Derry U20s kick off Ulster campaign against Monaghan
Pivotal clashes against Fermanagh and Donegal in Owenbeg could decide Derry’s semi-final fate this spring
Details for the 2026 Dalata Hotel Group Ulster Under-20 Football Championship have been confirmed, with Derry set to navigate a challenging new round-robin format in their quest for provincial glory.
The Oak Leafers have been drawn into a five-team Section A alongside Donegal, Monaghan, Antrim, and Fermanagh. Played across March and April, the competition structure demands a top-three finish to remain in the hunt for the Ulster title, with the group winners progressing directly to the semi-finals.
Derry’s campaign kicks off on Wednesday, March 18, with a tough away trip to face Monaghan in Castleblayney, before returning to the familiar surroundings of Owenbeg for pivotal back-to-back home fixtures.
Section A: Donegal, Monaghan, Antrim, Derry, Fermanagh
Section B: Tyrone, Cavan, Armagh, Down
The top team in each group progress to the Ulster U20FC Semi Finals. The second and third place teams would criss-cross and play each other in two Quarter Finals.
There will be Provincial and National Tier 2 knockout competitions for counties who do not qualify for the Ulster U20FC Quarter Finals.
The winners of the two Quarter Finals progress to the Semi Finals, while the two Quarter Final losers are eliminated. The two teams that lose in the Semi Finals will also be eliminated.
Finally, the three teams that finished in fourth and fifth positions in the groups would be eliminated from the Ulster Championship and enter the Tier 2 competition.
The provincial winners will progress to the All-Ireland Semi Finals.
2026 Dalata Hotel Group Ulster GAA Under 20 Football Championship:
Wed 18th March:- Section A Round 1 - Dún na nGall V Fear Manach at Convoy; Muineachán V Doire at Castleblaney; Aontroim Bye
Wed 25th March:- Section A Round 2 - Fear Manach V Aontroim at Brewster Park; Muineachán V Dún na nGall at Castleblaney; Doire Bye
Section B Round 1 - An Cabhán V Tír Eoghain at Kingspan Breffni; An Dún V Ard Mhacha at Páirc Esler
Sat 28th March:- Section A Round 3 - Doire V Fear Manach at Find Insurance Owenbeg; Dún na nGall v Aontroim at Convoy; Muineachán Bye
Wed 1st April:- Section A Round 4 - Aontroim V Muineachán at Dunsilly; Doire V Dún na nGall at Find Insurance Owenbeg; Fear Manach Bye
Section B Round 2 - Ard Mhacha V An Cabhán at Box-It Athletic Grounds; Tír Eoghain V An Dún at O’Neill Park Dungannon
Wed 8th April:- Section A Round 5 - Aontroim V Doire at Dunsilly; Fear Manach V Muineachán at Brewster Park; Dún na nGall Bye
Section B Round 3:- Ard Mhacha V Tír Eoghain at Box-It Athletic Grounds; An Dún V An Cabhán at Páirc Esler
U20FC Quarter Finals – Wed 15th April - (First named team has home advantage) - Group A Runner-Up V Third in Group B; Group B Runner-Up V Third in Group A
U20FC Semi Finals – Wed 22nd April - (First named team has home advantage) - (1) Winner Section A V QF Winner; (2) Winner Section B V QF Winner
U20FC Final – Wed 29th April - Semi Final Winner 1 V Semi Final Winner 2
Tier 2:- Semi Final – Mon 20th April - Fifth placed team in Group A V Fourth placed Team in Group B
Final – Mon 27th April - Fourth placed team in Group A V Semi Final winner
Tier 1 & Tier 2 - All-Ireland Semi Finals on 10th May