2026 Carlow Senior Football Championship
 | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| County | Carlow |
| Province | Leinster |
| Year | 2026 |
| Sponsor | Michael Lyng Motors |
| Date | 16 July 2026 - October 2025 |
| Teams | 8 |
| Defending champions |  Old Leighlin |
| Other | |
| Matches played | 26 |
| Website | Carlow GAA |
The 2026 Carlow Senior Football Championship is the 126th edition of the Carlow GAA's premier club Gaelic football tournament for senior graded clubs in County Carlow, Ireland. The tournament consists of 8 teams, with the winner going on to represent Carlow in the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship. The championship starts with a league phase and then progresses to a knock out stage.
Old Leighlin are the defending champions after defeating Rathvilly to win their first Carlow S.F.C title in 12 years.[1]
Grange returned to the senior grade after winning the 2025 Carlow Intermediate Football Championship against Ballon. It ended a gap of 19 years away from the senior level.[2]
Tinryland were relegated after losing to Éire Óg in the 2025 relegation final.[3]
Format Changes
The 2026 Carlow S.F.C starts with a league phase, unlike previous years where it started with a group stage. All 8 clubs with play five games each in the league phase, with the last championship meeting of two clubs last year being avoided for round 1 of the league. The top two clubs advance to semi-finals, while 3rd will play 6th in the quarter-finals, as well as 4th vs 5th. The bottom two clubs will contest in a relegation play-off to save their status as a senior graded club.
Winners of the quarter-finals advance to the semi-finals, where the winners of the semi-finals will play each other to decide who takes the 2026 Carlow S.F.C title.
Team Changes
The following teams have changed division since the 2025 championship season:
To S.F.C.Promoted from 2025 Carlow Intermediate Football Championship
|
From S.F.C.Relegated to 2026 Carlow Intermediate Football Championship
|
Participating teams
The clubs competing in the 2026 Carlow SFC are:
| Team | Location | Pre C'ship Odds | Championship Position in 2025 | In championship since | Championship titles | Last championship title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bagenalstown Gaels |
Bagenalstown | 9/1 | Semi-finals | 2019 | 0 | — |
 Éire Óg |
Carlow | 15/8 | Relegation final | — | 31 | 2023 |
 Fenagh |
Fenagh | 25/1 | Quarter-finals | 2025 | — | — |
| Grange |
Grange | 50/1 | Intermediate champions | 2026 | — | — |
 Mount Leinster Rangers |
Borris | 14/1 | Quarter-finals | — | 0 | — |
| Old Leighlin |
Old Leighlin | 9/2 | Champions | — | 5 | 2025 |
 Palatine |
Palatine | 10/3 | Semi-finals | — | 7 | 2022 |
 Rathvilly |
Rathvilly | 13/8 | Runners-up | — | 10 | 2024 |
League Phase
Table
Advance to Semi-Finals Advance to Quarter-Finals Advance to relegation play-off
| Team | Matches | Score | Pts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | For | Against | Diff | ||
| Éire Óg |
5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 125 | 68 | +57 | 9 |
| Rathvilly |
5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 102 | 62 | +40 | 9 |
| Palatine |
5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 94 | 79 | +15 | 8 |
 Bagenalstowns Gaels |
5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 94 | 94 | 0 | 4 |
| Old Leighlin |
5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 66 | 81 | -15 | 4 |
 Grange |
5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 77 | 95 | -18 | 4 |
| Fenagh |
5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 72 | 104 | -32 | 2 |
| Mount Leinster Rangers |
5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 66 | 113 | -47 | 0 |
Round 1
| 16 July 2026 Round 1 | Bagenalstown Gaels |
2-13 (19) – (26) 2-20 | Éire Óg |
Carlow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-08 – 0-11) | Venue: Dr Cullen Park | |||
Pts: Oisín Dillon 0-6 (1tp, 1tpf), Robbie Kane 1-2, Cian Doyle 0-4 (4f), Niall Bolger 1-0, Patrick McDonnell 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Ross Dunphy 1-6 (1tp, 1f), Chris Blake 0-6 (2tp, 2'45), Niall Quinlan 0-4 (2f), Diarmuid Ruth 0-2, Kyle Nolan 0-1, Kyle O'Byrne 0-1 |
Referee: James Foley (Kilbride)
|
| 16 July 2026 Round 1 | Old Leighlin |
1-18 (21) – (10) 0-10 | Fenagh |
Carlow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-10 – 0-05) | Venue: Dr Cullen Park | |||
Pts: Aaron Amond 1-2, Darragh Fitzgerald 0-3, Mikey Bambrick 0-3, Cathal Coughan 0-3 (1f), James Dowling 0-3, Seamus Kinsella 0-2, Ben Stanley 0-2 |
Report | Pts: Padaig Hynes 0-3 (1tpf), Ian Craddock 0-3, Cormac Lomax 0-2 (tp)< Jack Treacy 0-1, Ben Collier 0-1 |
Referee: Brian Deering (Rathvilly)
|
| 17 July 2026 Round 1 | Rathvilly |
2-19 (25) – (11) 0-11 | Grange |
Carlow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1-11 – 0-04) | Venue: Dr Cullen Park | |||
Pts: Kevin Murphy 1-3, Liam Gavin 1-3 (3f), Peter Burgess 0-3, Padhraig Bolger 0-2, Conor Doyle 0-2, Josh Moore 0-1, Colin Byrne 0-1, Eric Molloy 0-1, Dara Curran 0-1, Jake Elliott 0-1, Diarmuid Gavin |
Report | Pts: John Murphy 0-4 (1tp, 1f), Henry Hegarty 0-3, Darragh Burrows 0-1, Conor Nolan 0-1, Tadhg Walsh 0-1, Tom Dillon 0-1 |
Referee: David Hickey (Fenagh)
|
| 18 July 2026 Round 1 | Palatine |
2-19 (25) – (17) 0-17 | Mount Leinster Rangers |
Carlow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 2-11 – 0-06) | Venue: Dr Cullen Park | |||
Pts: Mark Buggy 1-6 (2f, 1tp), Jamie Kenny 1-0, Shane O'Neill 0-3 (1f), Josh Egan 0-3, Sam McHugh 0-3 (1tp), Conor Crowley 0-2, Conor Reynolds 0-1, Eoin Ryan 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Chris Nolan 0-8 (3tp), Dean Tobin 0-4 (2tp), Fiachra Fitzpatrick 0-3 (2f), Donagh Murphy 0-1 (f), Conor Fenlon 0-1 |
Referee: Seán McCormack (Fighting Cocks)
|
Round 2
| 23 July 2026 Round 2 | Rathvilly |
2-16 (22) – (20) 2-14 | Bagenalstown Gaels |
Carlow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1-08 – 1-09) | Venue: Dr Cullen Park | |||
Pts: Liam Gavin 0-7 (3f, 1tp), Conor Doyle 1-3 (1tpf), Darragh Murphy 1-0, Padhraig Bolger 0-3, Dara Curran 0-2, Kevin Murphy 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Cian Doyle 0-6 (2f, 1tpf), Darragh Nolan 1-0, Jamie Clarke 1-0, Jake Doyle 0-2, Jason Dillon 0-2, Patrick McDonnell 0-1, Oisín Dillon 0-1, Robbie Kane 0-1, Jack McCullagh 0-1 |
Referee: Marion Hayden (Éire Óg)
|
| 24 July 2026 Round 2 | Fenagh |
2-13 (19) – (21) 3-12 | Grange |
Carlow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 2-07 – 1-07) | Venue: Dr Cullen Park | |||
Pts: Padraig Hynes 1-4 (3f), Seán Murphy 0-4 (1tp), Zach O'Hara 1-0, Padraic Kearney 0-2, Jack Treacy 0-1, Cormac Nolan 0-1, Ian Craddock 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Henry Hegarty 1-5 (1pen, 2'45, 1tp), John Murphy 0-4 (3f), Shane Cormican 1-1, Pat Murphy 1-0, Darragh Burrows 0-1, Aidan Burrows 0-1 |
Referee: Seán McCormack (Fighting Cocks)
|
| 24 July 2026 Round 2 | Old Leighlin |
1-10 (13) – (15) 0-15 | Palatine |
Carlow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1-03 – 0-08) | Venue: Dr Cullen Park | |||
Pts: Tadhg Roche 1-0, Seamus Kinsella 0-3 (1tpf), James Dowling 0-2, Cathal Coughlan 0-2 (1f), Ian Atkinson 0-1 (m), Darragh Fitzgerald 0-1, Aaron Amond 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Mark Buggy 0-9 (1tp, 2f), Josh Egan 0-3, Bryan McMahon 0-2 (1f), Conor Crowley 0-1 |
Referee: Patrick Murphy (Ballinkillen)
|
| 25 July 2026 Round 2 | Éire Óg |
5-15 (30) – (10) 0-10 | Mount Leinster Rangers |
Carlow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1-12 – 0-02) | Venue: Dr Cullen Park | |||
|
|
Round 3
| 31 July 2026 Round 3 | Rathvilly |
1-15 (18) – (18) 0-18 | Palatine |
Carlow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1-05 – 0-13) | Venue: Dr Cullen Park | |||
Pts: Kevin Murphy 1-3 (1f), Liam Gavin 0-6 (2f), Peter Burgess 0-2, Conor Doyle 0-2 (tp), Brandon Kelly 0-1, Darragh Murphy 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Mark Buggy 0-7 (2tpf, 1f), Shane O'Neill 0-3 (1f), Josh Egan 0-2 (tp), Ciarán Moran 0-2 (tp), Tomás Kenny 0-1, Eoin Ryan 0-1, Conor Crowley 0-1, Finbarr Kavanagh 0-1 |
Referee: David Hickey (Fenagh)
|
| 1 August 2026 Round 3 | Bagenalstown Gaels |
3-12 (21) – (12) 0-12 | Grange |
Carlow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1-07 – 0-07) | Venue: Dr Cullen Park | |||
Pts: Patrick McDonnell 1-3, Jack McCullagh 0-4 (1tp), Cian Doyle 0-3 (2f), James Clarke 1-0, Robbie Kane 1-0, Alan Wall 0-1 (f), Oisín Dillon 0-1 |
Report | Pts: John Murphy 0-6 (1tp, 3f), Shane Cormican 0-2, Aidan Burrows 0-1, Ned Pender 0-1, Darragh Burrows 0-1, Pat Murphy 0-1 |
Referee: Brian Deering (Rathvilly)
|
| 1 August 2026 Round 3 | Old Leighlin |
0-09 (9) – (17) 1-14 | Éire Óg |
Carlow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-04 – 1-07) | Venue: Dr Cullen Park | |||
Pts: James Dowling 0-3, Aaron Amond 0-2 (1tp), Cathal Coughlan 0-2 (1f), Séamus KInsella 0-2 (2f) |
Report | Pts: Darragh O'Brien 1-2, Adam McCarron 0-5 (2f, 1'45), Chris Blake 0-3 (1'45), Diarmuid Ruth 0-1, Ross Dunphy 0-1, Colm Hulton 0-1 |
Referee: James Foley (Kilbride)
|
| 2 August 2026 Round 3 | Fenagh |
1-19 (22) – (12) 1-09 | Mount Leinster Rangers |
Kildavin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-09 – 1-06) | Venue: Spellman Park | |||
Pts: Padraig Hynes 0-10 (3tpf, 1tp), Padraic Kearney 1-1, Ian Craddock 0-3 (1tp), Cormac Lomax 0-1, Jack Kehoe 0-1, Jack Treacy 0-1, Zach O'Hara 0-1, Ciarán Whelan 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Gary Kelly 1-2, Fiachra Fitzpatrick 0-4 (1tpf, 2f), Donagh Murphy 0-2, Conor Fenlon 0-1 |
Referee: Lar Murphy (Grange)
|
Round 4
| 20 August 2026 Round 4 | Old Leighlin |
0-05 (5) – (22) 0-22 | Rathvilly |
Carlow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-04 – 0-13) | Venue: Dr Cullen Park | |||
Pts: Seamus Kinsella 0-3 (1f), Cathal Coughlan 0-2 (2f) |
Report | Pts: Liam Gavin 0-5 (3f), Brandon Kelly 0-4, Kevin Murphy 0-3, Conor Doyle 0-3, Padhraig Bolger 0-2 (tp), Brendan Murphy 0-1, Darragh Murphy 0-1, Dara Curran 0-1, Ed Finnegan 0-1, Peter Burgess 0-1 |
Referee: Marion Hayden (Éire Óg)
|
| 21 August 2026 Round 4 | Éire Óg |
6-17 (35) – (13) 1-10 | Fenagh |
Carlow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 2-10 – 1-03) | Venue: Dr Cullen Park | |||
Pts: Adam McCarron 3-6 (2f), Chris Blake 1-4 (1tpf), Niall Quinlan 1-1 (f), Ross Dunphy 1-0, Colm Hulton 0-3 (1tp), Diarmuid Ruth 0-1, Kieran Nolan 0-1, Benny Kavanagh 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Padraig Hynes 0-7 (2tpf, 2f), Jack Treacy 1-0, Seán Murphy 0-1, Zach O'Hara 0-1, Ben Collier 0-1 |
Referee: James Foley (Kilbride)
|
| 21 August 2026 Round 4 | Bagenalstown Gaels |
0-17 (17) – (16) 0-16 | Mount Leinster Rangers |
Carlow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-08 – 0-08) | Venue: Dr Cullen Park | |||
Pts: Cian Doyle 0-7 (1tpf, 3f), Jamie Clarke 0-4, Robbie Kane 0-3, Jack Doyle 0-2, Patrick McDonnell 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Fiachra Fitzpatrick 0-4 (3f), Conaill Fitzpatrick 0-4 (1tpf, 1'45), Jamie Nolan 0-2 (tp), Gary Kelly 0-2, Robert Stafford 0-2 (tp), Patrick Stafford 0-2 (tp) |
Referee: David Hickey (Fenagh)
|
| 23 August 2026 Round 4 | Palatine |
1-16 (19) – (14) 0-14 | Grange |
Carlow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-12 – 0-05) | Venue: Dr Cullen Park | |||
Pts: Shane O'Neill 0-4 (1tpf, 1f), Mark Buggy 0-4 (1tp), Brandon Cassidy 0-3, Josh Egan 1-0, Conor Crowley 0-2, Ciarán Moran 0-2 (tp), Tomás Kenny 0-1 |
Report | Pts: John Murphy 0-6 (1tp, 2tpf), Paddy Hickey 0-3 (1tp), Aidan Burrows 0-3 (1tp), Darragh Burrows 0-1, Ned Pender 0-1 |
Referee: David Hickey (Fenagh)
|
Round 5
| 25 August 2026 Round 5 | Rathvilly |
1-12 (15) – (8) 0-08 | Fenagh |
Carlow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1-08 – 0-05) | Venue: Dr Cullen Park | |||
Pts: Brandon Kelly 1-3 (1f), Conor Doyle 0-5 (1tp, 1'45), Kevin Murphy 0-1 (f), Padhraig Bolger 0-1, Diarmuid Gavin 0-1 (f), Brian Smith 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Padraig Hynes 0-4 (3f), Seán Murphy 0-2 (tp), Ben Collier 0-1, Jack Treacy 0-1 |
Referee: Seán McCormack (Fighting Cocks)
|
| 26 August 2026 Round 5 | Bagenalstown Gaels |
1-14 (17) – (18) 1-15 | Old Leighlin |
Carlow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:30 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 1-07 – 1-07) | Venue: Dr Cullen Park | |||
Pts: Cian Doyle 1-8 (4f, 1tpf), Oisin Dillon 0-3 (1tp), James Clarke 0-2, Jason Dillon 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Mikey Bambrick 1-3 (1tp), Aaron Amond 0-4 (1tp), Seamus Kinsella 0-3 (2f), David Bambrick 0-2, James Dowling 0-1, Cathal Coughlan 0-1 (f), Tadhg Roche 0-1 |
Referee: Patrick Murphy (Ballinkillen)
|
| 27 August 2026 Round 5 | Mount Leinster Rangers |
0-11 (11) – (19) 1-16 | Grange |
Carlow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:00 IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-05 – 1-09) | Venue: Dr Cullen Park | |||
|
|
Knock-out Stage
Relegation Play-off
| Relegation Play-off | Fenagh |
v | Mount Leinster Rangers |
||
|
|
Quarter-Finals
| Quarter-Final | Palatine |
v | Grange |
||
|
|
| Quarter-Final | Bagenalstown Gaels |
v | Old Leighlin |
||
|
|
Semi-Finals
| Semi-Final | Éire Óg |
v | Quarter-Final Winner | ||
|
|
| Semi-Final | Rathvilly |
v | Quarter-Final Winner | ||
|
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Final
| Final | Semi-Final Winner | v | Semi-Final Winner | ||
|
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References
- ↑ Gaa.ie (2025-10-19). "Carlow SFC Final: Old Leighlin edge out Rathvilly". www.gaa.ie. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- ↑ "Grange are back to senior after dramatic final replay - GAA - Carlow Nationalist". carlow-nationalist.ie. 2025-10-28. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- ↑ "Éire Óg survive at Tinryland's expense - GAA - Carlow Nationalist". carlow-nationalist.ie. 2025-10-12. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- ↑ "Plenty of positivity surrounding changes to Championship structures - GAA - Carlow Nationalist". carlow-nationalist.ie. 2025-12-23. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
