By Michael McMullan

DERRY and Ulster champions Glen and beaten finalists Sleacht Néill have been kept apart in the Derry SFC.

All competitions will be played in a group format before moving into the knock-outs stages.

The group stages begin as follows:
SFC: August 6 (Final October 29)
IFC: August 6 (Final October 29)
JFC: August 6 (Final October 22)
Hurling: July 28 (Final September 17)

Due championship restructuring, there will be no promotion from the junior or intermediate football ranks until 2024.

The 2024 Derry SFC will only have 12 teams, with 10 at intermediate level and the remaining teams in the junior championship.

The layout of the draws…

Derry SFC
Group A: Glen, Lavey, Dungiven, Swatragh, Ballinascreen, Coleraine, Bellaghy
Group B: Sleacht Néilll, Newbridge, Ballinderry, Magherafelt, Kilrea, Loup, Steelstown

-There will be three home and three away games, with the top four teams in each group advancing to quarter-finals.
– The quarter-finals will be seeded 1 v 4 2 v 3.
– The semi-final will be an open draw and repeat pairings are allowed.
– Teams placed sixth and seventh will play in the relegation playoffs with the two losers relegated to the Intermediate Championship for 2024.

Derry IFC
Group A: Banagher, Drumsurn, Foreglen, Limavady, Faughanvale, Craigbane, Lissan
Group B: Claudy, Glenullin, Castledawson, Desertmartin, Greenlough, Slaughtmanus

– Group games played home and away with the top four teams in each qualifying for the quarter- Finals.
– The quarter-finals will be seeded 1 v 4 2 v 3.
– The semi-final will be an open draw and repeat pairings are allowed.
– The seventh placed team in Group A will automatically be relegated to the Junior Championship for 2024.
– Teams placed fifth and sixth will play in the relegation playoffs, 5 v 6 and 6 v 5, with the two losers being relegated to Junior Championship for 2024.
– There will be no promotion from Intermediate Championship in 2023 due to Championship restructure.
– From 2024 the Intermediate Champions will be promoted to Senior Championship

Derry JFC
Group A: Ballymaguigan, Ballerin, Glack, Ardmore, Drum
Group B: Doire Trasna, Magilligan, Moneymore, Sean Dolan’s, Doire Colmcille

– Group games played home and away with the top three teams in each qualifying for the quarter- Finals.
– Teams placed fourth and fifth will play in the qualifiers, 4 v 5 and 5 v 4.
– Quarter-finals will be seeded 1 v qualifier winner and 2 v 3.
– The semi-final will be an open draw and repeat pairings are allowed.
– Junior Championship Winners will not be promoted in 2023 due to Championship restructure.
– From 2024 the Junior Champions will be promoted to Intermediate Championship

Derry SHC
Group A: Sleacht Néill, Ballinascreen, Swatragh, Na Magha
Group B: Kevin Lynch’s, Eoghan Rua, Banagher, Lavey

• Two groups of four teams
  – Top teams in each group will play in the Senior Hurling Final.
  – Second placed teams in each group will play in the Intermediate Hurling Final.
  – Third placed teams in each group will play in the Junior Hurling Final.
  – A team can only progress to Ulster in their respective grade if they retain their Championship status from the previous season, or if they drop one grade, i.e. Senior to Intermediate or Intermediate to Junior. A senior team from the previous season cannot compete in Ulster at Junior level.
  – Banagher remain ineligible for Intermediate in 2023.