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gaa · Wednesday 15 July 2026 · TBC 
All-Ireland SFC Semi-Finals 2026 - Derry (if qualified)
At Croke Park · Croke Park, Jones Road, Dublin 3
At Croke Park · Croke Park, Jones Road, Dublin 3
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-finals at Croke Park are among the most charged days in the GAA calendar - the four teams left standing in the championship, 60,000 people in the stands, and the final a fortnight away. Derry did not qualify for the 2026 semi-finals after falling to Meath in Round 2B, but the weekend still draws Derry supporters south: the county has a long tradition in the championship, Ulster football runs deep here, and following the remaining Ulster counties through the summer is part of how GAA is lived in Derry.
The two semi-finals take place across the weekend of 11 and 12 July 2026 at Páirc an Chrócaigh - Croke Park - in Dublin. The Saturday game throws in at 6:00pm and the Sunday game at 4:00pm, with both broadcast live on RTÉ and BBC. Crowds typically run to 55,000-60,000 across the weekend. The atmosphere on semi-final weekend is a step above the quarter-finals: the stands fill early, county colours are everywhere from the canal to the Hill, and the standard of football is among the highest of the season. Tickets go through GAA Ticketmaster and move quickly once pairings are confirmed.
The 2026 championship uses a modified double-elimination format across 16 counties, so the four teams reaching the semi-finals have each come through a demanding run of provincial, league and knock-out fixtures. The Sam Maguire final is set for Sunday 26 July.
Croke Park is on Jones Road in Dublin 3, a 10-minute walk from Connolly station and served by several Dublin Bus routes (3, 11, 16, 123 among others). The Luas Red Line stops at Drumcondra, a short walk away. From Derry, Bus Éireann and Translink run services to Dublin, with journey times of roughly 2.5 to 3 hours. Enterprise rail runs Derry to Dublin Connolly with a change in Belfast. Driving is straightforward via the A6 to the M1 and into Dublin, but parking near the stadium is extremely limited on match days - public transport is the sensible call.
Derry city has one of the best-preserved walled circuits in Europe and a strong tradition of live music, independent food, and summer events that runs well into July. If you are making a trip south for the semi-finals and returning via Derry, there is plenty to fill the days around it. There is more to see in Derry and across Co. Derry.
Heading to Croke Park in Derry? Derry has plenty more to see. Read the Derry area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.