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gaa · Saturday 22 August 2026 · 7:00pm 
Derry Senior Camogie Championship - Round 1
At Various venues across Co. Derry · Various, Co. Derry
At Various venues across Co. Derry · Various, Co. Derry
The Derry Senior Camogie Championship is one of the county’s most keenly contested competitions, and the 2026 campaign opens on Friday 22 August with a full round of group stage games. Eight clubs are split across two groups, and the opening fixtures alone give a flavour of what to expect - Kilrea hosting Slaughtneil is a genuinely mouth-watering tie, given Slaughtneil’s history of dominance in this competition. For years they were essentially untouchable, winning seven Derry senior titles in succession and three All-Ireland club crowns before Swatragh finally ended their run in 2024. These are real rivalries, shaped over decades, and the Friday evening format makes it a practical outing for those who want live club camogie at its most competitive.
Round 1 sees two group stage double-headers played simultaneously across the county. Group A has Bellaghy facing Ballinascreen and Kilrea taking on Slaughtneil. Group B has Lavey up against Swatragh, the current champions, and Glen meeting Newbridge. Throw-in is around 7pm, so games are typically over by half eight - a good summer evening’s sport with no great commitment required. Club grounds in this part of Ulster are modest, functional places where the crowd stands close to the action. There are no stands between you and the game, and that closeness is part of the appeal. The standard across these clubs is high - several of the players here represent Derry at inter-county level. If you have no allegiance either way, pick Group A and get to Kilrea or Slaughtneil’s ground for a contest likely to set the tone for the whole championship.
Championship follows a round-robin format across three consecutive Friday evenings - 22 August, 29 August, and 5 September. The top team in each group goes straight to the semi-finals, while second and third place meet in quarter-finals on 13 September. Venues are confirmed closer to the date via Derry Camogie’s social channels and derrygaa.ie.
The games are spread across Co. Derry, with each club hosting at their home ground. Most venues are in the Mid-Ulster belt - Ballinascreen is near Draperstown, Kilrea and Bellaghy are in the south Derry lowlands, and Swatragh and Glen are not far off the main A6 corridor. By car, the A6 from Derry city and the A29 from Cookstown are the main arteries. Bus Eireann and Translink serve larger towns in the county, but for club grounds off the main routes you will generally need a car. Parking at club venues is typically on grass beside the pitch - arrive 20 minutes early on a busy round to get a spot.
South Derry is quiet farmland and drumlin country, good for a drive before or after a match. The city of Derry itself - about 30 to 40 minutes from most of these venues - has the walled city, the Bogside murals, and the Peace Bridge if you want to make a day of it. There is more to see in Derry and across Co. Derry.
Heading to Various venues across Co. Derry 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.