The Ulster GAA Hurling Senior Championship, known simply as the Ulster Championship, was an annual inter-county hurling competition organised by the Ulster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). It was the highest inter-county hurling competition in the province of Ulster, and was contested every year between the 1901 championship and 1946, and between 1988 and the 2017 Championship. As of 2026 Ulster GAA have no plans to revive the competition due to calendar constraints and a lack of genuine contenders outside of Antrim and Down.
The final, usually held in July, served as the culmination of a series of games played during June, and the results determined which team received the Liam Harvey Cup. The championship was played on a straight knockout basis whereby once a team loses they are eliminated from the championship.
In 2016, a two-tier format began with four teams competing in the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship, and four in the Ulster Senior Hurling Shield.
The title has been won 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 title holders, defeating Armagh by 5–22 to 1–12 in the 2017 final.
History
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.
Ulster Championship moments
The following are a list of upsets and moments in the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship:
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.
Format Ulster Senior Hurling Championship In the first tier, the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship, four teams compete in a knock-out format. The winners receive the Liam Harvey cup. The two teams beaten in the semi-finals of the Championship face each other in the relegation play-off with the losing team relegated to the following seasons Shield.
Ulster Senior Hurling Shield
In the second tier, the Ulster Senior Hurling Shield, four teams compete in a knock-out format, with the winner gaining promotion to the championship. Cavan do not participate.
Promotion/Relegation
The Shield winners are promoted to the championship and the loser of the championship relegation play-off are relegated.
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
There is no longer a direct path for the Ulster Champions in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. The Ulster counties now compete in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, Joe McDonagh Cup, Christy Ring Cup, Nicky Rackard Cup and Lory Meagher Cup.
Teams
2017 Championship The championship was suspended after the completion of the 2017 Ulster Senior Hurling Championship. Four counties were scheduled to compete in 2018: CountyLocationStadiumProvincePosition in 2017 ChampionshipFirst year in championshipIn championship sinceChampionship TitlesLast Championship Title AntrimBelfastCorrigan ParkUlsterChampions19001989572017 ArmaghArmaghAthletic GroundsUlsterRunners-up194620070 — DerryDerryCeltic ParkUlsterChampions (Ulster Senior Hurling Shield)1901201842001 DownNewryPáirc EslerUlsterSemi-finals1905198941997
2017 Shield CountyLocationStadiumProvincePosition in 2017 ChampionshipFirst year in shieldIn shield sinceChampionship TitlesLast Championship Title DonegalBallybofeyMacCumhaill ParkUlsterSemi-finalists2016201831932 FermanaghEnniskillenBrewster ParkUlsterSemi-finalists (Ulster Senior Hurling Shield)201620160 - MonaghanClonesSt Tiernach's ParkUlsterSemi-finalists (Ulster Senior Hurling Shield)2016201621915 TyroneOmaghHealy ParkUlsterRunners-up (Ulster Senior Hurling Shield)201620160 -
Debut of counties YearDebutantsTotal1900 Antrim11901 Derry11902 None01903 Donegal11904 None01905 Down11906-07 None01908 Cavan, Fermanagh21909 Monaghan11910-45 None01946 Armagh11947-97 None01998 London11999 None02000 New York12001-07 None02008 Tyrone12009- None0Total11
List of Ulster Senior Hurling Championship counties The following teams have competed in the Ulster Championship for at least one season. TeamTotal yearsDebutChampionship titlesLast Championship titleBest Ulster resultAntrim1900572017 ChampionsArmagh19460 — Runners-up Cavan19080 — Runners-upDerry190142001 Champions Donegal190331932 ChampionsDown190541997 Champions Fermanagh19080 — Semi-finals London19980 — Semi-finals Monaghan190921915 Champions New York20000 — Runners-up Tyrone420080 —Second round
List of Finals
List of finals YearDateWinnersRunners-upWinning marginVenueWinning captainRefereeCountyScoreCountyScore2018–presentNo Championship201716 AprilAntrim5–22 (37)Armagh1–12 (15)22Owenbeg Centre Of Excellence201610 JulyAntrim6–21 (39)Armagh4–14 (26)13Owenbeg Centre of ExcellenceConor Carson F. Horgan (Tipperary)201512 JulyAntrim1–15 (18)Down1–14 (17)1Owenbeg Centre of ExcellenceChris O'Connell201413 JulyAntrim2–17 (23)Derry2–16 (22)1Owenbeg Centre of ExcellencePaul Shiels20132 February 2014Antrim4–20 (32)Down1–17 (20)12Celtic ParkNeil McManus20128 JulyAntrim3–18 (27)Derry0–09 (9)18Casement ParkDamien Quinn2011Antrim2–20 (26)Armagh2–12 (18)8Casement ParkEddie McCloskey2010Antrim4–22 (34)Down1–12 (15)19Casement ParkPaul Shiels200928 JuneAntrim3–20 (29)Down4–15 (27)2Casement ParkNeil McGarry200815 JuneAntrim3–18 (27)Down2–16 (22)5Casement ParkPaddy Richmond20073 JuneAntrim2–24 (30)Down0–04 (4)26Casement ParkSeán Delaqrgy2006Antrim2–20 (26)New York1–14 (17)9Canton ParkKarl McKeegan2005Antrim2–22 (28)Down1–18 (21)7Casement ParkJim Connolly20046 June, 13 JuneAntrim1–15 (18), 3–14 (23)Down1–15 (18), 0–18 (18)5 (R)Casement ParkColm McGuickianÉ. Morris (Dublin)200314 JuneAntrim3–21 (30)Derry1–12 (15)15Casement ParkColm McGuckianB Kelly (Westmeath)20029 JuneAntrim3–16 (25)Down1–18 (21)4Casement ParkColm McGuckianM. Wadding (Waterford)200115 JulyDerry1–17 (20)Down3–10 (19)1Casement ParkColin McEldowneyP. Aherne (Carlow)20009 JulyDerry4–08 (20)Antrim0–19 (19)1Casement ParkConor MurrayJ. McDonnell (Tipperary) 199910 JulyAntrim2–19 (25)Derry1–09 (12)13Casement ParkGary O'KaneG. Devlin (Armagh)19985 JulyAntrim1–19 (22)Derry2–13 (19)3Casement ParkAlistair ElliotP. Delaney (Laois)19976 JulyDown3–14 (23)Antrim0–19 (19)4Casement ParkMartin MallonP. Horan (Offaly)199614 JulyAntrim1–20 (23)Down2–12 (18)5Casement ParkP Aherne (Carlow)19959 July, 16 July Down3–07 (16), 1–19 (22)Antrim1–13 (16), 2–10 (16)6 (R)Casement ParkAodán Mac Suibhne (Dublin)19943 JulyAntrim1–19 (22)Down1–13 (16)6Casement ParkDominic McKinleyP Horan (Offaly)19934 JulyAntrim0–24 (24)Down0–11 (11)13Casement ParkDickie Murphy (Wexford)199212 JulyDown2–16 (22)Antrim0–11 (11)11Casement ParkNoel SandsDickie Murphy (Wexford) 19917 JulyAntrim3–14 (23)Down3–10 (19)4Casement Park19908 JulyAntrim4–11 (23)Down2–11 (17)6Casement ParkP Delaney (Laois)19899 JulyAntrim2–16 (22)Down0–09 (9)13Athletic GroundsCiaran BarrP Delaney (Laois)1950–1988No Championship1949AntrimUnopposed and awarded title1948AntrimUnopposed and awarded title1947AntrimUnopposed and awarded title1946Antrim6–03Armagh2–01Corrigan Park1945Antrim8–02Donegal2–04Corrigan Park1944Antrim5–07, 7–03Monaghan6–04, 0–01Corrigan Park1943Antrim6–08Down2–00Corrigan ParkJimmy Walsh1942Championship abandoned1941Down5–03Antrim2–05Athletic Grounds1940Antrim4–04Down1–031939Antrim9–08Down4–02Páirc Esler1938Antrim3–05Donegal2–021937Antrim6–07Donegal3–021936Antrim2–10Cavan3–021935Antrim7–09Cavan0–031934AntrimDonegal1933Antrim1–07Donegal2–011932Donegal5–04Antrim4–051931Antrim4–10Derry0–011930Antrim10–04Down2–001929Antrimw/oDonegalscr.1928Antrim4–05Cavan1–011927Antrim5–04Cavan3–031926Antrim4–03Cavan3–011925Antrim5–04Donegal4–051924Antrim5–03Donegal4–001923Donegal7–01Antrim3–001917–1922No Championship1916Antrim3–01Monaghan1–011915Monaghan1–05Antrim1–021914Monaghan2–00, 4–03Antrim2–00, 1–001913Antrim3-03Monaghan0-001912Antrim represent ulster (no title awarded)1911Antrimw/oMonaghanscr.1910AntrimDonegal1909Antrim4-16Monaghan2-031908Derry2–08Cavan0–021907Antrim4–17Derry1–061906Donegal5–21Antrim0–011905AntrimDonegal1904Antrim2-04Donegal0-051903AntrimDonegal1902Derry2–07Antrim2-051901Antrim0–41Derry0–121900AntrimUnopposed and awarded title
1929 Antrim declared champions – Donegal disqualified 1901: Antrim defeated Derry 41 points to 12 points – exact score not given
Roll of Honour
Performance by county CountyTitlesRunners-upYears wonYears runner-up Antrim 58111900, 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, 20171902, 1906, 1914, 1915, 1923, 1932, 1941, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2000 Down4201942, 1992, 1995, 19971930, 1939, 1940, 1943, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2015 Derry 48 1902, 1908, 2000, 20011901, 1907, 1931, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2012, 2014 Donegal 312 1906, 1923, 19321903, 1904, 1905, 1910, 1924, 1925, 1929, 1933, 1934, 1937, 1938, 1945 Monaghan 25 1914, 19151909, 1911, 1913, 1916, 1944 Cavan06 —1908, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1935, 1936 Armagh04 —1946, 2011, 2016, 2017 New York01 —2006