Ger Brennan’s first game as Dublin senior football manager will be against Laois in the O’Byrne Cup on Saturday, January 3rd.
The draws have taken place for Leinster’s pre-league competitions – the O’Byrne Cup in football and the Walsh Cup in hurling – which are returning after a one-season postponement in 2025.
A number of changes have also been made to the match regulations.
The games will now be 60 minutes rather than 70, and if a match is level at the end of normal time, it will go straight to penalties.
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Unlimited substitutions will also be permitted, with a maximum of six allowed during the second half.
Counties knocked out early on in the competitions will vie for the respective shields.
2026 O’Byrne Cup fixtures:
Round one: Saturday, January 3rd
Laois v Dublin
Wexford v Kildare
Carlow v Offaly
Wicklow v Meath
Longford v Westmeath
Louth – Bye
Quarter-finals: Wednesday, January 7th
1 – Winners of Carlow/Offaly v Winners of Wicklow/Meath
2 – Winners of Longford/Westmeath v Louth
Semi-finals: Saturday, January 10th
Winners of Wexford/Kildare v Winners of Laois/Dublin
Winners of quarter-final 1 v Winners of quarter-final 2
Final: Friday, January 16th
2026 Walsh Cup fixtures:
Round one: Sunday, January 4th
Kildare v Galway
Offaly v Antrim
Westmeath v Kilkenny
Laois v Wexford
Carlow v Dublin
Quarter-final: Thursday, January 8th
Winners of Laois/Wexford v Winners of Carlow/Dublin
Semi-finals: Sunday, January 11th
Quarter-final winners v Winners of Westmeath/Kilkenny
Winners of Kildare/Galway v Winners of Offaly/Antrim
Final: Sunday, January 18th
