Derry SFC 2025 fixture guide as Newbridge begin title defence 

Sean O’Leary’s claimed a famous win over Glen in last season’s decider, but the Watty Graham’s are odds-on to regain the John McLaughlin Cup with another new Championship format in play

The Derry SFC gets under way on Wednesday with a midweek clash between Lavey and Drumsurn in the first game in the new-look format.

Once again, the Derry Championship format has been altered with the Oak Leaf county opting to move away from the increasingly-unpopular group structure.

Derry’s new structure mirrors that already in use in Down and it will be one that everyone will be more familiar with next season as it will be employed in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship as well.

The first round winners progress to round 2A with the losers going into 2B. The 2A teams play off with the winners progressing to the quarter-finals. The 2B teams play against each other with the losers eliminated from the Championship. The 2B winners join the 2A losers in round three for the right to progress to the quarter-finals.

As such, this week’s game aren’t win-or-bust, but the easiest way to navigate a path to the quarter-finals is to win your opening two games.

Defending champions Newbridge defeated the-then All-Ireland club winners Glen in last season’s decider and they are last out when they face Dungiven on Sunday night.

The Watty Graham’s, under new manager Rory Kavanagh, take on Banagher.

Last season’s Ulster Intermediate winners Ballinderry face a tough clash against Bellaghy on their return to the senior ranks.

Slaughtneil have a plethora of county stars and will be keen to regain the John McLaughlin Cup while new Louth boss Gavin Devlin will also be finish his stint at Magherafelt on a high.

This week’s O’Neills Derry SFC Round One Fixtures:

* All matches to be played in Owenbeg

Lavey vs Drumsurn (Wednesday, 7.15pm)

Swatragh vs Loup (Saturday, 1pm)

Steelstown v Faughanvale (Saturday, 2.45pm)

Slaughtneil vs Kilrea (Saturday, 5.30pm)

Magherafelt vs Ballinascreen (Saturday, 7.15pm)

Banagher vs Glen (Sunday, 1pm)

Ballinderry vs Bellaghy (Sunday, 2.45pm)

Newbridge vs Dungiven (Sunday, 4.30pm)

Betting odds: Glen 4/6, Newbridge 16/5, Slaughtneil 9/2, Magherafelt 8/1, Lavey 14/1, Bellaghy 25/1, Ballinderry 33/1, Loup 50/1, Swatragh 50/1, Dungiven 50/1, Banagher 50/1, Ballinascreen 90/1, Kilrea 90/1, Steelstown 90/1, Faughanvale 90/1, Drumsurn 125/1.