Armagh v Tyrone to open returning McKenna Cup

Armagh and Tyrone will get the 2026 inter-county season up and running as they face off on Friday, 2 January at the Athletic Grounds in the Dr McKenna Cup.

The bitter rivals will collide in a unique Friday-night fixture under the Orchard County lights on 2 January for a 1900 GMT throw-in.

The game will serve as a precursor to their Ulster SFC preliminary-round showdown, as the sides cannot meet in the National League after Tyrone's relegation to Division Two.

On a blockbuster opening weekend of the Dr McKenna Cup, which is returning after a one-year absence, holders Derry will travel to O'Donnell Park in Letterkenny to face Donegal on Sunday, 4 January, in a repeat of the 2023 decider.

The Tir Chonaill county will play their McKenna Cup and National League fixtures away from Ballybofey due to upgrade works on the pitch at MacCumhaill Park.

Cavan and Monaghan will also meet at Breffni Park on the opening weekend, and the sides will also meet in the Ulster SFC quarter-final later in the year.

In round three Antrim will host All-Ireland finalists at Cargin GAC.

All three rounds of group games will take place across seven days,and the semi-final is scheduled for Wednesday, 14 January and the final will take place on Saturday, 17 January.

The schedule will be tight for counties as the Allianz Football League commences one week after the Dr McKenna Cup final, on Saturday 24 January.

2026 Dr McKenna Cup fixtures in full

Round One: Friday 2 January: Armagh v Tyrone (Athletic Grounds, 19:00 GMT), Saturday 3 January: Cavan v Monaghan (Breffni Park, 18:00), Sunday 4 January: Donegal v Derry (Letterkenny 13:30).

Round Two: Wednesday 7 January, 19:30 GMT: Down v Armagh (Pairc Esler), Fermanagh v Cavan (Tempo), Derry v Antrim (Owenbeg).

Round Three: Sunday 11 January, 13:30 GMT: Tyrone v Down (Tyrone venue), Monaghan v Fermanagh (Castleblayney), Antrim v Donegal (Cargin).

Semi-finals - Wednesday 14 January.

Final - Saturday 17 January.