GAA Announces 2026 Provincial Championship Draws

Armagh and Tyrone, two of Ulster's most storied rivals, will clash in the preliminary round of the 2026 Ulster Senior Football Championship, setting the stage for what promises to be one of the most intense provincial campaigns in recent years. The draws for all four provinces were conducted at Croke Park on Thursday evening, pairing teams for fixtures that begin in the spring and could culminate in finals by May.

In Ulster, the matchup between Armagh and Tyrone revives a fierce rivalry highlighted by last year's semifinal, where Armagh edged out Tyrone 0-23 to 0-22 in Clones. The winner advances to face Fermanagh in the quarterfinals, with the victor of that tie potentially meeting Donegal or Down in the semifinals. Donegal, the defending champions, open against Down, while Derry take on Antrim and Monaghan meet Cavan in the other quarterfinals. The semifinals pit the Derry-Antrim winner against the Monaghan-Cavan victor, and the Donegal-Down winner against the Fermanagh-Armagh/Tyrone outcome. Armagh, who last won the Anglo-Celt Cup in 2009, have reached three straight finals without a victory, while Tyrone claimed the title in 2021. Donegal, under manager Jim McGuinness, aim...