← All events
gaa · Saturday 1 August 2026 · Various 
Graham Tarmac Antrim Junior Football Championship 2026 - Group Stage
At Various venues, Co. Antrim · Co. Antrim
At Various venues, Co. Antrim · Co. Antrim
The Antrim Junior Football Championship is where club football in the county gets its most competitive edge outside the senior grades - and the 2026 edition, sponsored by Graham Tarmac, promises plenty of it. Eleven clubs across two groups will fight for places in the knockout rounds from August onwards, with the final due in October. If you follow one of the clubs involved, or simply enjoy honest, committed Gaelic football at local grounds without the fanfare of county finals, this is well worth your time.
The 2026 championship runs across two groups, with each team playing the others in their group before the top sides advance to semi-finals and the final. Group 1 features Rasharkin, St Galls, Creggan Kickhams, St Brigids and Carey Faughs. Group 2 is made up of St Pauls, Tir na nOg, Glenarm, Cushendun, Clooney Gaels and Glenravel. Several of these clubs are from the Glens of Antrim - among them Cushendun, Glenarm and Glenravel - which adds a sharp local rivalry to the mix. Games are typically tight, with the junior grade drawing players who compete with genuine hunger for their clubs. Throw-in times vary by fixture. Check antrim.gaa.ie for specific dates, venues and times as the schedule builds out across August and September.
Fixtures take place at club grounds spread across Co. Antrim, from Belfast city clubs to remote Glens venues. If you are travelling from Belfast, most clubs are within 30 to 60 minutes on the M2 and A2 roads. The Glens clubs - Glenarm, Cushendun and Glenravel - sit off the A2 coastal route, which is a fine drive in itself. Translink operates bus services from Belfast to Larne and Cushendall, covering the coastal corridor where several clubs are based. Parking at GAA grounds is generally informal and free, though space at smaller rural venues can be limited.
A GAA match in the Glens is as good a reason as any to explore one of the most scenic parts of the north. The coastal road from Larne to Ballycastle takes in dramatic headlands and small harbours. There is more to see in Antrim and across Co. Antrim.
Heading to Various venues, Co. Antrim in Antrim? Antrim has plenty more to see. Read the Antrim area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.