Glen and Slaughtneil kept apart in championship group stages

Derry and Ulster champions Glen have been kept apart from last year’s finalists ahead of the start of the Derry SFC which begins next month.

Glen – who are aiming for a third successive title - are paired with 2018 champions Coleraine in Group A which also contains Damian Cassidy’s Bellaghy who are one point away from winning the league.

Magherafelt and Slaughtneil were the last winners of the John McLaughlin Cup and they are paired in Group B.

All competitions will be played in a group format with the senior championship set to be reduced to 12 teams next season as part of a restructuring process.

Losers of the play-offs will be relegated, with no promotion in place until the 2024 season.

Neighbours Claudy and Banagher have been kept apart in the intermediate championship.

Banagher are paired with last year’s beaten finalists Drumsurn and parish rivals Craigbane who were junior champions in 2022.

Champions Glenullin begin the defence of their title with Greenough, Claudy and Castledawson in their group.

There is a group of death in the junior championship. Last year’s beaten finalists Ballerin in joined in Group A by league champions Ballymaguigan and Glack.

In the hurling championship, Slaughtneil and Kevin Lynch’s have been kept apart.

The football competitions begin on the weekend of August 6, with hurling set to begin the previous week.

The layout of the draws...

Senior football
Group A: Glen, Lavey, Dungiven, Swatragh, Ballinascreen, Coleraine, Bellaghy
Group B: Slaughtneil, Newbridge, Ballinderry, Magherafelt, Kilrea, Loup, Steelstown

Each team will have three home and three away games, with the top four in each section advancing to the quarter-finals.

The semi-finals will be an open draw with repeat pairings allowed.

Teams placed sixth and seventh will play in the relegation playoffs with the two losers relegated to the Intermediate Championship for 2024.

Intermediate football
Group A: Banagher, Drumsurn, Foreglen, Limavady, Faughanvale, Craigbane, Lissan
Group B: Claudy, Glenullin, Castledawson, Desertmartin, Greenlough, Slaughtmanus

Each team plays each other once, also on a home and away basis, with the top four teams in each qualifying for the quarter-finals. The semi-finals will be an open draw and repeat pairings are allowed.
The bottom team in Group A will automatically be relegated to the Junior Championship. - Teams placed fifth and sixth will play in the relegation playoffs, with the two losers also relegated to Junior Championship for 2024.
There will be no promotion from Intermediate Championship until 2024.

Junior football
Group A: Ballymaguigan, Ballerin, Glack, Ardmore, Drum
Group B: Doire Trasna, Magilligan, Moneymore, Sean Dolan's, Doire Colmcille

Like senior and intermediate, group games played home and away with the top three teams in each qualifying for the quarter- finals.
Teams placed fourth and fifth will play in the qualifiers, 4 v 5 and 5 v 4. Quarter-finals will be seeded 1 v qualifier winner and 2 v 3.
The semi-final will be an open draw and repeat pairings are allowed.
There will be no promotion to intermediate until 2024.

Hurling championships
Group A: Slaughtneil, Ballinascreen, Swatragh, Na Magha
Group B: Kevin Lynch's, Coleraine, Banagher, Lavey

Two groups of four teams
- Top teams in each group will play in the Senior Hurling Final.
- Second placed teams in each group will play in the Intermediate Hurling Final.
- Third placed teams in each group will play in the Junior Hurling Final.
- A team can only progress to Ulster in their respective grade if they retain their Championship status from the previous season, or if they drop one grade, i.e. Senior to Intermediate or Intermediate to Junior. A senior team from the previous season cannot compete in Ulster at Junior level.
- Banagher remain ineligible for Intermediate in 2023.