Kerry and Donegal to renew rivalry in All-Ireland SFC first round as new format debuts

Key facts

• Kerry and Donegal face off in Round 1 on May 23–24, a rematch of the 2025 All-Ireland final and 2026 League decider.
• The draw took place on May 4, broadcast live on GAA+ and the GAA’s social media platforms.
• Eight provincial finalists are drawn against the eight highest-ranked NFL teams, with Kildare included as 2025 Tailteann Cup winners if not a Leinster finalist.
• Winners of Round 1 enter Round 2A; losers go to Round 2B, with four teams eliminated after two rounds.
• Provincial finals (May 10–17) have no bearing on the All-Ireland series beyond determining finalists.
• Mayo, after a heavy loss to Roscommon, travel to Monaghan; Dublin face Louth after their Leinster semi-final.

Championship draw sets up blockbuster rematch

The 2026 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship will begin with a replay of last year’s final: Kerry, the defending champions, will host Donegal in Killarney on the weekend of May 23–24. The fixture is the standout tie in a newly formatted first round that pairs the eight provincial finalists against the eight highest-ranked teams from the National Football League. The draw, conducted live on May 4 via the GAA+ platform and the association’s social media channels, has already generated intense anticipation. Kerry manager Jack O’Connor acknowledged that the looming clash with Donegal risks overshadowing this weekend’s Munster final against Cork — the first such meeting in five years. “It should get everybody's full attention,” O’Connor said of the All-Ireland draw, suggesting the provincial final has lost some of its lustre.

New format introduces two-round qualifying structure

Under the revised championship format, the eight winners of Round 1 will advance to Round 2A, where they will be drawn against each other. The four winners from that stage proceed directly to the All-Ireland quarter-finals. The eight losers of Round 1 enter Round 2B, also an open draw; the four losers at that stage are eliminated from the championship. The four losers of Round 2A then face the four winners of Round 2B in a final qualifying round. The victors of those four matches complete the quarter-final lineup, joining the four teams that won through Round 2A. The provincial finals, scheduled for the next two weekends, have no impact on the All-Ireland series beyond determining which teams become provincial finalists and thus gain home advantage in Round 1.

Provincial finalists secure home ties across two weekends

Home advantage in Round 1 belongs to the provincial finalists. The Munster and Connacht finalists will play their first-round games on May 23–24, while the Leinster and Ulster finalists will take the field on May 30–31. This split schedule means Kerry and Donegal — both Munster and Ulster finalists respectively — will meet in the earlier window, as will Cork against Meath, Galway against Kildare, and Roscommon against Tyrone. The following weekend, Dublin will host Louth in a rematch of their recent Leinster semi-final; Monaghan welcomes Mayo; Westmeath faces Cavan; and Armagh meets Derry in an all-Ulster clash. The draw is open, meaning no seeding beyond the provincial-finalist status, and the exception that Kildare — as 2025 Tailteann Cup winners — will be included if they fail to reach the Leinster final, replacing the lowest-ranked league team.

Mayo and Dublin face challenging paths after provincial setbacks

Mayo, still reeling from a heavy defeat to Roscommon, must travel to Monaghan to take on the Ulster finalists. The Connacht side’s poor league finish has left them vulnerable in the new format. Dublin, meanwhile, will face Louth again after their Leinster semi-final clash at the weekend; the Dubs produced their best performance in a while in that game, according to analysts, but Louth will be eager to avenge the loss. Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney, whose side reached the Ulster final after a historic semi-final win over Down, tried to play down the hype surrounding his team. “These things can come and go,” he said, while also noting the intense competition for places within his squad. “I keep them very unhappy, that’s mainly my job.”

Stakes high for Kerry and Donegal as early test looms

The Kerry-Donegal pairing carries the weight of recent history. The two sides met in the 2025 All-Ireland final, which Kerry won, and again in the 2026 Allianz League decider, where Donegal triumphed. Now they will clash in the first round of the championship, a fixture that Colm Keys described as already having “the capacity to shape the All-Ireland race.” For Kerry, the match comes just two weeks after the Munster final, a schedule that risks distraction. O’Connor’s comments suggest the provincial showpiece has been diminished by the draw. For Donegal, under manager Jim McGuinness, the tie offers an immediate chance to avenge last year’s championship defeat and build momentum. The winner will advance to Round 2A with a clear path to the quarter-finals; the loser will drop into the Round 2B bracket, facing a longer route but still alive.

Outlook: new format tests depth and resilience from the outset

The restructured All-Ireland SFC eliminates the old qualifier system, replacing it with a tighter, more unforgiving two-round group phase. Teams that lose their first match must win two consecutive games to reach the quarter-finals, while winners need only one more victory. The margin for error has narrowed, especially for traditional powers like Mayo and Dublin, who face tricky away ties. The provincial finals, once the pinnacle of the season, now serve primarily as seeding tools. The real drama begins with the Round 1 draw, which has already produced a marquee matchup. As the championship unfolds, the new format will test not only skill but also squad depth and tactical adaptability — qualities that may determine whether Kerry can defend Sam Maguire or whether Donegal, Dublin, or another contender can dethrone them.

The bottom line

• Kerry and Donegal will meet in Round 1 on May 23–24, a rematch of the 2025 All-Ireland final and 2026 League final.
• The new format gives provincial finalists home advantage; winners advance to Round 2A, losers to Round 2B.
• Mayo, after a heavy loss to Roscommon, must travel to Monaghan; Dublin hosts Louth after their Leinster semi-final.
• Kildare is included as 2025 Tailteann Cup winners if they fail to reach the Leinster final, replacing the lowest-ranked league team.
• Provincial finals (May 10–17) have no impact on the All-Ireland series beyond determining finalists and home advantage.
• The championship now features a two-round qualifying phase before the quarter-finals, reducing margin for error.