The Derry Senior Football Championship is the most prestigious football competition in Derry. It has been running for over 100 years, and the winning team are awarded the Johnny McLaughlin Cup. The winners of the Derry Senior Championship qualify to represent Derry in the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship. Currently it is entered by the top 16 teams in Derry. Bellaghy have won the championship the most times, having won 21 titles since their first success in 1956.
The Derry Junior Football Championship is competed for between the Junior Derry clubs. It has been running for over 50 years. The winners of the Derry Junior Championship represent Derry in the Ulster Junior Club Football Championship. Drum have won the championship the most times, having won six titles since their first success in 1973.
Derry Thirds Football Championship
The Derry Thirds Football Championship is competed for between the Derry clubs with a Thirds team. It is a relatively new tournament.
Leagues
The league structure in Derry was recently re-organised and returned to the old system of three divisions - Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3.
The Derry All-County Football League Division 1 is a competition for the top sixteen senior teams in Derry. Under the current regulations, teams play each another once, with the top team winning the league. The bottom team is automatically relegated to the ACFL Division 2.
Derry All-County Football League (ACFL) Division 2
The Derry All-County Football League Division 2 is the second-highest football league in Derry. It is entered by the fourteen intermediate teams in Derry Under the current regulations, teams shall play one another once, with the top team winning the league and being promoted to the ACFL Division 1, and the bottom team being relegated to the ACFL Division 3.
Derry All-County Football League (ACFL) Division 3
The Derry All-County Football League Division 3 is the third-highest football league in Derry. It is entered by the top eight junior teams in Derry. Under the current regulations, teams shall play one another twice, with the top team winning the league and being promoted to the ACFL Division 2.
Other adult competitions
Larkin Cup
The Larkin Cup is a knock-out competition for the top South Derry Senior clubs. It is named after Seán Larkin, a militant Irish republican from the townland of Bellagherty in Ballinderry. He was a member of the Irish Volunteers in the early 1910s, and was later a member of the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence. He fought for the "anti-treaty" side in the Irish Civil War and was captured and executed by the Irish Free State on 14 March 1923. Prior to 1958?, the semi-final and final of the Derry Senior Football Championship was played between the winners of the SouthDerry Championship, North Derry Championship and Derry City Championship. These district championships ceases to exist after the Derry Senior Championship became open-draw in 1958. The Larkin Cup was presented to the winners of the South Derry Championship, so effectively it is the modern-day South Derry Senior Football Championship. The current holders are Ballinderry.
Dr. Kerlin Cup
The Dr. Kerlin Cup is a knock-out competition for the top North Derry clubs. It has been running for over 70 years and the final has been traditionally played on Claudy Green. The current holders are Claudy.
McGlinchey Cup
The McGlinchey Cup is a knock-out competition for South Derry clubs, regarded as the secondary South Derry district competition after the Larkin Cup. It is named after Dean McGlinchey. The current holders are Castledawson.
O'Hagan Cup
The O'Hagan Cup is a knock-out competition for North Derry clubs, regarded as the secondary North Derry district competition after the Dr. Kerlin Cup. It is named after James O'Hagan. The current holders are Glenullin.
Under 21
Championships
A new format for he Under 21 championship was introduced in 2016. All Derry clubs can opt to play in the Jack Cassidy Cup which is fifteen a side or the Harry O'Kane cup which is thirteen a side.
The Derry Minor Football Championship is the most prestigious football competition for Under-18 teams in Derry. It has been running for over 60 years. The winners of the Derry Minor Championship qualify to represent Derry in the Ulster Minor Club Football Championship. Bellaghy have won the championship the most times, winning 9 titles since their first success in 1953. The 2015 champions were Glen.
The Tommy O'Neill Cup is a cup played for between the South Derry 'B' and North Derry 'B' Champions. It is named after the late Tommy O'Neill, a former Ballymaguigan underage player.
Hughes/McElwee Memorial Cup
The Hughes/McElwee Cup is a 13 aside knock-out competition for the top South Derry Minor clubs. It is named after Vol. Francis Hughes and Vol. Thomas McElwee, two cousins from Bellaghy who were members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army and died on hunger strike in 1981. It is a new tournament, with 2008 being its inaugural year. 15 teams will compete.
Carlin/Duffy Cup
The Carlin/Duffy Cup is a 13 aside knock-out competition for the top North Derry Minor clubs. It has been running for a number of years. 18 teams will compete in the 2008 competition.
