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gaa · Saturday 15 August 2026 · Various 
Armagh Senior Football Club Championship - Group Stage 2026
At Various grounds, Co. Armagh · Various, Co. Armagh
At Various grounds, Co. Armagh · Various, Co. Armagh
Club championship football in Armagh carries a weight that county games can rarely match. When the parishes line up against each other, the touchlines fill with people who have watched these players from under-10 level, and the atmosphere at a club ground on an August evening is something that stands apart from polished stadium events. The 2026 Armagh Senior Football Championship group stage runs from 15 to 18 August, with all 16 senior clubs competing for the Gerry Fagan Cup in a format that guarantees each team at least three games before the knockout rounds begin. Whether you follow one of the big clubs or simply want to see county players at close quarters in a local setting, this is a good weekend to be in the county.
Sixteen clubs are drawn into four groups of four, playing a round-robin format within their group. Points work as they do across GAA football - two for a win, one for a draw, none for a loss. The group winner goes directly to the quarter-finals; second and third place advance to a preliminary knockout round; the bottom team goes home.
The opening weekend includes some sharp fixtures. Friday 15 August sees Granemore take on Crossmaglen Rangers at 7:15pm, a test for the south Armagh club that last won the county title in 2023. On Saturday, Maghery face Clan na Gael, and Sunday brings Carrickcruppen against reigning champions Clann Eireann at 4pm.
County players are the draw at this stage. Crossmaglen’s Rian O’Neill and Paul Hughes are worth watching, as are Clann Eireann’s Conor Turbitt and Barry McCambridge. Madden bring Conor and Niall Grimley; Clan na Gael have Stefan Campbell. Fixtures are played at club grounds throughout the county, which keeps the scale intimate - you can stand on the far side of the pitch and still see the play clearly.
Entry prices vary by ground and typically run from around £5. Check armaghgaa.net/thechampionship/ for individual fixture times and locations as the weekend approaches.
County Armagh is straightforward to reach by road. Armagh city sits just off the A3 and is roughly 40 minutes south of Belfast on the M1 motorway. From Dublin, the A1/N1 takes you through Newry and up toward Armagh in under two hours. Individual fixtures are spread across club grounds county-wide - some in villages well outside the city - so check the specific venue for each game before setting out. Most club grounds have car parking on-site or nearby; arrive early for evening kick-offs as spaces fill quickly.
Armagh city rewards a longer visit. The twin cathedrals on their facing hills are one of the more distinctive sights in Ulster, and the city has a compact centre well worth an hour on foot before or after a game. There is more to see in Armagh and across Co. Armagh.
Heading to Various grounds, Co. Armagh in Armagh? Armagh has plenty more to see. Read the Armagh area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.