reach the Ulster quarter-finals without any pressure.
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Monaghan
Micheal Bannigan was a regular player during Monaghan’s time in the league [Getty Images]
Clontibet’s run to the All-Ireland Club semi-finals was further proof that Monaghan was not short of quality, but the Abbots’ absence in the league led to some difficult days in Division One as Gabriel Barnigan’s side failed to pick up a point in the top flight.
Monaghan are in a better position in terms of personnel than when they started but are still awaiting confirmation on the availability of several players including Ryan McAnespie, Connor McCarthy, Killian Lavelle, Dylan Byrne and Louis Kelly for the Ulster quarter-final against Cavan at Breffney Park on April 19.
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Micheal Bannigan scored well in the league, while Rory Beggan, Micheal McCarville, Dessie Ward and Jack McCarron continued to provide leadership and expertise in the provincial championship arena.
They lost to Donegal by two points at the same stage last year and were in real trouble two months later when they faced Jim McGuinness’ side in the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
A replay of this year’s Ulster final cannot be ruled out.
Tyrone
It’s hard to know where the Tyrones are currently because the talent they possess is unquestionable, but that hasn’t happened in 2026 yet.
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Malachy O’Rourke was relegated from Division One in his first year at the Red Hands but unfortunately they only managed 7 points.
Last year they were knocked out by Armagh in the Ulster semi-final classic and then went all the way to the All-Ireland semi-finals, just six points behind Kerry.
Therefore, their league this year seemed to be confirmed, but they only achieved two wins and one draw in the second league and failed to compete for promotion.
The performance of Ethan Jordan was a highlight as he made some great plays but Tyrone struggled to put it together.
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Still, they still have enough in their dressing room to turn things around, and although they head into The Athletic as outsiders this week, it won’t be the shock of the century as they beat their great rivals.
While Derry’s win over the Red Hands has turned the tables on them, will the same be true if Tyrone crosses the line on Sunday?
