The 2024 McKenna Cup is underway as the 2024 GAA season heats up this cold January. Here are the results for the 2024 McKenna Cup and how the tables are shaping up.
Defending Champions Derry were drawn with Cavan and Down. Derry managed to win their 12th title last year under the reigns of Rory Gallagher and will be hoping to secure a 13th this year under Mickey Harte, who is after coming in this year. Harte's appointment was met with controversy as many Tyrone fans were outraged that the beloved Tyrone man would manage their biggest rivals.
Harte's native Tyrone were given a brutal draw, and faced Armagh and Donegal in the group stages. It's been a controversial competition for Donegal and manager Jim McGuinness. Donegal had won their first game against Armagh handily, but the result was binned because the Ulster Council adjudged that Donegal had fielded an ineligible player. McGuinness was given an eight week suspension as well. Armagh did not gain any points however from the game because they did not appeal.
In the third pool, Monaghan, Fermanagh and Antrim squared off.
At the end of the group stage, Armagh, Derry, Donegal and Monaghan qualified as the four semifinalists.
Next Saturday's final is sure to generate much interest: it will be Jim McGuinness's Donegal v Mickey Harte's Derry.
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2024 Dr McKenna Cup results
McKenna Cup semifinals
- Armagh 2-07 - 0-17 Derry
- Monaghan 0-11 - 4-14 Donegal
McKenna Cup final:
- Derry v Donegal; January 20, 5pm, Omagh (TG4)
2024 Dr McKenna Cup tables
(P) denotes the team will progress to the semi-finals
| Section A | Wins | Draw | Losses | +/- | Points |
| Donegal (P) | 1 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 2 |
| Armagh (P) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Tyrone | 0 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 0 |
| Section B | Wins | Draw | Losses | +/- | Points |
| Derry (P) | 2 | 0 | 0 | +5 | 4 |
| Down | 1 | 0 | 1 | +1 | 2 |
| Cavan | 0 | 0 | 2 | -6 | 0 |
| Section C | Wins | Draw | Losses | +/- | Points |
| Monaghan (P) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 4 |
| Fermanagh | 1 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 2 |
| Antrim | 0 | 0 | 1 | -16 | 0 |
2024 McKenna Cup Results
Round 1: Wednesday January 3rd
| Teams | Venue | Time |
| Donegal 3-16 - 1-06 Armagh (result does not count due to ineligible player) | Ballybofey | 7:30pm |
| Cavan 1-10 - 0-15 Derry | Kingspan Breffni | 7:30pm |
| Monaghan 1-15 - 0-13 Antrim | Castleblayney | 7:30pm |
Round 2: January 6/7 (Sat/Sun)
| Teams | Venue | Date | Time |
| Derry 0-13 - 0-10 Down | Owenbeg | Saturday, 6th January | 6pm |
| Tyrone 1-10 v 0-15 Donegal | Healy Park | Sunday, 7th January | 1pm |
| Antrim 1-09 - 1-10 Fermanagh | Ahoghill/Portglenone | Sunday, 7th January | 1pm |
Third and Final Round: Wednesday January 10
| Teams | Venue | Time |
| Armagh 1-14 v 2-10 Tyrone | Box-It Athletic Grounds | 7:30pm |
| Down 2-15 v 1-15 Cavan | Páirc Esler | 7:30pm |
| Fermanagh 0-12 v 2-09 Monaghan | Brewster Park | 7:30pm |
McKenna Cup Format
In the group stages of the McKenna Cup, each team plays the other counties in their section one time. The three group winners plus the best runners up move on to the knockout stage of the competition.
The tiebreaker used is the points-radio method (points for divided by points against)
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