The Ulster Junior Hurling Championship was an annual hurling competition organised by the Ulster council. The championship forms the third-tier of Hurling for senior county teams in the province of Ulster (the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship is the first-tier trophy). It is contested by the six county teams ranked 18–23 in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. Each year, the champions are promoted to the Ulster Intermediate Hurling Championship. The Ulster Championship was an integral part of the wider All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship. The winners of the Ulster final, like their counterparts in the other provinces, are rewarded by advancing to the semi-final stage of the All-Ireland series of games.
The title has been won by 9 different counties, 8 of whom have won the title more than once. The all-time record-holders are Antrim, who have won the championship on 15 occasions. Down are the title-holders, defeating Fermanagh by 1–11 to 1–09 in the 2004 final.
The competition has not been played since 2004, as all the counties now participate in either the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, Joe McDonagh Cup, Christy Ring Cup, Nicky Rackard Cup or Lory Meagher Cup.
Teams
List of Ulster Junior Hurling Championship counties The following teams have competed in the championship for at least one season. CountyChampionship titlesLast championship titleCurrent championship Antrim152002Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Armagh62000Nicky Rackard Cup Cavan21985Lory Meagher Cup Derry31984Christy Ring Cup Donegal62003Nicky Rackard Cup Down82004Joe McDonagh Cup Fermanagh11994Lory Meagher Cup Monaghan61998Nicky Rackard Cup Tyrone31999Christy Ring Cup
Roll of honour
CountyTitlesRunners-upWinning yearsLosing years Antrim 153 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1966, 1968, 1969, 20021960, 1964, 2001 Down 814 1956, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1967, 1992, 1993, 20041948, 1949, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1973, 1999, 2000, 2003 Donegal 610 1947, 1948, 1972, 1989, 2001, 20031950, 1953, 1956, 1959, 1962, 1968, 1969, 1983, 1996, 1998 Monaghan 65 1971, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1997, 19981967, 1972, 1984, 1989, 1995 Armagh 64 1949, 1965, 1973, 1990, 1991, 20001947, 1963, 1974, 1975 Derry 32 1974, 1975, 19841985, 2002 Tyrone 32 1995, 1996, 19991951, 1993 Cavan 22 1983, 19851988, 1994 Fermanagh 17 19941986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1997, 2004
List of finals
YearWinnersRunners-upCountyScoreCountyScore2005-No Championship 2004 Down 1–11 Fermanagh 0–09 2003 Donegal 5–13 Down 2–10 2002 Antrim 1–11 Derry 0–04 2001 Donegal 1–10 Antrim 1–09 2000 Armagh 1–15 Down 3–07 1999 Tyrone 1–15 Down 0–06 1998 Monaghan 3–16 Donegal 1–05 1997 Monaghan 3–12 Fermanagh 3–08 1996 Tyrone 4–15 Donegal 2–13 1995 Tyrone 5–11 Monaghan 5–09 1994 Fermanagh 4–20 Cavan 3–02 1993 Down 2–09 Tyrone 1–11 1992 Down 1–09 Fermanagh 0–08 1991 Armagh 2–07 Fermanagh 1–04 1990 Armagh 0–09, 3–07 Fermanagh 0–09, 1–10 1989 Donegal 3–12 Monaghan 0–09 1988 Monaghan 2–12 Cavan 2–08 1987 Monaghan 5–09 Fermanagh 2–10 1986 Monaghan 1–14 Fermanagh 1–10 1985 Cavan 4–07 Derry 0–05 1984 Derry 2–12 Monaghan 1–07 1983 Cavan 2–11 Donegal 1–061976-82No Championship 1975 Derry 0–04 Armagh 0–03 1974 Derry 3–05 Armagh 1–07 1973 Armagh 3–10 Down 1–06 1972 Donegal 5–03 Monaghan 5–01 1971 Monaghan *1970No Championship 1969 Antrim 5–16 Donegal 3–08 1968 Antrim 5–08 Donegal 0–03 1967 Down 6–06 Monaghan 1–05 1966 Antrim 3–13 Down 6–03 1965 Armagh 3–07 Down 4–02 1964 Down 9–07 Antrim 4–07 1963 Antrim 6–12 Armagh 2–04 1962 Down 3–07 Donegal 2–02 1961 Antrim 4–07 Down 1–03 1960 Down 5–02 Antrim 1–07 1959 Antrim 8–07 Donegal 2–02 1958 Antrim 3–04 Down 1–03 1957 Antrim 7–11 Down 3–05 1956 Down 4–06 Donegal 3–05 1955 Antrim 5–06, 4–15* Down 4–06, 0–04 1954 Antrim 7–03 Down 1–03 1953 Antrim 2–11 Donegal 1–03 1952 Antrim 4–06 Down 0–02 1951 Antrim 7–01 Tyrone 2–01 1950 Antrim 8–08 Donegal 2–03 1949 Armagh 4–07 Down 3–03 1948 Donegal 3–03 Down 3–01 1947 Donegal 6–02 Armagh 2–03
1970 No record of a championship. Ulster were not represented in the All-Ireland semi-finals. 1971 Played on a league basis – Monaghan were the winners 1955 Unfinished – Refixed
See also Ulster Senior Hurling Championship Ulster Intermediate Hurling Championship All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship Connacht Junior Hurling Championship Leinster Junior Hurling Championship Munster Junior Hurling Championship
References
Sources Roll of Honour on gaainfo.com Complete Roll of Honour on Kilkenny GAA bible