Munster SFC draw tees up potential Cork-Kerry final as Clare land Champions in semi-final
CHAMPIONSHIP 2026: The draw for the Munster GAA Senior Football Championship. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
A first Cork-Kerry Munster SFC final since 2021 remains a possibility following Thursday evening’s provincial draws.
What’s certain is a fourth consecutive decider between Clare and All-Ireland and Munster champions Kerry will not happen next May as they have been paired to meet in the semi-finals in April. Ennis’s Zimmer-Biomet Páirc Chiosóg will host the game after this year’s final took place in Killarney.
For the third year running, Cork and Limerick clash as do Tipperary and Waterford in the quarter-finals. However, the repeat of the semi-finals was avoided when from one bowl Munster chairman Tim Murphy drew Waterford/Tipperary and to face them Kerry defender Mike Breen picked Cork/Limerick from the other.
A peculiar element of the event that was streamed on the GAA’s own platforms live from Croke Park saw Breen and three other players – Donegal’s Ciarán Thompson, Louth captain Sam Mulroy and Jack Carney of Mayo – participate in draws that will impact their teams.
As it happens, Cork and Kerry have been kept away from each other at the semi-final stage as would have happened with the championship’s new seeding system based on league places before Munster GAA parked it for a year.
Reacting to the outcome, new Kerry minor manager Marc Ă“ SĂ© spoke of the challenges Clare have given The Kingdom in Ennis in recent years.
“The big thing we want from the Munster championship is competitiveness. Anytime Kerry have had to go up to Clare, they’ve always found it difficult.
“If you look at the other side of the draw then, Cork know exactly the challenge that Limerick possess. The confidence Limerick will take from having progressed so well in the Tailteann, I think that’s going to really bode well. I think that Cork-Limerick game is going to be one of the highlights.”Â
Prior to the draw, Breen said Kerry will be beginning their preparations in earnest from this weekend on. “We’d great celebrations there and they’ll help to shorten the winter but we’re looking forward to 2026 now.
“Jack has brought in Kieran Donaghy now as well and we have a great backroom team. We have our All-Ireland medal presentation tomorrow night so we’re looking forward to getting back after that.”Â
Across all four provinces, the standout game pits Armagh at home to Tyrone at the first hurdle of the Ulster senior football championship. The pair last met in this year’s provincial semi-final when the 2024 Sam Maguire Cup winners came out on top before losing out to Donegal in the final.
Jim McGuinness’s three-in-a-row seekers Donegal face Down and will meet Armagh or Tyrone in a semi-final should either get past Fermanagh at the quarter-final stage.
Former Armagh footballer Stefan Campbell, who announced his inter-county retirement last month, spoke of the appetising preliminary round fixture: “Look, it’s serious. What a start to the championship it’s going to be in the Athletic Grounds. In my experience, outside of Croke Park, with a full house it’s the best atmosphere in the country.”Â
Leinster winners Louth are on the same side of the draw as Dublin and new Dublin manager will face his old charges in a semi-final should they come through their respective semi-finals against Wexford and Carlow/Wicklow.
On the other side, Kildare and Meath will be fancied to face off in a semi-final. Brian Flanagan’s side face Offaly or Laois in the last-eight game, while All-Ireland semi-finalists and provincial runners-up Meath await the victors of Westmeath and Longford.
In Connacht, Roscommon and Mayo are in line to meet in a semi-final in Castlebar providing they come through their trips to New York and London. Galway meet Sligo or Leitrim in the other last-four fixture.
Quarter-finals, April 11.
Waterford v Tipperary, Waterford venue Cork v Limerick, Cork venue Semi-finals, April 25.
Waterford/Tipperary v Cork/Limerick Clare v Kerry, Clare venue.
Final, May 9/10.
Quarter-finals, April 10/11.
London v Mayo, McGovern Park, Ruislip New York v Roscommon, Gaelic Park Sligo v Leitrim, Sligo venue Semi-finals, April 25/26.
London/Mayo v New York/Roscommon Sligo/Leitrim v Galway Final, May 9/10.
First round, April 10/11.
Carlow v Wicklow, Carlow venue Westmeath v Longford, Westmeath venue Offaly v Laois, Offaly venue Quarter-finals, April 18/19.
Kildare v Offaly/Laois Meath v Westmeath/Longford Louth v Wexford Dublin v Carlow/Wicklow Semi-finals, May 2/3.
Kildare/Offaly/Laois v Meath/Westmeath/Longford Louth/Wexford v Dublin/Carlow/Wicklow.
Final, May 16/17.
Preliminary Round, April 11/12.
Armagh v Tyrone, Box-It Athletic Grounds Quarter-finals, April 18/19, 25/26.
Derry v Antrim, Derry venue Monaghan v Cavan, Monaghan venue Donegal v Down, Donegal venue Fermanagh v Armagh/Tyrone, Fermanagh venue Semi-finals, May 2/3.
Derry/Antrim v Monaghan/Cavan, neutral venue Donegal/Down v Armagh/Tyrone, neutral venue.
Final, May 16/17.
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