2026 Donegal Senior Football Championship
| Season | 2026 |
|---|---|
← 2025 2027 → | |
The 2026 Donegal Senior Football Championship is scheduled to be the 103nd official edition of Donegal GAA's premier Gaelic football tournament for senior graded clubs in County Donegal. 16 teams compete, with the winner representing Donegal in the 2026 Ulster Senior Club Football Championship.
The defending champion is Naomh Conaill.[1][2][3] Brendan McDyer, Leo McLoone and Anthony Thompson are bidding for a record ninth winners' medal, having each received an eighth winners' medal in 2025.[4][5]
Team changes
The following teams changed division since the 2025 championship season.
To S.F.C.Promoted from 2025 Donegal I.F.C.
|
From S.F.C.Relegated to 2026 Donegal I.F.C.
|
Format
The format involves a league phase consisting of 32 games played on four different weekends, to reduce the number of clubs left in the competition by four.[8]
Teams
| Team | Captain(s) | Manager(s) | Most recent title | Last year |
| An Clochán Liath | 1958 | SFC quarter-finalist | ||
| Aodh Ruadh | 1998 | SFC relegation finalist | ||
| Ard an Rátha | 2004 | SFC relegation semi-finalist | ||
| Cill Chartha | 2017 | SFC quarter-finalist | ||
| Four Masters | 2003 | SFC semi-finalist | ||
| Gaoth Dobhair | Rónán Mac Niallais | 2018 | SFC finalist | |
| Glenfin | — | SFC relegation semi-finalist | ||
| Glenswilly | Gary McDaid | 2016 | SFC preliminary quarter-finalist | |
| Na Cealla Beaga | 1996 | SFC preliminary quarter-finalist | ||
| Na Dúnaibh | — | SFC preliminary quarter-finalist | ||
| Naomh Columba | — | IFC winner[6] | ||
| Naomh Conaill | Martin Regan | 2025 | SFC winner | |
| Seán Mac Cumhaills | 1977 | SFC quarter-finalist | ||
| St Eunan's | Kieran Donnelly[9][10] | 2024 | SFC preliminary quarter-finalist | |
| St Michael's | — | SFC semi-finalist | ||
| Termon | — | SFC quarter-finalist |
References
- ^ McNulty, Chris (12 October 2025). "Naomh Conaill fight back to beat Gaoth Dobhair after extra-time in Donegal SFC decider: Young Footballer of the Year nominee Finnbarr Roarty puts in Man of the Match performance". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ^ Crumley, Odhran (12 October 2025). "Naomh Conaill win Donegal title after thriller". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ^ "Naomh Conaill comeback to deny Gaoth Dobhair and land eighth Donegal SFC title". Hogan Stand. 12 October 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ^ Campbell, Peter (12 October 2025). "Naomh Conaill come from seven down to take Donegal crown". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ^ McNulty, Chris (4 November 2014). "St Eunan's hero John Haran hails manager Maxi Curran, 'The Magician'". Donegal News. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
Danny Gillespie won eight SFC medals with Gaoth Dobhair in the 1930s and '40s, while St Joseph's duo Brian McEniff and Seamie Granaghan won eight in the '60s and '70s.
- ^ a b "Naomh Columba end famine to defeat Malin and win Intermediate title." Donegal Democrat, 5 October 2025, https://www.donegallive.ie/news/gaa-lgfa/1911623/naomh-columba-end-famine-to-defeat-malin-and-win-intermediate-title.html.
- ^ McLaughlin, Gerry (27 September 2025). "Aodh Ruadh come good to relegate St Naul's to the Intermediate championship: When it really mattered Aodh Ruadh showed their worth with a comprehensive SFC relegation play-off win over sorry St Naul's in Donegal Town on Saturday". Donegal Live.
- ^ Foley, Alan (14 August 2024). "Kilcar's Michael Hegarty: 'The current system just isn't working'". Donegal Live.
- ^ "Donnelly appointed St Eunan's manager". Hogan Stand. 9 December 2025.
The high-profile appointment comes after Donnelly left the Fermanagh post after four years in August.
- ^ "Former Fermanagh boss Donnelly takes charge of Eunan's". Donegal News. 8 December 2025.