The GAA storylines to look out for in 2026

It would beryllium inaccurate to opportunity we are getting fresh for a caller play of Gaelic games because, arsenic we know, it ne'er really ends pinch competitions overlapping.

However, arsenic we move nan page into 2026, location is overmuch to look guardant to aft a twelvemonth that saw caller storylines written pinch nan caller rules successful Gaelic shot thrilling audiences aft a bedding-in period.

It was a twelvemonth successful which nan bluish bloods returned to nan podium, pinch Kerry winning a 39th title successful shot which completed a treble for nan twelvemonth aft convention and Munster success, while Tipperary emerged from nan battalion successful hurling to bring Liam MacCarthy backmost to nan Premier County.

In Ulster, Donegal made it back-to-back provincial titles but fell short against nan Kingdom connected football's biggest day, while Antrim's stint successful nan Leinster Hurling Championship came to an extremity pinch relegation backmost to nan Joe McDonagh Cup.

It was besides a magical twelvemonth for Louth, who won their Leinster shot title for nan first clip since 1957.

With each of that providing nan backdrop, let's look astatine what location is to travel successful nan caller year.

Love them aliases loathe them, nan early days of January 2025 felt truthful overmuch quieter without nan GAA's pre-season competitions which see Ulster's Dr McKenna and Conor McGurk Cups.

Although nan statement of subordinate burnout owed to nan condensed inter-county play was valid successful position of scrapping those competitions, it almost felt inexplicable to do truthful successful a twelvemonth erstwhile shot introduced a big of caller rules.

However, they are backmost and nan hardcore fans will erstwhile again scope for nan woolly hats scarves earlier venturing retired to tally their oculus complete immoderate established names and caller faces who will activity to make their mark.

It each originates connected 2 January pinch nan first games successful football's Dr McKenna Cup and hurling's Conor McGurk Cup taking place, while nan hurlers of Antrim and Down will besides return portion successful nan Leinster pre-season competitions.

Although silverware astatine this shape of nan twelvemonth isn't nan beryllium each and extremity all, building immoderate momentum anterior to nan National Leagues which statesman connected 24/25 January is ever welcome.

Early January is not conscionable nan sphere of inter-county action arsenic location is still nine matters to beryllium resolved.

While Slaughtneil - Ulster's hurling representatives - bowed retired of nan All-Ireland semi-finals anterior to Christmas, football's last-four ties return spot connected nan first play of January.

Scotstown's thrilling extra-time triumph complete Kilcoo successful nan Ulster decider All-Ireland semi-final day pinch Roscommon and Connacht champions St Brigid's astatine Breffni Park connected Sunday, 4 January.

The erstwhile time will spot nan first of nan elder semi-finals return spot successful Cork betwixt Dublin's Ballyboden St Enda's and Dingle from Kerry, pinch nan 2 winners gathering successful nan last connected Sunday, 18 January astatine Croke Park.

Ulster Intermediate winners Glenullin look Roscommon's Strokestown successful their semi-final astatine Ballyshannon connected Saturday, 3 January, while connected nan aforesaid time successful nan Junior semi-final, Tyrone broadside Clogher look Mayo's Kiltimagh successful Carrick-on-Shannon.

The National Leagues return connected nan play of 24/25 January arsenic counties activity to deed nan crushed running.

In football's Division One, Ulster person 3 representatives pinch Monaghan hosting Armagh successful nan opening round, while Donegal statesman pinch a travel to Croke Park against Dublin who are now nether nan guidance of Ger Brennan.

Holders Kerry will invited Mayo to Killarney arsenic Jack O'Connor's men activity to prime up wherever they near disconnected successful 2025.

Three Ulster counties will activity to gain promotion from Division Two pinch Derry opening pinch a travel to look Meath astatine Croke Park connected 24 January arsenic Tyrone big Kildare, while nan pursuing time will spot Cavan unfastened connected nan roadworthy against Cork.

Down and Fermanagh will conflict for Division Three honours arsenic Conor Laverty's Mourne outfit hosting Clare connected nan opening weekend, while Declan Bonner's first afloat crippled successful complaint of Fermanagh will return spot successful Enniskillen against Wexford.

Mark Doran is nan man to guideline Antrim successful 2026 and his stated nonsubjective is to thief his adopted region dress up for past year's relegation arsenic they unfastened their Division Four run astatine location to Carlow successful Toome.

In hurling, fuss Antrim and Down will compete successful Division 1B pinch Davy Fitzgerald's Saffrons tasked pinch a travel to look Wexford connected 24 January, while Down are are besides connected nan roadworthy pinch Carlow their destination.

The Ulster rivals will meet successful Newry connected Saturday, 21 March.

They will besides meet successful nan opening information of nan Joe McDonagh Cup pinch Antrim enjoying location advantage connected Saturday, 18 April.

You tin position nan afloat database of convention fixtures here.

At half-time successful nan 2025 All-Ireland shot quarter-final, holders Armagh seemed successful a decent spot erstwhile starring Kerry by 1 point.

However, location was a large wind brewing and nan Kingdom abruptly recovered their mojo, tearing done Kieran McGeeney's broadside successful nan 2nd play pinch 14 unanswered points rocking nan Orchard men and paving nan measurement for an eight-point win.

There was nary looking backmost from location arsenic Kerry's season, which had stuttered contempt winning League and Munster titles, came alive.

They put Tyrone to nan beard successful nan semi-final and past produced different masterclass successful nan last against Ulster champions Donegal to complete a cleanable expanse of trophies for nan year.

Perhaps it took Kerry a while to afloat set to nan caller rules, but erstwhile they recovered their groove, they were unstoppable and they will participate 2026 arsenic favourites to proceed that dominance.

With nan Cliffords - Paudie and David - Seanie O'Shea, Joe O'Connor and Gavin White each starring successful 2026, they will beryllium assured of further success, but others will person thing to opportunity astir that.

Donegal will consciousness they under-performed successful nan All-Ireland last and Jim McGuinness' men will beryllium keen to dress up for that disappointment, while Armagh, Tyrone, Galway and Dublin will each consciousness they tin topple nan Kingdom connected their day.

In hurling, Tipperary participate 2026 pinch nan target connected their backmost pursuing their All-Ireland triumph successful July.

The title for nan Liam MacCarthy Cup will person nary Ulster representatives arsenic Antrim suffered relegation backmost to nan Joe McDonagh Cup wherever they will person Down for institution pursuing Ronan Sheehan's broadside earning promotion to nan 2nd grade.

Just arsenic we were getting utilized to nan group shape successful nan All-Ireland Football Championship and Tailteann Cup, nan format has been changed erstwhile again.

It could good beryllium a lawsuit of 'you don't cognize what you've sewage until it's gone' arsenic nan last information of group games successful 2025 produced unthinkable drama.

However, changes were approved and for some competitions, nan groups are nary more.

The title for Sam Maguire will again beryllium made up of 16 teams pinch 8 of those slots taken by nan provincial finalists, nan adjacent 7 made up of nan highest-ranked teams successful nan convention and nan last slot going to 2025 Tailteann Cup winners Kildare.

In spot of nan groups, location will alternatively beryllium a qualifier bid pinch an first information of 8 games. The winners will move into information 2A and nan 4 winners of those games will beforehand into nan All-Ireland quarter-finals.

Those first information losers will play successful information 2B and those 4 winners will meet nan losers of 2A to determine nan remaining 4 quarter-final slots.

The Tailteann Cup will travel a akin format.

Dublin were crowned All-Ireland ladies champions for 2025, making it 2 titles successful 3 years pinch triumph complete Meath successful nan final.

They will activity to clasp their title successful 2026, but will look stiff title from a big of challengers including nan Royals, 2024 winners Kerry and Galway who person gone adjacent successful caller years.

Ulster's challengers for nan apical prize will beryllium Armagh and Donegal who retained their elder position and nan brace met successful nan Ulster last which went nan measurement of nan Orchard women.

In camogie, Galway returned to nan apical of nan podium successful 2025 pinch Down autochthonal Niamh Mallon playing a role, denying Cork a three-in-a-row and nan Rebels will beryllium keen to make amends pinch different Mourne autochthonal successful Sorcha McCartan successful their ranks.

Antrim and Down some fell astatine nan semi-final shape of nan Intermediate Championship, but nan Saffrons did gain promotion up into Division 1A which will spot them look nan pick of nan harvest successful 2026, while they besides will activity to bent onto their Ulster title they won successful 2025 pinch triumph complete Derry.

The managerial merry-go-round began successful summertime pinch immoderate large moves successful hurling and football.

In Ulster, location are 4 caller faces guiding shot fortunes pinch Derry appointing Ciaran Meenagh who takes complete from Paddy Tally whose one-year stint ended pinch elimination astatine nan group shape successful 2025.

Meenagh knows nan segment successful nan Oak Leaf County only excessively well, taking complete connected a impermanent ground successful 2023 and this clip his assignment is permanent.

Former Donegal leader Declan Bonner has crossed region lines to return nan reins successful Fermanagh aft Kieran Donnelly stepped down, while Mark Doran is now astatine nan helm successful Antrim, taking complete from Andy McEntee who has taken up a coaching domiciled successful Monaghan.

Dermot McCabe has swapped Westmeath for his autochthonal Cavan successful nan aftermath of Raymond Galligan's departure, while erstwhile Donegal subordinate Mark McHugh replaces McCabe successful nan Leinster county.

Elsewhere, Ger Brennan has besides returned location arsenic he is nan caller Dublin leader having led Louth to nan 2025 Leinster title and his replacement successful nan Wee County is Tyrone's Gavin Devlin.

Andy Moran has taken complete arsenic Mayo boss, while successful hurling, Ben O'Connor will activity to guideline his autochthonal Cork to glory pursuing nan departure of Pat Ryan.