Derry club championships just a week away

THE Derry club championship season will start next Thursday with Banagher hosting Lavey in the opening round of the hurling championship.

Champions Sleacht Néill – in course for an 11th successive title – visit Na Magha in a group format that gives clubs one home, one away and one game at a neutral venue.

The top team in each section will contest the senior hurling final, with the second placed teams into the intermediate decider with the third placed teams playing in the junior 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 – Senior to Intermediate or Intermediate to Junior.

A senior team from the previous season cannot compete in Ulster at Junior level and Banagher remain ineligible for Intermediate in 2023.

The football championships – senior, intermediate and junior – kick into action on the weekend of August 6.

Hurling championship fixtures.

Round 1 – Friday, July 28

Group A

Na Magha v Sleacht Néill

Swatragh v Ballinascreen

Group B

Kevin Lynch’ v Eoghan Rua

Banagher v Lavey (Thur, July 27)

Round 2 – Sunday, August 20

Group A (Neutral venues)

Sleacht Néill v Ballinascreen

Swatragh v Na Magha

Group B

Eoghan Rua v Banagher

Lavey v Kevin Lynch’s

Round 3 – Sunday, September 10

Group A

Sleacht Néill v Swatragh

Ballinascreen v Na Magha

Group B (Neutral venues)

Eoghan Rua v Lavey

Banagher v Kevin Lynch’s