Ulster champions Donegal begin their quest for a third provincial title against Down in Letterkenny while rivals Armagh and Tyrone lock horns in a mouth-watering preliminary round tie
The 2026 Ulster SFC gets under way with the meeting of Armagh and Tyrone at the Box-It Athletic Grounds on Sunday, April 12(Image: ©INPHO/James Crombie)
The National Football Leagues proved a mixed bag for Ulster teams across the four divisions and plenty will feel they’ve a point to prove ahead of the start of the 2026 Championship season.
Ulster’s claim as the most competitive of the four provincial Championships could be at risk this year with the Leinster Championship, all of a sudden, looking wide open.
Cork’s promotion to the top flight might spook Kerry while Connacht looks a proper three-horse race again.
In Ulster, Donegal will try and claim a third straight provincial crown for the first time in their history this season.
After three successive Ulster final defeats, lifting the Anglo Celt Cup for the first time since 2008 will be high on the agenda for Kieran McGeeney’s Armagh.
The Orchard County are first into battle as they host rivals Tyrone in the preliminary round with the winners to face Fermanagh in the quarter-final.
Donegal have home advantage for their tie against Down, but that game will take place in O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny as the new pitch at Ballybofey won’t be ready in time.
In the other half of the draw, despite missing out on promotion from Division Two, Derry will be overwhelming favourites to defeat Antrim in their quarter-final with the Saffrons set to spend another season in Division Four in 2027.
Monaghan and Cavan will face each other in Division Two next year with the Farney dropping down from the top flight. Their quarter-final clash in Clones is, arguably, the most difficult quarter-final to call.
There are also implications for the Sam Maguire and Tailteann Cup to consider. Should a team from Division Three or Four reach the provincial final, they’d be guaranteed a spot in the top 16.
With the decider scheduled for Sunday, May 17, every team will be hoping they’ll be on the road to Clones for the 2026 Ulster final.
2025 Ulster SFC draw
Ulster SFC preliminary round
Sunday, April 12
Armagh v Tyrone (Box-It Athletic Grounds, 4.15pm)
Ulster SFC quarter-final
Saturday April 18
Derry v Antrim (Find Insurance Celtic Park, 5pm)
Sunday, April 19
Monaghan v Cavan (Clones, 3pm)
Saturday, April 25
Fermanagh v Armagh/Tyrone (Brewster Park if Armagh, O’Neills Healy Park if Tyrone, 5.30pm)
Sunday, April 26
Donegal v Down (Letterkenny, 3pm)
Ulster SFC semi-final
Saturday, May 2
Derry/Antrim v Monaghan/Cavan (TBC, 5pm)
Sunday, May 3
Armagh/Tyrone/Fermanagh v Donegal/Down (TBC, 4pm)
Ulster SFC Final
Sunday, May 17
TBC, 4.15pm
Betting odds: Donegal 9/5; Derry 21/10; Armagh 10/3; Tyrone 13/1; Down 22/1; Monaghan 22/1; Cavan 33/1; Fermanagh 375/1; Antrim 375/1
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