OB Construction Antrim Intermediate Football Championship 2026 - Group Stage

The OB Construction Antrim Intermediate Football Championship is one of three tiers of Antrim club football running simultaneously from August through to autumn. For many clubs, the intermediate grade is the most fiercely contested level - experienced enough to produce quality football, yet open enough that any of the eight clubs in this year’s draw could genuinely lift the title. If you follow a club at this level, or simply enjoy Gaelic football played with real intensity and local pride, this championship is worth your time.

What to expect

Eight clubs are split into two groups of four, with the draw made earlier in 2026 at the Dunsilly Hotel in Antrim. Group 1 features St Malachys, Rasharkin, Laochra Loch Lao, and Pearses. Group 2 has Eire Og, St Brigids Cloughmills, ODonnells, and Ardoyne Kickhams. Each club plays out the group stage across August and into September, with the top clubs progressing to knockout semi-finals before a county final typically in October. Games are played at the home grounds of the participating clubs - compact venues where the crowd is close to the pitch and every score feels loud. The local rivalries between these clubs add an extra edge to the group fixtures.

Getting there

Fixtures are spread across club grounds throughout Co. Antrim, so the venue changes round by round. The county town of Antrim itself sits roughly in the middle of the county, making it a useful base. From Belfast, Antrim is about 25 minutes by road via the M2 motorway, and there are regular Translink bus services on the Belfast - Ballymena corridor that stop at Antrim town. For fixtures in north Antrim - Rasharkin, Cloughmills, or Ballycastle-area clubs - allow more time by road. Check the specific venue before you travel via antrim.gaa.ie once fixtures are posted.

While you’re in Antrim

Antrim town sits on the Six Mile Water river, and the north of the county takes in the Glens and the Causeway Coast. There is more to see in Antrim and across Co. Antrim.

Good to know

• Group stage runs August to September 2026; knockout stage and final expected October 2026
• Specific fixture dates and venues at antrim.gaa.ie
• Tickets through the home clubs on matchday; admission prices vary by club but are typically modest
• Some games may be streamed on GAA+
• Sponsored by OB Construction