By Michael McMullan

DERRY CCC have finalised the dates, venues and time for their club championship programme which swings into action.

The championships will again be played in a group format, leading into the knock-out stages.

Glen will begin their defence of the John McLaughlin Cup in a group that includes Claudy, Banagher and Swatragh.

Sleacht Néill, last year’s beaten finalists, are in a group with Steelstown, Newbridge and Ballinderry.

It is organised in four groups of four, with all 16 teams entering the knock-out stages which will be played on a 1v4 and 2v3 format.

With the 2023 SFC set to be reduced to 12 clubs, four teams will be relegated at the end of the championship.

Action began Friday with the start of the hurling championships and wins for Sleacht Néill and Kevin Lynchs, while Lavey hit two stoppage time goals to salvage a 2-13 all draw at Swatragh.

All eight hurling teams are divided into two groups of four, with the group winners making it to the semi-finals.

The intermediate championship will take place in two groups of five this season.

All fixtures home or away unless stated.

SENIOR FOOTBALL

ROUND 1
Wednesday, August 10
Magherafelt v Loup (8pm)
Friday, August 12
Banagher v Swatragh (8pm)
Saturday, August 13
Claudy v Glen (3.30pm), Coleraine v Ballinascreen (5pm), Dungiven v Kilrea (6.30pm Owenbeg)
Sunday, August 14
Newbridge v Ballinderry (2.30pm), Sleacht Néill v Steelstown (3.30pm), Bellaghy v Lavey (5pm Owenbeg)

ROUND 2
Friday, August 19
Steelstown v Ballinderry (8pm Owenbeg)
Saturday, August 20
Lavey v Kilrea (2pm), Loup v Ballinascreen (3.30pm Glen), Bellaghy v Dungiven (4.30pm), Sleacht Néill v Newbridge (6.30pm Owenbeg)
Sunday August 21
Swatragh v Claudy (3.30pm), Glen v Banagher (5pm), Coleraine v Magherafelt (6.30 Owenbeg)

ROUND 3
Friday, September 9
Ballinderry v Sleacht Néill (8pm)
Saturday, September 10
Steelstown v Newbridge (2pm), Banagher v Claudy (4.30pm Owenbeg), Loup v Coleraine (4pm), Dungiven v Lavey (6.45pm)
Sunday, September 11
Ballinascreen v Magherafelt (2pm), Kilrea v Bellaghy (4pm), Glen v Swatragh (6.30 Owenbeg)

SENIOR HURLING

ROUND 1
Friday, July 22 (7.30pm)
Na Magha 0-12 Sleacht Néill 2-24, Swatragh 2-13 Lavey 2-13, Kevin Lynch’s 3-21 Coleraine 1-13
Wednesday, July 27 (7.30pm)
Banagher 2-15 Ballinascreen 2-17
ROUND 2
Saturday, August 6
Na Magha v Swatragh (4.30pm Owenbeg), Kevin Lynch’s v Banagher (6pm Owenbeg)
Sunday, August 7
Coleraine v Ballinascreen (Owenbeg 1pm), Lavey v Sleacht Néill (2.30pm)
ROUND 3
Sunday, August 28 (2pm)
Sleacht Néill v Swatragh, Lavey v Na Magha, Coleraine v Banagher, Ballinascreen v Kevin Lynch’s

INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL
Sunday, July 31
Greenlough v Glenullin (2.30pm), Limavady v Foreglen (2.30pm), Slaughtmanus v Lissan (5pm), Castledawson v Desertmartin (5pm)
Sunday, August 7
Greenlough v Lissan
Thursday, August 11
Limavady v Castledawson (8pm)
Saturday, August 13
Slaughtmanus v Greenlough (2pm)
Sunday, August 14
Foreglen v Faughanvale (2pm), Glenullin v Drumsurn (6.30)
Wednesday, August 17
Drumsurn v Slaughtmanus (8pm), Desertmartin v Limavady (8pm)
Friday, August 19
Foreglen v Castledawson (8pm), Lissan v Glenullin (8pm)
Saturday, August 20
Drumsurn v Greenlough (5pm)
Sunday, August 21
Faughanvale v Desertmartin (2pm)
Sunday, September 4
Castledawson v Faughanvale (2pm)
Friday, September 9
Desertmartin v Foreglen (8pm)
Saturday, September 10
Lissan v Drumsurn (2pm), Faughanvale v Limavady (6.30pm)
Sunday, September 11
Glenullin v Slaughtmanus (2pm)

JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 1
Friday, July 29
Craigbane 1-11 Ballerin 1-6
Saturday, July 30
Moneymore v Ballymaguigan (2pm), Magilligan v Doire Trasna (1.30pm), Ogra Colmcille v Ardmore (4.30pm), Glack v Drum (4pm Owenbeg), Sean Dolan’s v Doire Colmcille (5.30 Owenbeg)
ROUND 2
Thursday, August 11
Doire Trasna v Craigbane (7.30pm)
Friday, August 12
Ballerin v Magilligan (7.30pm), Ballymaguigan v Ardmore (6.30pm Owenbeg), Moneymore v Ogra Colmcille 8pm Owenbeg)
Saturday, August 13
Drum v Sean Dolan’s (2pm), Glack v Doire Colmcille (5pm)
ROUND 3
Thursday, August 18
Craigbane v Magilligan (7.30pm Owenbeg),
Saturday, August 20
Ballerin v Doire Trasna (1pm Celtic Park),  Doire Colmcille v Drum (4pm), Ardmore v Moneymore (6.30pm)
Sunday, August 21
Sean Dolan’s v Glack (12.30pm), Ballymaguigan v Ogra Colmcille (2.30pm)