The 2022 Derry Senior Football Championship was the 99th edition of Derry GAA's premier gaelic football tournament for the top clubs. The sixteen teams who qualified for the 2021 senior championship (12 Division 1A teams and four Division 1B teams) are explained in the 'Competition format' section below.
The 2020 Derry senior championship format was changed as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games. Teams competed in an initial group stage where each team played three games before playing at least one game in the first knockout stage.[1] The 2021 & 2022 Championships followed a similar format, but there will be some realignment in 2023.[2]
Relegation playoffs were introduced in 2021. Newbridge lost their relegation quarter final against Claudy by 0-13 to 0-12 and were relegated to Division 1B for 2022. Banagher won their relegation quarter final against Dungiven by 1-09 to 0-09 and were promoted to Division 1A for 2022.
The winners received the John McLaughlin Cup.
Glen beat the defending champions Slaughtneil by 1-13 to 0-07 at Celtic Park, Derry to win a their first senior championship in 2021[3]
In the leagues, Division 1a and 1b teams played 11 league games and Division 2 teams played13 league games. With the new condensed intercounty season coming into effect, club league games played without county players until their involvement with the respective intercounty competitions comes to an end. The team finishing top of the league at the end of 11/13 games won their respective league.
Due to the move towards the split season model, which has been adopted by GAA nationally, 2021 will see club leagues decoupled from Championship, with matters of promotion and relegation decided via the championship competitions. 2021 Championship groups are based on 2020 Championship placings. Each group will contain one semi-finalist, one beaten quarter-finalist and two beaten last 16 teams.[4]
Team
1
Semi-Finalist
2
Beaten QF
3
Beaten Last 16
1
Beaten Last 16
Each team will be guaranteed three group games and at least one knockout game. The games will be played on a group basis (Home, Away & Neutral fixture). If any club cannot field the game will be forfeited. All sixteen teams qualify for the knock-out stages. In the first knockout round draw the teams were seeded from the group stage with the group winners playing the teams who finished fourth and the group runner-ups playing the teams who finished third. The quarter final draw was subject to the restriction that repeat pairings be avoided if possible.
The teams progress in this years championship will be used to determine their 2022 league placings. Once the groups games have been played and the last 16 knock out round is complete, the winning teams will continue to the quarter finals and the losing teams will progress to therelegation quarter finals. The losers of the relegation final will also be relegated from the 2022 SFC at the expense of the 2021 IFC.
2022
Division 1A in 2022 will made up of 8 SFC Quarter Final teams plus the 4 winners of the SFC Relegation Quarter Finals from the 2021 Season.[5]
Recent history of relegations and promotions[edit]
All promotions and relegations in 2021 were initially decided by performances in the 2021 senior championship and the relegation playoffs. Before the 2022 season began, Division 1A was renamed as the Derry Senior League and expanded from twelve to sixteen teams. This meant that some of the relegations from the 2021 Division 1A were reversed.
Senior Championship
Foreglen conceded before the relegation semi final playoffs and were automatically relegated to the 2022 intermediate championship, thus making the relegation semi finals and final unnecessary.
Steelstown beat Greenlough by 0-09 0-08 in the intermediate championship final. Steelstown replaced Foreglen in the 2022 senior championship.
Divisions 1A & 1B
Banagher beat Dungiven by 1-09 to 0-09 in a relegation quarter final playoff. Banagher were promoted to Division 1A. Dungiven initially remained in Division 1B. In 2022, Division 1A was renamed as the Derry Senior League and expanded from twelve to sixteen teams. Dungiven were promoted to the expanded senior league.
Claudy beat Newbridge by 0-13 to 0-12 in a relegation quarter final playoff. Claudy remained in Division 1A. Newbridge were initially relegated to Division 1B. In 2022, Division 1A was renamed as the Derry Senior League and expanded from twelve to sixteen teams. Newbridge were promoted to the expanded senior league.
Kilrea initially remained in Division 1B. In 2022, Division 1A was renamed as the Derry Senior League and expanded from twelve to sixteen teams. Kilrea were promoted to the expanded senior league.
Steelstown initially remained in Division 1B. In 2022, Division 1A was renamed as the Derry Senior League and expanded from twelve to sixteen teams. Steelstown were promoted to the expanded senior league because they won the 2021 Derry Intermediate Championship.
Group ranking was used to decide the draw – 1v4 and 2v3.
The draw was made on 11 September 2022.[10]
The eight winning teams progressed to the quarter-finals and were assigned to Division 1A for 2023.
The eight losing teams entered a relegation playoff.[11]
The draw was made on 18th September 2022.
The losing teams will be relegated to the Intermediate Championship next season.
A number of clubs have appealed the decision to hold the Relegation Playoffs, and it looks unlikely that they will be played[25]
Despite the appeals being thrown out by the Ulster Council, the county board have decide not to go ahead with the playoffs[26]
