Ulster Senior Hurling Championship

The Ulster GAA Hurling Senior Championship, known simply as the Ulster Championship, is an annual inter-county hurling competition organised by the Ulster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). It is the highest inter-county hurling competition in the province of Ulster, and has been contested every year since the 1901 championship.

Ulster GAA Hurling Senior Championship
Current season or competition:
2017 Ulster Senior Hurling Championship
IrishCraobh Iomána Uladh
CodeHurling
Founded1901 (1901)
Abolished2018 (for the near future)
RegionUlster (GAA)
TrophyLiam Harvey Cup
No. of teams4
Last Title holders Antrim (57th title)
Most titles Antrim (57 titles)
TV partner(s)RTÉ, BBC Northern Ireland
MottoBe there. All the way.
Official websiteOfficial website

The final, usually held in July, serves as the culmination of a series of games played during June, and the results determine which team receives the Liam Harvey Cup. The championship has always been played on a straight knockout basis whereby once a team loses they are eliminated from the championship.

In 2016, a two-tier format began. Four teams compete in the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship, and four in the Ulster Senior Hurling Shield.

The title has been won at least once by five Ulster counties, all of which have won the title more than once. The all-time record-holders are Antrim who have won the competition 57 times. Antrim are also the current champions.[1]

Standing of the Ulster Championship

While the Munster Hurling Championship and the Leinster Hurling Championship are generally held in very high regard, and have produced the vast majority of recent All-Ireland Hurling Champions, the Ulster Championship has not been regarded historically as of a similar standard, and the Ulster champions have entered the All-Ireland Hurling Championship at an earlier round than the Munster and Leinster champions.

This is due to a number of factors, one of which is the dominance of Gaelic football in eight of the nine counties of Ulster. An Ulster team has never won the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, although Antrim were finalists in 1943 and 1989. Antrim have dominated the Ulster Championship throughout its existence, winning the title 57 times to date.

While below the standard of Leinster and Munster hurling, the Ulster championship has been generally more competitive than the now discontinued Connacht Senior Hurling Championship. However, Galway, by far the strongest team in Connacht, have historically performed much better than any Ulster team, with several All-Ireland titles, and generally recognised as one of the major powers in the sport.

Top winners
Performances in the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship by county
County Title(s) Runners-up Years won Years runner-up
Antrim 58 11 1900, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1907, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1916, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 1902, 1906, 1914, 1915, 1923, 1932, 1941, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2000
Down 4 19 1942, 1992, 1995, 1997 1930, 1939, 1940, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2015
Derry 4 9 1902, 1908, 2000, 2001 1901, 1907, 1931, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2012, 2014
Donegal 3 10 1906, 1923, 1932 1903, 1910, 1924, 1925, 1929, 1933, 1934, 1937, 1938, 1945
Monaghan 2 7 1914, 1915 1909, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1916, 1943, 1944
Cavan 0 6 1908, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1935, 1936
Armagh 0 3 1946, 2016, 2017
New York 0 1 2006

Antrim's historic domination (only 3 finals have not featured the county; 1908, 1934 and 2001) has led over time to periods of uncompetitive competitions, and the championship was not played at all between 1950 and 1988. However, there have been periods when this domination has made way for periods of intense rivalry, notably between Antrim and Monaghan in the 1910s, between Antrim and Down in the 1990s, and between Antrim and Derry in the early 2000s.

The 2001 Championship was unique in terms of being the only final since the reactivation of the Championship in 1988 which did not feature Antrim, as Derry defeated Down at Casement Park. Equally of note, Antrim have won every final since (albeit one on replay), their longest period of continuous success since 1988.

Ulster Senior Hurling Shield

The following teams have won the Ulster Senior Hurling Shield.

Performances in the Ulster Senior Hurling Shield by county
County Title(s) Runners-up Years won Years runner-up
Donegal 1 0 2016
Derry 1 0 2017
Monaghan 0 1 2016
Tyrone 0 1 2017

Ulster Championship moments
  • Down 2–16 – 0–11 Antrim (12 July 1992 at Casement Park) – An historic day for Down who claimed a first provincial title since 1941. Victory would have been more decisive but for a tally of 13 wides in the first half. While Antrim lacked an attacking ace, Down's Gerard McGrattan was their candidate for man of the match. Goalkeeper Noel Keith also brought off some remarkable saves, most notably from a Ciaran Barr shot in the first half.
  • Derry 4–8 – 0–19 Antrim (9 July 2000 at Casement Park) – An historic day for Derry who secured the Ulster title for the first time in 92 years. Dual player Kieran McKeever got the opening goal for Derry, while Gary Biggs and Ollie Collins scored Derry's other two goals to give Derry an eight-point interval lead. A replay looked likely after John O'Dwyer's late goal levelled the scores minutes from time, however, it was Collins again scoring from a free to gain the winning point, and the title for Derry.
  • Derry 1–17 – 3–10 Down (15 July 2001 at Casement Park) – A first for Derry as they retain the Ulster title for the only time in their history. It was the first final not to feature Antrim since 1934. A point from John O'Dwyer won the match for Derry. Despite dominating the play in the second half, Down only managed to score three points.
  • Antrim 2–20 – 1–14 New York (22 October 2006 at Canton Field) – For the first and only time in the history of the championships, the Ulster final was played at Canton Field in Boston. This was to facilitate some of the New York teams who were unable to travel to Ireland due to their immigration status. A tally of 1–7 for Johnny McIntosh helped Antrim to a fifth successive championship.

Statistics and records

By decade

The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Ulster Senior Hurling Championship titles, is as follows:

  • 1900s: 7 for Antrim (1900-01-03-04-05-07-09)
  • 1910s: 4 for Antrim (1910-11-13-16)
  • 1920s: 6 for Antrim (1934-25-26-27-28-29)
  • 1930s: 9 for Antrim (1930-31-33-34-35-36-37-38-39)
  • 1940s: 8 for Antrim (1940-43-44-45-46-47-48-49)
  • 1980s: 1 for Antrim (1989)
  • 1990s: 7 for Antrim (1990-91-93-94-96-98-99)
  • 2000s: 8 for Antrim (2002-03-04-05-06-07-08-09)
  • 2010s: 6 for Antrim (2010-11-12-13-14-15)

Biggest wins

The most one sided Ulster finals:

Successful defending

3 teams of the 4 who have won the Ulster championship have ever successfully defended the title. These are:

  • Antrim on 42 attempts out of 54 (1901, 1904, 1905, 1910, 1911, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
  • Derry on 1 attempts out of 4 (2001)
  • Monaghan on 1 attempts out of 2 (1915)

Gaps

Longest gaps between successive Ulster titles:

  • 92 years: Derry (1908–2000)
  • 51 years: Down (1941–1992)
  • 40 years: Antrim (1949–1989)
  • 17 years: Donegal (1906–1923)

Longest undefeated run

The record for the longest unbeaten run stands at 24 games held by Antrim. It began with a 5–19 to 2–11 win against New York in the semi-final of the 2002 championship and will continue into the 2016 championship.

Roll of Honour
All-Ireland runners-up
Year Winners Runners-up Winning captain Venue
County Score County Score
1900 Antrim were unopposed
1901 Antrim 0–41 Derry 0–12
1902
1903 Derry 2–07 Antrim 2-05
1904 Antrim 2-04 Donegal 0-05
1905 Antrim Donegal
1906 Donegal 5–21 Antrim 0–01
1907 Antrim 4–17 Derry 1–06
1908 Derry 2–08 Cavan 0–02
1909 Antrim 4-16 Monaghan 2-03
1910 Antrim Donegal
1911 Antrim w/o Monaghan scr.
1912
1913 Antrim 3-03 Monaghan 0-00
1914 Monaghan 2–00, 4–03 Antrim 2–00, 1–00
1915 Monaghan 1–05 Antrim 1–02
1916 Antrim 3–01 Monaghan 1–01
1917–1922 No Championship
1923 Donegal 7–01 Antrim 3–00
1924 Antrim 5–03 Donegal 4–00
1925 Antrim 5–04 Donegal 4–05
1926 Antrim 4–03 Cavan 3–01
1927 Antrim 5–04 Cavan 3–03
1928 Antrim 4–05 Cavan 1–01
1929 Antrim w/o Donegal scr.
1930 Antrim 10–04 Down 2–00
1931 Antrim 4–10 Derry 0–01
1932 Donegal 5–04 Antrim 4–05
1933 Antrim 1–07 Donegal 2–01
1934 Down 3–04 Donegal 2–02
1935 Antrim 7–09 Donegal 0–03
1936 Antrim 2–10 Cavan 3–02
1937 Antrim 6–07 Donegal 3–02
1938 Antrim 3–05 Donegal 2–02
1939 Antrim 9–08 Down 4–02 Páirc Esler
1940 Antrim 4–04 Down 1–03
1941 Down 5–03 Antrim 2–05 Athletic Grounds
1942 Championship abandoned
1943 Antrim 6–08 Down 2–00 Jimmy Walsh Corrigan Park
1944 Antrim 5–07, 7–03 Monaghan 6–04, 0–01 Corrigan Park
1945 Antrim 8–02 Donegal 2–04 Corrigan Park
1946 Antrim 6–03 Armagh 2–01 Corrigan Park
1947–1949 Antrim were unopposed
1950–1988 No Championship
1989 Antrim 2–16 Down 0–09 Ciaran Barr Athletic Grounds
1990 Antrim 4–11 Down 2–11 Casement Park
1991 Antrim 3–14 Down 3–10 Casement Park
1992 Down 2–16 Antrim 0–11 Noel Sands Casement Park
1993 Antrim 0–24 Down 0–11 Casement Park
1994 Antrim 1–19 Down 1–13 Dominic McKinley Casement Park
1995 Down 3–07, 1–19 Antrim 1–13, 2–10 Casement Park
1996 Antrim 1–20 Down 2–12 Casement Park
1997 Down 3–14 Antrim 0–19 Martin Mallon Casement Park
1998 Antrim 1–19 Derry 2–13 Alistair Elliot Casement Park
1999 Antrim 2–19 Derry 1–09 Gary O'Kane Casement Park
2000 Derry 4–08 Antrim 0–19 Conor Murray Casement Park
2001 Derry 1–17 Down 3–10 Colin McEldowney Casement Park
2002 Antrim 3–16 Down 1–18 Colm McGuckian Casement Park
2003 Antrim 3–21 Derry 1–12 Colm McGuckian Casement Park
2004 Antrim 1–15, 3–14 Down 1–15, 0–18 Colm McGuickian Casement Park
2005 Antrim 2–22 Down 1–18 Jim Connolly Casement Park
2006 Antrim 2–20 New York 1–14 Karl McKeegan Canton Park
2007 Antrim 2–24 Down 0–04 Seán Delaqrgy Casement Park
2008 Antrim 3–18 Down 2–16 Paddy Richmond Casement Park
2009 Antrim 3–20 Down 4–15 Neil McGarry Casement Park
2010 Antrim 4–22 Down 1–12 Paul Shiels Casement Park
2011 Antrim 2–20 Derry 2–12 Eddie McCloskey Casement Park
2012 Antrim 3–18 Derry 0–09 Damien Quinn Casement Park
2013 Antrim 4–20 Down 1–17 Neil McManus Celtic Park
2014 Antrim 2–17 Derry 2–16 Paul Shiels Owenbeg Centre of Excellence
2015 Antrim 1–15 Down 1–14 Chris O'Connell Owenbeg Centre of Excellence
2016 Antrim 6–21 Armagh 4–14 Conor Carson Owenbeg Centre of Excellence
2017 Antrim 5–22 Armagh 1–12 Owenbeg Centre Of Excellence
2018- No Championship

Player Records and Statistics

Winning Teams
Year Winners Winning captain Winning team
1943 Antrim Jimmy Walsh
1945 Antrim M McAllister; M Butler, W Feeney, B Donnelly; T McAllister, T Tierney, J Mullan; S McKeon, N Campbell; M Kelly, S Kelly, L McGrady; D Cormican, C Mullan, S Mulholland.
1946 Antrim M McAlinden; W Feeney, M McDonald, M Butler; J Woods, J Mullan, J Loughead; D Butler, N Campbell; M Mulholland, D McRandall, J Murray; D Cormican, G Brady, S Mulholland.
1989 Antrim Ciaran Barr N Patterson; G Rogan, T Donnelly, D Donnelly; J McNaughton, D McKinley, G O'Kane; P McKillen, T McNaughton; B Donnelly, A McCarry, J P McKillen; D Armstrong, C Barr, D McNaughton.
1990 Antrim N Patterson; G Holden, D Donnelly, D McKinley; J Carson, D McKillop, A Murray; J Close, P McKillen; B Donnelly, A McCarry, S P McKillop; A McGuile, C Barr, O McFetridge. Subs: N Murray for A McGuile, G O'Kane for D McKillop, M Sullivan for McKillen.
1991 Antrim N Patterson; P Jennings, D McKinley, D Donnelly; G Rogan, JMcNaughton, D McKillop; S P McKillop, P McKillen; J Carson, C Barr, D Armstrong; A McCarry, T McNaughton, J Close. Subs: Gregory O'Kane for Close, Garry O'Kane for S P McKillop, M Dennis for Greg O'Kane.
1992 Down Noel Sands N Keith; K Coulter, D Woods, P Branniff; M Mallon, P McMullan, G Coulter; D Hughes, G Savage; P Coulter, G Blaney, G McGrattan; M Blaney, M Bailie, N Sands. Subs: C Mageean for M Blaney, P Savage for P Coulter.
1993 Antrim P Gallagher; S McMullan, D McMullan, E McCloskey; R Donnelly, D McKinley, J McNaughton; P McKillen, P Jennings; A Elliott, Gary O'Kane, S P McKillop; J Close, T McNaughton, Greg O'Kane.
1994 Antrim Dominic McKinley B Prenter; S McMullan, D McKinley, F McMullan; S P McKillen, P Jennings, J McCaffrey; P McKillen, J Connolly; J Carson, Gary O'Kane, P Walsh; C McCambridge, Gregory O'Kane, A Elliott. Subs: T McNaughton for G O'Kane, A McEteer for J McCaffrey, B McGary for G O'Kane.
1995 Down N Keith; K Coulter, G Coulter, P Branniff; M Mallon, G Savage, D Woods; D Hughes, J McCarthy; P Coulter, P McMullan, M Blaney; C Arthurs, H Gilmore, N Sands. Subs: B Coulter for D Woods, M Branniff for P McMullan, S Mallon for H Gilmore.
1996 Antrim B Prenter; E McCloskey, E Colgan, S McIlhatton; P Jennings, Gary O'Kane, R Donnelly; J Connolly, P McKillen; A McCloskey, T McNaughton, S P McKillop; P Graham, G O'Kane, A Elliott. Subs: S McMullan for R Donnelly, J Carson for McKillop, P Donnelly for McKillen.
1997 Down Martin Mallon G Clarke; B Milligan, S Murray, B Smith; M Branniff, M Mallon, T Coulter; G Savage, P Coulter; B Coulter, M Bailie, G McGrattan; M Coulter, J McCrickard, N Sands. Subs: B Branniff for J McCrickard.
1998 Antrim Alistair Elliot S Elliott; R Donnelly, E Colgan, F McMullan; S McMullan, Gary O'Kane, C Kelly; P McKillen, J O'Neill; J Carson, C McGuckian, J McIntosh; A Elliot, Gregory O'Kane, L Richmond. Subs: K McKiernan for J O'Neill, J O'Neill for K McKiernan, J Elliott for J McIntosh.
1999 Antrim Gary O'Kane S Elliot; C McCambridge, E McCluskey, R Donnelly; S McMullen, Gary O'Kane, S Mullen; C Cunning, J Close; A Elliot, C McGuckian, B McGarry; J Carson, Gregory O'Kane, L Richmond. Subs: S P McKillop for McGarry, F McMullin for Carson, J Flynn for A Elliott.
2000 Derry Conor Murray K Stevenson; C McGurk, C Murray, N Mullan; B Ward, C McEldowney, D Cassidy; O Collins, M Conway; K McCloy, K McKeever, R McCloskey; G Biggs, M Collins, J O'Dwyer. Subs: Gregory Biggs for Conway.
2001 Derry Colin McEldowney K Stevenson, C McEldowney, E McKeever, R Lynch, B Ward, M Conway, C Murray, R McCloskey, O Collins, Gary Biggs, K McKeever, Greg Briggs, M Collins, G McGonigle, J O'Dwyer. Subs: P Kelly for Lynch, S Downey for Gary Biggs, F McEldowney for M Collins.
2002 Antrim Colm McGuckian D Quinn; M Kettle, K Kelly, E McCloskey; K McKeegan, R Donnelly, C Herron; C Cunning, C Connolly; L Watson, C McGuckian, L Richmond; A Delargy, G O'Kane, C McCambridge. Subs: B McFall for Delargy; M McCambridge for McCloskey; S Delargy for McFall; P Richmond for Cunning; C Hamill for Donnelly.
2003 Antrim Colm McGuckian D Quinn; M Kettle, K Kelly, J Campbell; M McCambridge, K McKeegan, C Herron; C Cunning, J Connolly; P Richmond, C McGuckian, L Richmond; L Watson, G O'Kane, B McFall. Subs: A Delargy for O'Kane, P Close for McFall.
2004 Antrim Colm McGuickian Damien Quinn, M Kettle, K Kelly, B Herron, M McCambridge, K McKeegan, J Campbell, C Herron, J Connolly, M Herron, C McGuckian, L Watson, Darren Quinn, P Richmond, B McFall. Subs: L Richmond for McCambridge, G J McIntosh for Watson, Ward for Darren Quinn, M Magill for Connolly.
2005 Antrim Jim Connolly D Quinn; M Kettle, G Bell, C Hamill; G Cunningham, J Campbell, M McCambridge; P Richmond, M Scullion; K McKeegan, K Kelly, M Herron, J McIntosh, J Connolly, J Scullion. Subs: K Stewart for Kelly, C Herron for M Herron, B McFall for J Scullion, C McGuckin for Cunningham.
2006 Antrim Karl McKeegan D Quinn; B McCauley, J McKeague, J Campbell; M Molloy, K McKeegan, C Herron ; C Cunning, M Scullion; J Scullion, C Kelly, M Herron; J McIntosh, P Richmond, B McFall. Subs: G Bell for McFall, B Delargey for Kelly, P McGill for McIntosh, M Dallas for M Scullion, S Óg McFadden for Richmond.
2007 Antrim Seán Delaqrgy R McGarry; M Kettle, M McCambridge, S Delargy; M Molloy, J Campbell, C Herron; B Herron, K McKeegan, P McGill, N McManus, M Herron, S McCrory, J McIntosh, P Shiels. Subs: N McAuley; Brian McFall for Shiels; P Richmond for McGill; S McDonald for McIntosh; Barry McFall for Kettle.
2008 Antrim Paddy Richmond R McGarry; A Graffin, N McGarry, S Delargy; C Herron, K McKeegan, J Campbell; K Stewart, E McCloskey; M Herron, C Donnelly, P McGill; P Richmond, L Watson, P Shields. Subs: PJ O’Connell for C Donnelly; S McCrory for P McGill; M Kettle for C Herron.
2009 Antrim Neil McGarry R McGarry; K McGourty, N McGarry, A Graffin; S Delargy, C Donnelly, N McAuley; J Campbell, K McKeegan; B Herron, N McManus, S McNaughton; K Stewart, P Richmond, J Scullion. Subs: E McCloskey for Stewart, M Herron for B Herron.
2010 Antrim Paul Shiels C O’Connell; K McGourty, C Donnelly, S Delargy; P Shiels, J Campbell, C Herron; S McNaughton, K Stewart; C McFall, T McCann, L Watson; PJ O’Connell, N McManus, K McKeegan. Subs: S McCrory for Stewart, J McKeague for Campbell, M Devlin for McNaughton, J McIntosh for Watson, B McFall for C McFall
2011 Antrim Eddie McCloskey C Cunningham; C McGuinness, K McGourty, J McCouaig; K McKeague, M Donnelly, C Herron; B McFall, S McCrory; J Scullion, T McCann, E McCloskey; P Doherty, C McFall, K McKeegan. Subs: K Molloy for K McKeague, C Carson for J Black, P Shiels for B McFall, D Hamill for T McCann.
2012 Antrim Damien Quinn D Quinn; James Campbell, N McGarry, A Graffin; M Herron, N McAuley, Johnny Campbell, B McAuley, S McNaughton; E McCloskey, C Carson, P Shiels; L Watson, N McManus, B McFall. Subs: C McCann for Sheils, J Scullion for Watson, C Rea for B McAuley, D Hamill for McFall, C McFall for Carson.
2013 Antrim Neil McManus S McToal; B McFall, C McKinley, M Bradley; S McCrory, N McAuley, Ciaran Johnston; E Campbell, J McGreevy; N McKenna, C Carson, P Shiels; D McKernan, N McManus, C Clarke. Subs: S McAfee for McGreevy, Conor Johnston for McKernan, D Hamill for Clarke, N Elliott for McKenna.
2014 Antrim Paul Shiels S McToal; O McFadden, M Donnelly, A Graffin; M Bradley, C Carson, N McAuley; J McGreevy, D Hamill; C McCann, P Shiels, E Campbell; C McGuinness, PJ O'Connell, D McKernan. Subs: R McCambridge for McGreevy, Niall McKenna for McGuinness, Daniel McCloskey for Hamill.
2015 Antrim Chris O'Connell C O’Connell; O McFadden, M Donnelly, R McCambridge; J Dillon, C McKinley, T McCann; N McAuley, M Dudley; PJ O’Connell, C McCann, E Campbell; D McClean, C Carson, D McKernan. Subs: P Burke for Campbell; C Ross for Donnelly; N McKenna for McAuley; J Connolly for McKernan; D Traynor for McClean.
2016 Antrim Conor Carson C O'Connell; S McCrory, N McAuley, B Graham; F Donnelly, P Burke, J McKeague; E Campbell, D McKernan; E McCloskey, J Dillon, J Connolly; B McCarry, C Carson, C Clarke. Subs: O McFadden for McCrory, S Delargy for Graham, S McCrory for Donnelly, C McNaughton for McKernan.
2017 Antrim

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ulster Senior Hurling Championship.

References
  1. Duffy, Cóilín (12 July 2015). "Antrim strike late to claim another Ulster title". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
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