By Shaun Casey

DEFENDING champions Madden will take on kingpins Crossmaglen in the group stages of the Armagh Senior Championship following this evenings draw.

The Armagh SFC will take on the same format as it has the last number of years, with four groups made up of four teams.

Whoever tops the groups will go straight through to the quarter-finals, while the second and third placed days go into a playoff. The teams that face bottom of their groups will exit the competition.

The Raparees were first time winners last season and followed up that historic success with a first ever Division 1A league title this year, while Crossmaglen haven’t tasted championship success since 2023.

Tullysaran, who were relegated to Intermediate football for 2027 through the league, will take part in their first ever Senior Championship campaign while Dromintee make up the remainder of the group.

The cliched ‘group of death’ is arguably Group 2 with a number of South Armagh derbies leaving a couple of really enticing encounters.

Last years league champions Killeavy, who finished second behind Madden in the Division 1A table, have been drawn alongside Cullyhanna, Clan na Gael and Silverbridge.

Cullyhanna reached the decider last October, but lost out to Madden, and will aim to go one better and get their hands on the Gerry Fagan Cup for the first time ever.

Clan na Gael on the other hand reached successive county finals in 2023 and 2024, but came up short against Crossmaglen and Clann Eireann respectively, and haven’t won the Senior Championship since 1994.

In Group 1, Armagh Harps were the top seed and Culloville, Maghery and Granemore make up that group. The Harps are managed by John Toner, who was in charge the last time they won the championship back in 2017.

Granemore are managed by former Armagh footballer and clubman Kieran Toner, while two time SFC winners Maghery are always a test for anyone when it comes to championship football.

Culloville are one of the up and coming teams in the Orchard County, although they were relegated from the top tier of the league.

Clann Eireann, winners of the title in 2021 and 2024, will be hot favourites to top their group and advance straight through to the quarter-finals as they meet Mullaghbawn, Carrickcruppen and Sarsfields.

Sarsfields won the Intermediate Championship last season but suffered relegation from Division 1B in the league so will be back competing at intermediate level in 2027, unless they win the Senior Championship.

Group 1

Armagh Harps, Culloville, Maghery, Granemore

Group 2

Killeavy, Cullyhanna, Clan na Gael, Silverbridge

Group 3

Clann Eireann, Mullaghbawn, Carrickcruppen, Sarsfields

Group 4

Madden, Crossmaglen, Dromintee, Tullysaran