GAA Club Rankings

RYAN FERRY breaks down all 39 clubs in Donegal football and lists where they rank ahead of the 2026 season. Last year’s rankings in brackets.

1. Naomh Conaill (2)

Naomh Conaill finished the year back at the top of the tree after clinching the Dr Maguire Cup once again. They had to do it the hard way and were fortunate to win some of their knock-out games but they just refused to go away, and got great energy from young guns in Shea Malone and Max Campbell. Daithi Molloy had a solid year for the county minors this season and could force his way into the reckoning in 2026 while Ciaran Thompson’s return will make them a more potent outfit, and has been the case for the last twenty years, it will take a good team to beat them.

2. Gaoth Dobhair (3)

It will be a long winter around Gaoth Dobhair. They were so close to adding another championship title to their name but came unstuck in the final after extra-time. Those closing minutes of normal time against Naomh Conaill will particularly eat at them. Moral victories don’t carry much weight around Magheragallon and while the team showed definite signs of improvement in 2025, there is a real disappointment that they didn’t land the Doctor. Rónán Mac Niallais and Francie Friel are staying on and there are good young players who could be integrated in further next term as they look to right the wrongs.

3. St Eunan’s (1)

It was a year that never really took flight for St Eunan’s. They were without their main county stars for the league and finished fifth and weren’t really in contention for a spot in the Division 1 decider. The championship started slowly against Kilcar although they did pick it up after that, and may have finished in the top four if all games had been played at the same time on the final day of the group phase. The defeat to Termon will have stung and the players will be keen to get back to their best. While it was an underwhelming season, the fact that former Fermanagh manager Kieran Donnelly has taken them on shows that the stock is high, but there will be pressure to deliver in 2026.

4. Four Masters (7)

Four Masters continue to excel at underage level and it seems inevitable that senior success will follow. It’s just a matter of when? Barry Dunnion’s young team had a couple of below-par performances but reaching the league final and the championship semi-final will definitely be classed as a good season. They do need to build up experience and physicality but there’s no shortage of talent coming through and Tomas Carr and Thomas Lenehan will add to their attack next term.

5. St Michael’s (5)

It’s only two seasons since St Michael’s were in the relegation play-offs so back-to-back SFC semi-finals shouldn’t be sniffed at. However, once again taking that extra step just proved beyond them and they didn’t have enough to take out Gaoth Dobhair. There were good wins over Naomh Conaill and Termon in the group and they stayed comfortably in Division 1 but with an ageing team, it is really all about being primed for the business end of the season for the men from the Bridge and they will need their seasoned campaigners to go again in 2026. Cathal Sweeney and Raymond McLaughlin are back in charge but Jamie Hunter and Paddy McGinley have emigrated and they will be missed in the backline.

6. Termon (10)

A year of substantial progress for Termon as they won the Division 1 title. The championship was somewhat of a mixed bag as they lost three times in the group phase and were fortunate not to end up in the bottom four. They then claimed a big win over St Eunan’s (albeit in controversial circumstances) and were excellent against Naomh Conaill. However, the manner in which they lost that match and the All-Ireland Gaeltacht final shows there’s scope for improvement for Caolan McDaid’s charges.

7. Dungloe (4)

It was always likely to be difficult to replicate Dungloe’s 2024 campaign when they reached the County Final but for long periods, it looked like they were on track. They won promotion from Division 2 and claimed seven points from a possible eight in the group phase. However, disaster struck in the quarter-final against Four Masters when they just didn’t perform in the second half. Dessie Gallagher has stepped aside and the popular Noel McBride comes in as manager. As always in the Rosses, staving off emigration will be a task in the winter, but Danny McCready and Christopher O’Donnell are players who have shown well at minor and schools level.

8. Kilcar (8)

Kilcar endured a really challenging start to the 2025 campaign with a heavy defeat in the Gaeltacht before losing their first seven league matches. However, things improved when they got some important players back into the team and they did well to retain their Division 1 status. A defeat at home in the championship to Downings was a real shock but they still finished in the top four after winning their other three games. Their campaign came to an end with a narrow defeat against Gaoth Dobhair in Glenties but they were second best in that match. Mark Sweeney is staying on as bainisteoir and he will need to get more from the young players who won the Under 21 ‘C’ title in December.

9. Sean MacCumhaills (9)

There’s no doubt over what the turning point of Sean MacCumhaills’ campaign was. They were playing some terrific football during the group phase of the Donegal Senior Championship when county star Oisin Gallen went down injured against Gaoth Dobhair. The Twin Towns side defeated Downings to make the last eight but with Gallen and Kevin McCormick out, they were well beaten by St Michael’s. Damian Devaney and Luke Gavigan Snr have now taken charge, and there’s good youth coming through. Jamie Gavigan, Adam Byrne, and Tomas McNulty are all talented teenagers who are eligible in 2026.

10. Glenswilly (6)

It wasn’t the season that Glenswilly envisaged although it must be pointed out that Michael Murphy’s injury was a huge blow as they didn’t have their four-time All Star for any games. The Glen men fared better than usual in the league and then defeated Naomh Conaill in their championship opener. However, they then drew with MacCumhaills before losing to Dungloe and Kilcar. Glenswilly did put up a good fight against Four Masters but failed to make the last eight. Teenager Matthew Enright should have the physicality for adult football and there’s a chunk of youth on the conveyor-belt but they will need Murphy fit to have a real say in the 2026 SFC.

11. Downings (13)

There was real frustration for Downings with the manner in which they lost their Division 1 status and they will be keen to get that back in 2026. Meath midfielder Cian McBride was a real help in the championship but while they performed well, the Mevagh men only won one of their four games, although that was a memorable one against Kilcar.

A preliminary quarter-final defeat to MacCumhaills was a missed opportunity with Gallen out injured. Kevin ‘Cookie’ Gallagher, Anthony Boyle and SP Barrett are back running the team, and while it has been a struggle at underage level, Keelan McGroddy is working his way back from a cruciate and will be a big boost if he can return for the championship.

12. Glenfin (11)

Glenfin made a promising start to Division 1 and had no relegation worries to contend with in the season that’s just been. However, a long lay-off ahead of the Championship didn’t suit them and they lost their first three games. Frank McGlynn’s men then had a terrific win over Ardara and were unlucky not to make the knock-out stages but getting victories at SFC level is proving difficult. Seaghan McCormick excelled for their Under 21s but wasn’t involved with the seniors and he would add a little extra to the team, while they could also do with finding some more power in midfield but that’s easier said than done.

13. Naomh Columba (18)

It proved to be a big season for Naomh Columba as they finally got over the line in the Intermediate Championship. The outlook wasn’t particularly good after the Division 2 campaign in which they finished ninth. However, they were a different animal come the business end of the season and apart from one scare against Buncrana, won the Cathal McLaughlin Cup comfortably. Ryan Gillespie has headed away again but Aaron Doherty is expected to be about for league football and that should see them push towards the upper echelons, while their home form will be crucial as they make a welcome return to Senior Championship Football in 2026.

14. Ardara (15)

It was a decent season for Ardara but there remains a suspicion that they really should be doing better. They finished fourth in Division 2 but weren’t really in the promotion shake-up. The Kentucky men then started the championship really well as they beat Aodh Ruadh and could and should have taken out their neighbours Naomh Conaill. However, it’s hard to explain how they were then so flat against Sean MacCumhaills and Glenfin. The club then had a great end to the year as they won the Under 21 ‘B’ title and they are churning out scoring forwards such as Eoghan McNelis and Shane Sweeney. Success might not be immediate but Naomh Brid man Clint Walsh takes over as manager, and getting back into Division 1 would be a good starting point.

15. Killybegs (14)

It was a much tougher league campaign than the previous year for Killybegs as while county stars Hugh McFadden and Eoghan ‘Ban’ Gallagher weren’t available again, they had injuries and struggled to build up momentum. However, with Evan Broderick coming home from Australia, they were able to lift things considerably for the championship, and got great victories over Termon and Aodh Ruadh before bowing out at the hands of Naomh Conaill. Avoiding the bottom four will be a realistic challenge for the Fishermen in ’26 but the league might be tough going again without their two best players.

16. Aodh Ruadh (12)

Getting the right consistency was an issue with Aodh Ruadh in 2025. The first mission was accomplished when they won promotion to Division 1 but they did draw five of their 13 games and perhaps that was a hint of what was to come in the Championship. On paper, there were games that they could have won but they lost five on the trot and only survived at the last chance saloon. Jimmy Langan has stepped down as manager, and the Ballyshannon side have dropped their levels from when they were routinely pushing for a semi-final spot. Classy ciotog Joe Gibbions had a fine year for the county minors in 2025 and will add to their firepower going forward.

17. Malin (19)

There was more O’Donnell Park heartache for Malin in October but it still feels like they have made solid progress. There was a big changeover in playing personnel and on the sideline as Paul Gallagher took charge. They found the going tough in Division 1 and were relegated but their young players really rose to the challenge in the Intermediate Championship and they had super wins over Buncrana, Muff, and Naomh Muire. However, they will be disappointed with their showing in the final, and for the second time in three years, returned to the losing dressing room. Gallagher will be hoping his young players can kick on and push hard for silverware again in 2026.

18. Naomh Muire (20)

Naomh Muire have been steadily climbing the ladder in recent years and they were thrilled to win promotion to Division 1 this season with a play-off success against Downings at the Bridge. However, they never quite hit their best form in the championship and will have serious regrets about their semi-final defeat against Malin. Danny O’Donnell’s men aren’t far away in the Intermediate Championship but will they be able to put in a push to retain their top tier status in the ACL and then mount a push for the silverware in October?

19. St Naul’s (16)

It was a disappointing campaign for St Naul’s who were relegated in both the league and the championship. As has been the case in recent years, it was a real struggle in Division 2 when they didn’t have their three county players and they were relegated. They did get a good win in the championship over an in-form Downings side, and were reasonably competitive against St Eunan’s and Four Masters. However, they have been flirting with relegation in recent years and there’s only so many times you can pull off the great escape. Strength-in-depth has been an issue in the Senior Championship but they will take a lot of beating in the Intermediate next year if they have all their main men available.

20. Milford (21)

A fifth-placed finish in Division 2 doesn’t read too badly for Milford but they had lost two of their first three games against leading contenders so a push for promotion was never really on the cards. Cruciate Injuries to three key players were a real blow heading into the championship and they were well beaten by Glen but did win their next three matches before falling flat for the second successive year against Naomh Muire at the quarter-final stage. There is a sense that they could be performing better but need to find more depth. James McGinley remains at the helm.

21. Naomh Pádraig, Uisce Chaoin (22)

It was always going to be a challenge this term for Naomh Pádraig following their long campaign in 2025 which went all the way to January. Their Division 2 league was solid if unconvincing but they battled well in the Intermediate Championship, and injuries didn’t help their case as they lost out to Malin in the quarter-finals. Daniel McCauley and Dougie Corbett have stepped away with Claudy man Peter Murphy stepping into the breach. Teenager Peter McLaughlin should help their cause but getting the towering Kevin Lynch back to full fitness will be crucial to their plans.

22. Buncrana (17)

The season started well for Buncrana as they got the better of Gaoth Dobhair and Kilcar in Division 1 but when they started to lose games, they were unable to arrest the slide and were relegated.

There was a stronger look to their team in the Intermediate Championship but the desired results didn’t come and Inishowen derby defeats against Malin and Naomh Pádraig will have stung.

They did push Naomh Columba to one point in the quarter-final but were second best for much of that match. Gary Duffy has stepped aside with club legend Paul McGonigle stepping into the breach.

He has plenty to work with and Division 2 might help build momentum, but it’s definitely time that they started making the latter stages of the Intermediate once again.

23. Red Hughs (28)

Much more like it from Red Hughs who pushed on when Darren O’Leary and Mark O’Sullivan came in. They were too good for Division 3 and won promotion. They attacked the Intermediate Championship and claimed good wins over Naomh Muire and Bundoran on the way through to the last four where Naomh Columba had too much for them. Their Under 21 team had a good run late in the year and Conor Gallagher looks like a prospect for the future. The question now is can Red Hughs sustain their progress and become a real contender to win the Cathal McLaughlin Cup?

24. Carndonagh (26)

Carndonagh will look back on the 2025 season with fondness. They stayed up comfortably in Division 2 without Conor O’Donnell, who was flying it with Donegal. The Foden men then had to carry the favourite’s tag in the Junior Championship but went on to win it. There was maybe a tad of disappointment to lose in the first round of Ulster but Emyvale were a strong team who reached the provincial final. Carn’s reserve team won the Junior ‘B’ title and there are players in that side who could more than hold their own in the first string as could the 2025 county minor captain, Kalvin McLaughlin.

 

25. Realt na Mara (24)

There were glimpses that Realt na Mara could kick on in 2025 but it never quite happened. They finished tenth in Division 2 and were frustrated with how their first championship match with Muff played out. They did bounce back and defeated Burt and Fanad but will have felt that Red Hughs in the quarter-final was a winnable game and they came up short. Joint-managers Ciaran McCaughey and Barry McGowan have stepped away and Cian McEniff has moved to Australia. His scores won’t be easy to replace.

26. Burt (29)

It was a better year for Burt and Marty Coyle had a good first season in charge. They were fast out of the blocks in Division 3 and went on to secure the league title. Once again, they ended up in the relegation play-offs in the Intermediate, although they just missed out on a quarter-final spot on score difference after beating Fanad and Muff. A long hurling season might have a bit of an impact at the start of 2026 but Coyle’s charges will want to stabilise in the league and make the knock-out stages in the championship.

27. Gaeil Fhánada (25)

It will have been a frustrating campaign at times for Fanad. They were down some key players at the start of Division 2 but did find some good displays in the latter stages as they drew with Aodh Ruadh and beat Muff but still required a play-off win to stay up. They were reasonably competitive in the Intermediate Championship but only got one draw from four games and ended up in the relegation play-offs. The season did end on a high for Fanad as they won the Under 21 ‘D’ title and there are players in that team who have the potential to make a mark at senior level next term.

28. Cloughaneely (23)

It’s very much a rebuilding period for Cloughaneely and 2025 wasn’t always easy. Jason McGee’s transfer to Corduff weakened their hand considerably and they also were missing a number of players to injury. At one stage, they looked under pressure in Division 2 but wins over Muff and Gaeil Fhánada helped them retain their status. However, the Intermediate Championship was very disappointing as they lost all four group games and then a relegation semi-final against Fanad and in some ways they were fortunate that Na Rossa were out of their depth. Minor Jack Gallagher will help the cause next year as will the players returning from cruciate injuries but they have ground to make up.

29. Letterkenny Gaels (34)

Letterkenny Gaels got their house back in order once again this season with a good management team in place headed up by Aidy Glackin. It was perhaps a surprise that they didn’t perform better in the league but didn’t have star man Ronan Frain available. He was back for the championship and they went all the way to the final, giving a good account of themselves against Carndonagh. It was a solid first year for Glackin and with county minors Callum McGilloway and Cathal Doherty available next season, he should have a stronger hand to pick from.

30. Naomh Bríd (30)

It was a case of close but no cigar for Naomh Bríd in 2025. They had a good run in Division 3, finishing third behind Burt and Red Hughs, who were the only two teams to beat them. They hoped promotion could be secured via the play-off and were in contention before losing out against a more experienced Fanad side. They bounced back in the championship and may feel that they should have defeated Letterkenny Gaels in the semi-final when they lost after extra-time. Although it should be remembered that they were without two of their best forwards in Eoghan Gallagher and Aaron McGrory through injury for that match. The Trummon men should be pushing for Junior honours in 2026.

31. St Mary’s, Convoy (27)

St Mary’s were dealt a blow before the start of the 2025 season when Liam and John Toye transferred out and when you add that duo to Joe McGill and Paddy Dolan who are playing in London, Convoy have had to adapt to losing some of their best attackers. It was of no great surprise that they found the going tough in Division 2 and were relegated without winning a match. They performed better in the Junior ‘A’ Championship aside from a poor display against Naomh Brid and put it up to Carndonagh in the semi-final. That should provide some optimism ahead of the league and championship next term.

32. Naomh Ultan (32)

Naomh Ultan stay in 32nd spot for the third year in-a-row. They remain better than the teams below them but are struggling to make a mark above that. The Dunkineely side finished fourth in Division 3 but were slightly off for a promotion push. They will be disappointed with how the championship went. They headed to Letterkenny to face the Gaels with the hope of getting a home quarter-final but were well beaten. They then bowed out away to Convoy when they were defeated by five points. Some of Naomh Ultan’s main men are now on the wrong side of thirty and they probably need more from their younger cohort.

33. Robert Emmets (36)

Robert Emmets pulled off somewhat of a coup when they coaxed former Donegal selector John Duffy to take on the team in 2025. It was clear that they were better organised even if they would have liked more than three wins in the league. However, they really went after the championship and good wins over Pettigo and Urris put them through to the quarter-finals. They were well beaten by Convoy and Letterkenny Gaels which shows there’s plenty of scope for improvement but Duffy is staying on and the team will aim to continue making progress next year.

34. Pettigo (39)

Pettigo were the lowest ranked club last year but they will categorise 2025 as a fine campaign. The Border men were excellent during the league as extra commitment helped them to three wins and three draws and a seventh place finish in the league. There was also a championship win over Lifford but Pettigo will feel they could have got something from either the Naomh Brid or Robert Emmets matches, which could have brought them through to the knock-out stages. Still, solid foundations were put down and there is hope that former county minor Ronan Maher will be able to put his injury problems behind him and make an impact next term.

35. Na Rossa (31)

Na Rossa managed to survive in the Intermediate Championship in their first year up in 2024 but it was always going to be difficult to repeat that feat. Their team wasn’t as strong and they were relegated without really going close to winning any matches. They fared reasonably in the league but only claimed three victories in their matches, and two draws. Being back in the Junior Championship will be a help to build morale up again and they could be competitive again in 2026 but the recent demographics report made for stark reading for the likes of Na Rossa and numbers are light.

36. Urris (33)

A year to forget for Urris. They actually started the league quite well and won their first two matches. However, they only won two more over the rest of the campaign and it really went flat in the Junior ‘A’ Championship as they lost all four games and it was clear that everyone wasn’t pulling in the same direction. Sean Paul Doherty has come in as manager and he’s an experienced gael who should be able to get the Sraid men back on track because they have undoubtedly been underperforming. Joe and Patrick Doherty were part of the county minor squad in 2025 and are good players and there’s more talent on the way but Urris need to get things steadied at senior grade.

37. Moville (35)

It’s hard to believe that Moville were in the Junior ‘A’ Championship Final in 2023 when you see their results from the past campaign. The Carrick Field side finished bottom of the lot in Division 3, winning just one match against Lifford. They did have an improved team for the championship and defeated Newtown while they battled well against Letterkenny Gaels and Naomh Ultan. Moville’s U21 team reached the ‘D’ semi-final so there are good players involved but they should be performing better. County minor ladies manager Declan McDermott is staying on for a second year in charge.

38. Naomh Colmcille (37)

It’s slow progress for Naomh Colmcille but there is progress being made. They will be disappointed to have only won two of their league matches this season. Indeed they managed to defeat Moville but then lost to them in the championship. A decent showing against Letterkenny Gaels was noteworthy but they mixed that with a very poor display against Naomh Ultan. Newtown’s U21 team did have a good run in the ‘D’ championship and asked plenty of questions of the eventual winners Fanad in the semi-final. That offers hope, but consistency is needed at senior level. Packie Gallagher is staying on as manager which will help.

39. Naomh Pádraig, Lifford (38)

It was a tough campaign for Naomh Pádraig, who made a slow start to Division 3. They did get a good win over Na Rossa and drew with Naomh Colmcille but then exciting young forward Kyle Martin linked up with Finn Harps. Heavy defeats came against Convoy and Naomh Brid in the Championship, while Naomh Padraig were also beaten well by Pettigo who traditionally they would have been competitive with. Lifford finished their season with a win over a weakened Robert Emmets. They were able to field in the Under 21 ‘D’ Championship but shipped three heavy defeats.