Dublin v Donegal part of opening day double-header

The meeting of Dublin and Ulster champions Donegal will form one half of a Croke Park double-header on the opening day of the 2026 Football League campaign on Saturday, 24 January.

The Division One match will have a 17:00 GMT throw-in, with the Division Two encounter between Meath and Derry starting two hours earlier at GAA headquarters at 15:00.

Former Louth manager Ger Brennan will take charge of the Dubs for the first time in a competitive context in their match against Jim McGuinness' 2025 All-Ireland losing finalists.

Tyrone are also in action on 24 January, facing Kildare in a Division Two fixture at Healy Park at 18:00, while Down take on Clare at Pairc Esler at the same time in Division Three.

The remaining Ulster counties open their campaigns on Sunday 25 January, with Monaghan playing Armagh at Clones in Division One at 14:00, the same time as All-Ireland champion Kerry host Roscommon at Killarney.

Galway entertain Mayo at Salthill in the weekend's other Division One match-up at the slightly earlier time of 13:45.

In Division Two, Cavan are away to Cork with a 13:30 throw-in, while in Division Three Fermanagh are at home to Wexford at Brewster Park at 13:00 and in Division Four, Antrim play Carlow at Toomebridge (14:00).

Among the highlights of the second weekend of fixtures is an Ulster derby between Derry and Tyrone in Division Two and a re-match of the All-Ireland final between Donegal and Kerry at Ballyshannon.

Antrim's hurlers begin their Division 1B campaign away to Wexford on 24 January.

The GAA's Master Fixtures schedule, published on Wednesday, revealed that the Football League finals will take place on the weekend of 28-29 March, with the provincial football championships commencing on the weekend of 11-12 April.

As has been the case in recent years, the All-Ireland football final will be played on the final Sunday of July, with the All-Ireland hurling final one week earlier on 19 July.

GAA Master Fixtures Schedule for 2026