The 2026 Intermediate Football Championship club-by-club preview

Buncrana

Manager: Paul McGonigle

Last year's Championship: Lost quarter-final to Naomh Columba

This year's League: 6th in Division 2

First two opponents: Carn (a); Bundoran (h)

Prospects: Brimming with talent, Buncrana have been less than the sum of their parts over recent championships. Got a good group stage draw and will targetting a first semi-final since returning to Intermediate in 2020.

Star man: Kevin Jordan.

Bundoran

Manager: Fergal O'Flaherty

Last year's Championship: Lost to Red Hugh's in quarter-final

This year's League: Bottom of Division 2 and relegated

First two opponents: Muff (h); Buncrana (a)

Prospects: The less said about the league the better, although a win over Cloughaneely in June hinted at what they might be capable of. Might. If they bring any of that league baggage into the championship, they could find themselves looking down instead of upwards.

Star man: Jamie Brennan.

Burt

Manager: Marty Coyle

Last year's Championship: Survived relegation play-offs

This year's League: 10th in Division 2

First two opponents: Fanad (a); Naomh Muire (h)

Prospects: Finished the league strongly, and need to carry that form into the championship. Reaching the quarter-finals - by avoiding the relegation play-offs - for the first time eight seasons will be the main aim.

Star man: Stephen O'Donnell.

Carndonagh

Manager: Michael O'Donnell

Last year's Championship: Won the Junior A and promoted to Intermediate

This year's League: 11th in Division 2

First two opponents: Buncrana (h); Cloughaneely (a)

Prospects: Last year's Junior A winners aren't here to make up the numbers, and will fancy having a right cut at going back-to-back, and with a mobile midfield and variety of scoring forwards can expect to do well.

Star man: Conor O'Donnell.

Cloughaneely

Manager: Michael Lynch

Last year's Championship: Survived relegation play-offs

This year's League: 7th in Division 2

First two opponents: Malin (a); Carndonagh (h)

Prospects: After a few seasons flirting with relegation in league and championship, Cloughaneely have stabilised this year. The 2021 winners could be dark horses to do it again.

Star man: Blake McGarvey.

Gaeil Fhánada

Manager: John McConigley

Last year's Championship: Survived relegation play-offs

This year's League: 9th in Division 2

First two opponents: Burt (h); Red Hugh's (a)

Prospects: Fanad have been carrying momentum since winning the All-Ireland junior Gaeltacht win in June. Tall at midfield, and in Seimi Nani Friel and James Kerr have what every team wants: clinical inside forwards

Star man: Shaun Carr.

Malin

Manager: Paul Gallagher

Last year's Championship: Beaten finalists, losing to Naomh Columba

This year's League: 4th in Division 2

First two opponents: Cloughaneely (h); Muff (a)

Prospects: Blended in a host of youngsters in the league to complement stalwarts like Christy McLaughlin, Gary Farren and Ciaran Doherty. Having featured in two of the last three intermediate finals, Malin will be hoping this is their year.

Star man: Sean O'Neill

Milford

Manager: Aodh McCormack

Last year's Championship: Beaten by Naomh Columba in quarter-final

This year's League: 8th in Division 2

First two opponents: Naomh Muire (a); St Naul's (h)

Prospects: Milford has one of the most potent attacks in the championship. Kane Barrett leads the line and is well supported by Cathal McGettigan and Shane Black. Will fancy their chances of reaching the knockout stages and causing problems for anyone thereafter

Star man: Kane Barrett.

Naomh Muire

Manager: Danny O’Donnell

Last year's Championship: Beaten by Malin in semi-final

This year's League: Bottom of Division 1 and relegated

First two opponents: Milford (h); Burt (a)

Prospects: Relegation from Division 1 is what it is, but the standard they've played at all season will have them battle-hardened for the Intermediate. Semi-finalists in each of the last two seasons, they look one of the leading contenders for the title.

Star man: Eoin Martin.

Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin

Manager: Peter Murphy

Last year's Championship: Beaten by Malin in quarter-final

This year's League: 3rd in Division 2

First two opponents: Bundoran (a); Malin (h)

Prospects: Have really powered on since their 2024 Junior championship win and will be relishing a second go at the Intermediate. Caolan McColgan and Kevin Lynch are top forwards, with youngsters Cillian Doyle and Jamie McCauley not far behind. Should reach the semis, and then who knows?

Star man: Darragh McIntyre

St Naul’s

Manager: Kevin Lyons

Last year's championship: Relegated from the Senior Championship

This year's League: 6th in Division 3

First two opponents: Red Hugh's (h); Milford (a)

Prospects: With All-Stars Peadar Mogan and Brendan McCole and keeper Gavin Mulreanny all back from county duty, we can ignore the poor showing in Division 3. With a generation of senior championship experience to draw from, St Naul's will be a different animal

Star man: Peadar Mogan.

Red Hugh’s

Manager: Kevin Melaugh

Last year's championship: Beaten in semi-final by eventual winners, Naomh Columba

This year's League: 12th in Division 2 and relegated

First two opponents: St Naul's (a); Fanad (h)

Prospects: Desperately disappointed to have been relegated after one season in Division 2, Red Hugh's can't afford to feel sorry for themselves. Johnny Carlin’s transfer back to Wicklow is a blow, but Stephen McMenamin should be back after injury.

Star man: Jack Gillespie.