The 2026 Cavan Senior Football Championship is the 117th edition of Cavan GAA's premier Gaelic football tournament for senior graded clubs in County Cavan, Ireland. The tournament consists of 12 teams, with the winners being awarded the Oliver Plunkett Cup and going on to represent Cavan in the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship. The championship began on 6 August 2026.
Kingscourt Stars are the defending champions after winning their first senior title since 2015.
Team changes The following teams changed division since the 2025 championship season.
To championship Promoted from 2025 Cavan Intermediate Football Championship
Cúchulainns (Intermediate Champions)
From championship Relegated to 2026 Cavan Intermediate Football Championship
Ballinagh (Relegation play-off losers)
Participating teams The clubs participating in the 2026 Cavan S.F.C. are: ClubLocationManager(s)2025 Championship Position2026 Championship PositionChampionship TitlesLast Championship Title ArvaArvaghQuarter-FinalistRelegation Semi-Finalist0— BallyhaiseBallyhaiseQuarter-FinalistRelegation Semi-Finalist0— CastlerahanBallyjamesduffRelegation Semi-FinalistRelegation Finalist22019 Cavan GaelsCavanQuarter-FinalistQuarter-Finalist142017 CrosserloughKilnaleckSemi-FinalistSemi-Finalist112024 CúchulainnsMullaghI.F.C. ChampionsSemi-Finalist0— GownaLoch GownaRunners-Up92023 KillygarryKillygarryRelegation Semi-FinalistQuarter-Finalist0— Kingscourt StarsKingscourtChampions122025 Laragh UnitedLaragh & StradoneRelegation FinalistRelegated to Intermediate41984 MullahoranMullahoranQuarter-FinalistQuarter-Finalist122012 Ramor UnitedVirginiaSemi-FinalistQuarter-Finalist52021
League Phase All 12 teams enter the competition at this stage and are put into one league table. Each team plays four games with the fixtures decided by a random draw at the conclusion of each round. No team can meet each other twice in the league stage. The top eight teams in the league progress to the quarter-finals while the bottom four teams enter the relegation play-offs.
PosTeamPldWDLFADiffPts1 Gowna43108055 +2572 Crosserlough430110679 +2753 Killygarry43018868 +2054 Kingscourt Stars43018170 +1165 Cavan Gaels42028066 +1446 Cúchulainns42026968 +147 Ramor United42027980 -148 Mullahoran42026170 -949 Ballyhaise41128988 +1310 Arva41038184 -3211 Castlerahan41037091 -21212 Laragh United400454119 -650
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3 Initially most of the games in round 3 were meant to be played at Breffni Park, but due to a fire following the Laragh United vs Crosserlough game, all matches were redirected to other venues.
Round 4
Relegation playoff
Relegation semi-finals
Relegation final
Knockout stage
Bracket
Quarter-finals The quarter-final fixtures were confirmed on the 6 September 2026.
Quarter-Final Replays
Semi-finals
Final
References