Ulster Senior Hurling Championship

Ulster GAA Hurling Senior Championship
Irish	Craobh Iomána Uladh
Code	Hurling
Founded	1901; 121 years ago (1901)
Region	Ulster (GAA)
Trophy	Liam Harvey Cup
No. of teams	4
Title holders	Antrim (57th title)
Most titles	Antrim (57 titles)
TV partner(s)	RTÉ, BBC Northern Ireland
Motto	Be there. All the way.
Official website	Official website

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.

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[]

County	Wins	Winning Years	Runners Up	Runners Up Years
Antrim	58	, 1901, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017	11	1902, 1906, 1914, 1915, 1923, 1932, 1941, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2000
Down	4	, , ,	19	1930, 1939, 1940, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2015
Derry	4	1902, , , 2001	9	1901, 1907, 1931, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2012, 2014
Donegal	3	, ,	10	1903, 1910, 1924, 1925, 1929, 1933, 1934, 1937, 1938, 1945
Monaghan	2	,	7	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

The following teams have won the Ulster Senior Hurling Shield.

County	Wins	Winning Years	Runners Up	Runners Up Years
Donegal	1	2016	0
Derry	1	2017	0
Monaghan	0		1	2016
Tyrone	0		1	2017

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 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 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 '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 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 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:

• 38 points – 1930: Antrim 10–4 (44) – (6) 2–0 Down
• 35 points – 1906: Donegal 5–21 (36) – (1) 0–1 Antrim
• 29 points – 1901: Antrim 0–41 (41) – (12) 0–12 Derry
• 27 points – 1935: Antrim 7–9 (30) – (3) 0–3 Cavan
• 26 points – 2007: Antrim 2–24 (30) – (4) 0–4 Down

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.

List of Ulster finals[]

All-Ireland runners-up

Year	Winners	Score	Runners-up	Score	Venue	Winning captain	Winning team
1900	Antrim	Unopposed
1901	Antrim	0–41	Derry	0–12
1902	Derry	2–07	Antrim	2–05
1903	Antrim	2–05	Donegal	0–05
1904	Antrim		Unknown
1905	No record
1906	Donegal	5–21	Antrim	0–01
1907	Antrim	4–17	Derry	0–06
1908	Derry	2–08	Cavan	0–02
1909	Antrim	4-16	Monaghan	2-03
1910	Antrim		Donegal
1911	Antrim	w/o	Monaghan	scr.
1912	Antrim		Monaghan
1913	Antrim	3–03	Monaghan	0–00
1914	Monaghan	4–03 (2–00)	Antrim	1–00 (2–00)
1915	Monaghan	1–05	Antrim	1–02
1916	Antrim	3–01	Monaghan	1–01
1917–1922: Championship suspended
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	Cavan	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	Monaghan	2–00	Corrigan Park	Jimmy Walsh
1944	Antrim	7–03 (5–07)	Monaghan	0–01 (6–04)	Corrigan Park
1945	Antrim	8–02	Donegal	2–04	Corrigan Park		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	6–03	Armagh	2–01	Corrigan Park		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.
1947	Antrim	Unopposed
1948	Antrim	Unopposed
1949	Antrim	Unopposed
1950–1988: Championship suspended
1989	Antrim	2–16	Down	0–09	Athletic Grounds	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	4–11	Down	2–11	Casement Park		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	3–14	Down	3–10	Casement Park		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	2–16	Antrim	0–11	Casement Park	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	0–24	Down	0–11	Casement Park		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	1–19	Down	1–13	Casement Park	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	1–19 (3–07)	Antrim	2–10 (1–13)	Casement Park		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	1–20	Down	2–12	Casement Park		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	3–14	Antrim	0–19	Casement Park	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	1–19	Derry	2–13	Casement Park	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.	[2]
1999	Antrim	2–19	Derry	1–09	Casement Park	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.	[3]
2000	Derry	4–08	Antrim	0–19	Casement Park	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.	[4]
2001	Derry	1–17	Down	3–10	Casement Park	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.	[5]
2002	Antrim	3–16	Down	1–18	Casement Park	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.	[6]
2003	Antrim	3–21	Derry	1–12	Casement Park	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.	[7]
2004	Antrim	3–14 (1–15)	Down	0–18 (1–15)	Casement Park	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.	[8][9]
2005	Antrim	2–22	Down	1–18	Casement Park	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.	[10]
2006	Antrim	2–20	New York	1–14	Canton Park	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.	[11]
2007	Antrim	2–24	Down	0–04	Casement Park	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.	[12]
2008	Antrim	3–19	Down	2–15	Casement Park	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.	[13]
2009	Antrim	3–20	Down	4–15	Casement Park	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.	[14]
2010	Antrim	4–22	Down	1–12	Casement Park	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	[15]
2011	Antrim	2–20	Derry	2–12	Casement Park	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.	[16]
2012	Antrim	3–18	Derry	0–09	Casement Park	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.	[17]
2013	Antrim	4–20	Down	1–17	Celtic Park	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.	[18]
2014	Antrim	2–17	Derry	2–16	Owenbeg Centre of Excellence	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.	[19]
2015	Antrim	1–15	Down	1–14	Owenbeg Centre of Excellence	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	6–21	Armagh	4–14	Owenbeg Centre of Excellence	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.	[20]
2017	Antrim	5–22	Armagh	1–12	Owenbeg Centre Of Excellence
2018	The Ulster Hurling Championship was cancelled for three years.
2019
2020

• 1929 Antrim declared champions – Donegal disqualified
• 1901: Antrim defeated Derry 41 points to 12 points – exact score not given

See also[]

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
• Munster Senior Hurling Championship
• Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
• Connacht Senior Hurling Championship

References[]