Excitement for the 2026 Leinster Senior Football Championship stepped up a gear this week as the draw was made at Croke Park. Live for the first time in front of an audience, and streamed across Official GAA social channels to over 60,000 people watching it was an historic moment in its own right. A fitting follow-on from what was a landmark championship in 2025.
Last season will be remembered as one of the great chapters in Leinster football history, Louth ending their long wait for provincial glory and lifting the Delaney Cup in front of a wave of red at Croke Park. Their achievement has set the tone heading into next year, with every county now eyeing their chance to create history.
The draw itself has thrown up several intriguing ties with Round 1 seeing local derbies a plenty:
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Carlow v Wicklow
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Westmeath v Longford
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Offaly v Laois
Awaiting the winners are Quarter-Final pairings that promise no shortage of narrative. Kildare will face the winners of Offaly/Laois, while Meath will take on the winners of Westmeath/Longford. Champions Louth begin their title defence against Wexford, and Dublin under new manager Ger Brennan will face the winners of Carlow/Wicklow.
The semi-final are then as follows:
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Kildare/Offaly/Laois v Meath/Westmeath/Longford
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Louth/Wexford v Dublin/Carlow/Wicklow
With Louth setting the bar last year, and several counties showing real progress in recent seasons, supporters across the province can look forward to another compelling Leinster campaign. Full fixture details, venues and dates will be released in the coming weeks, with CCC to confirming all arrangements.
For now, the paths are laid out, the debates have begun, and the countdown to Championship 2026 is officially underway.
By johnhaughney Fri 28th Nov
