The County Antrim & District Football Association Senior Shield (more commonly known as the County Antrim Shield) is a football competition in Northern Ireland. The competition is open to senior teams who are members of the North East Ulster Football Association (also known as the County Antrim & District Football Association) (membership of which extends geographically beyond County Antrim itself), often plus intermediate teams who qualify via the Steel & Sons Cup, depending on the numbers required. For the 2010–11 and 2011-12 seasons, only the winners took part.
The current Shield holders are Carrick Rangers, who beat Cliftonville 4-2 on penalties in the 2025–26 final, winning the trophy for the first time since the 1992–93 season.
History The County Antrim & District Football Association was founded on April 23, 1888 by the clubs Ballyclare, Beechmount, Belfast Athletic, Clarence, Cliftonville, Distillery, Linfield, Mountcollyer, Oldpark, Whiteabbey and YMCA. The County Antrim FA has organised the competition for the County Antrim Shield annually ever since. Originally only clubs from County Antrim (to which most but not all of Belfast belonged) could enter; in 1896 it was extended to incorporate clubs from south east Belfast (in particular Glentoran and Ulster), which belonged to County Down (other clubs from County Down to have entered later on include Ards, Bangor and Newry City). Glenavon from Lurgan (County Armagh) first entered in 1912. In 1971/72 and 1972/73, the final was played over 2 legs.
During the later 1980s and early 1990s, the North East Ulster F.A. invited senior clubs from outside its jurisdiction to participate. Hence the Shield has been won by Newry Town (later Newry City) and Glenavon, neither of which are members of the North East Ulster Football Association.
The Shield has been regularly sponsored since the late 1980s. The 2014–15 competition was sponsored by Toals Bookmakers.
Final results Key: Scores level after 90 minutes. A replay was required.Scores level after extra time. A replay was required.Scores level after 90 minutes. Winner was decided in extra time with no penalty shootout required. (g.g.)Scores level after 90 minutes. Winner was decided in extra time by golden goal. pens.Scores level after extra time. A penalty shootout was required to determine the winner.pens.Scores level after 90 minutes. A penalty shootout was required to determine the winner.Two-legged final. Aggregate score across two legs determined the winner with a penalty shootout required if score was level.
#SeasonWinner(number of titles)ScoreRunner-upVenue11888–89Distillery (1)8 – 4YMCAUlster Cricket Ground, Belfast1889–90Shield not awarded21890–91Black Watch (1)4 – 2OldparkSolitude, Belfast31891–92Cliftonville (1)2 – 1Lancashire FusiliersSolitude, Belfast41892–93Distillery (2)2 – 1CelticGrosvenor Park, Belfast51893–94Cliftonville (2)2 – 1CelticGrosvenor Park, Belfast61894–95Celtic (1)3 – 1DistillerySolitude, Belfast71895–96Distillery (3)5 – 0LinfieldSolitude, Belfast81896–97Distillery (4)2 – 2LinfieldSolitude, BelfastReplay3 – 1Solitude, Belfast91897–98Cliftonville (3)2 – 0LinfieldGrosvenor Park, Belfast101898–99Linfield (1)1 – 1Linfield SwiftsSolitude, BelfastReplay4 – 0Solitude, Belfast111899–1900Distillery (5)0 – 0LinfieldSolitude, BelfastReplay2 – 0Solitude, Belfast121900–01Glentoran (1)2 – 1CliftonvilleMyrtlefield, Belfast131901–02Glentoran (2)2 – 1DistillerySolitude, Belfast141902–03Distillery (6)1 – 1LinfieldSolitude, BelfastReplay4 – 1Solitude, Belfast151903–04Linfield (2)4 – 1Belfast CelticSolitude, Belfast161904–05Distillery (7)2 – 0LinfieldSolitude, Belfast171905–06Linfield (3)1 – 1DistillerySolitude, BelfastReplay2 – 0Windsor Park, Belfast181906–07Linfield (4)2 – 0 GlentoranSolitude, Belfast191907–08Linfield (5)3 – 0DistillerySolitude, Belfast201908–09Glentoran II (1)3 – 0CliftonvilleCeltic Park, Belfast211909–10Belfast Celtic (2)3 – 1GlentoranSolitude, Belfast221910–11Glentoran (3)2 – 0CliftonvilleCeltic Park, Belfast1911–12Tournament not held231912–13Linfield (6)0 – 0CliftonvilleCeltic Park, BelfastReplay0 – 0Grosvenor Park, Belfast2nd replay1 – 0 The Oval, Belfast241913–14Linfield (7)3 – 2GlentoranGrosvenor Park, Belfast251914–15Distillery (8)1 – 0GlentoranWindsor Park, Belfast261915–16Glentoran (4)1 – 0DistillerySolitude, Belfast271916–17Linfield (8)3 – 0GlentoranCeltic Park, Belfast281917–18Glentoran (5)2 – 0LinfieldGrosvenor Park, Belfast291918–19Distillery (9)0 – 0Belfast CelticThe Oval, BelfastReplay1 – 0Windsor Park, Belfast301919–20Distillery (10)0 – 0Belfast CelticWindsor Park, BelfastReplay2 – 0Solitude, Belfast311920–21Glentoran (6)1 – 1DistillerySolitude, BelfastReplay0 – 0Windsor Park, Belfast2nd replay0 – 0Solitude, Belfast3rd replay2 – 0Windsor Park, Belfast321921–22Linfield (9)1 – 1DistilleryThe Oval, BelfastReplay4 – 1Solitude, Belfast331922–23Linfield (10)4 – 1GlentoranSolitude, Belfast341923–24Queen's Island (1)3 – 0DistilleryWindsor Park, Belfast351924–25Glentoran (7)2 – 1Belfast CelticSolitude, Belfast361925–26Cliftonville (4)5 – 1GlentoranWindsor Park, Belfast37 1926–27Belfast Celtic (3)3 – 2DunmurrySolitude, Belfast381927–28Linfield (11)1 – 1ArdsSolitude, BelfastReplay4 – 1Solitude, Belfast391928–29Linfield (12)2 – 1Broadway UnitedGrosvenor Park, Belfast401929–30Linfield (13)3 – 1GlentoranSolitude, Belfast 411930–31Glentoran (8)2 – 1CliftonvilleGrosvenor Park, Belfast421931–32Linfield (14)5 – 1Belfast CelticThe Oval, Belfast431932–33Linfield (15)1 – 1Belfast CelticSolitude, Belfast Replay1 – 1 Solitude, Belfast 2nd replay3 – 1 Solitude, Belfast 441933–34Linfield (16)7 – 1ArdsGrosvenor Park, Belfast451934–35Linfield (17)4 – 2Belfast Celtic IISolitude, Belfast 461935–36Belfast Celtic (4)1 – 0 Belfast Celtic IIWindsor Park, Belfast471936–37Belfast Celtic (5)2 – 2GlentoranGrosvenor Park, BelfastReplay1 – 0 Grosvenor Park, Belfast481937–38Linfield (18)3 – 2Ballymena UnitedGrosvenor Park, Belfast491938–39Belfast Celtic (6)2 – 1GlentoranGrosvenor Park, Belfast501939–40Glentoran (9) 4 – 0LinfieldSolitude, Belfast511940–41Glentoran (10)1 – 0DistilleryWindsor Park, Belfast521941–42Linfield (19)2 – 0LarneGrosvenor Park, Belfast531942–43Belfast Celtic (7)0 – 0LinfieldSolitude, BelfastReplay2 – 2Solitude, Belfast2nd replay2 – 1Solitude, Belfast541943–44Glentoran (11)3 – 0Belfast CelticSolitude, Belfast551944–45Belfast Celtic (8)0 – 0LinfieldGrosvenor Park, BelfastReplay1 – 0Solitude, Belfast561945–46Distillery (11)1 – 1Bangor ReservesWindsor Park, BelfastReplay3 – 0Windsor Park, Belfast1946–47Linfield (20)WalkoverBelfast Celtic571947–48Ballymena United (1)2 – 1LinfieldCeltic Park, Belfast58 1948–49Linfield Swifts (1)2 – 2BangorGrosvenor Park, BelfastReplay3 – 3Grosvenor Park, Belfast2nd replay4 – 1Grosvenor Park, Belfast591949–50Glentoran (12)2 – 0LinfieldSolitude, Belfast601950–51Ballymena United (2)2 – 2CliftonvilleWindsor Park, BelfastReplay3 – 0Windsor Park, Belfast611951–52Glentoran (13)3 – 0BrantwoodSolitude, Belfast621952–53Linfield (21)2 – 2DistillerySolitude, BelfastReplay4 – 4 (a.e.t)Solitude, Belfast2nd replay2 – 1Solitude, Belfast631953–54Distillery (12)1 – 0Ballymena UnitedSolitude, Belfast641954–55Linfield (22)3 – 0CrusadersSolitude, Belfast651955–56Ards (1)4 – 1LinfieldThe Oval, Belfast661956–57Glentoran (14)0 – 0DistillerySolitude, BelfastReplay4 – 0Solitude, Belfast671957–58Linfield (23) 3 – 1 DistillerySolitude, Belfast681958–59Linfield (24)3 – 1BangorSolitude, Belfast691959–60Crusaders (1)2 – 2LinfieldSolitude, BelfastReplay2 – 0Solitude, Belfast701960–61Linfield (25)2 – 1GlentoranSolitude, Belfast711961–62Linfield (26)5 – 0GlentoranSolitude, Belfast721962–63Linfield (27)4 – 0BangorSolitude, Belfast731963–64Distillery (13)2 – 1GlentoranSolitude, Belfast74 1964–65Crusaders (2)6 – 0LarneThe Oval, Belfast751965–66Linfield (28)4 – 0Ballymena UnitedSolitude, Belfast761966–67Linfield (29)5 – 3CrusadersThe Oval, Belfast771967–68Glentoran (15)3 – 3LinfieldSolitude, BelfastReplay3 – 0Solitude, Belfast781968–69Crusaders (3)2 – 1LinfieldSolitude, Belfast791969–70Bangor (1)1 – 1ArdsSolitude, BelfastReplay1 – 1Solitude, Belfast2nd replay1 – 1 (a.e.t.)Solitude, Belfast3rd replay3 – 2Solitude, Belfast801970–71Glentoran (16)2 – 1CrusadersSolitude, Belfast811971–72Ards (2)3 – 0CrusadersCastlereagh Park, Newtownards0 – 3 (3 – 3 agg.) (5 – 4 pens.)Seaview, Belfast821972–73Linfield (30)4 – 1BangorWindsor Park, Belfast5 – 0 (9 – 1 agg.)Clandeboye Park, Bangor831973–74Crusaders (4)2 – 1LarneInver Park, Larne841974–75Bangor (2)2 – 1GlentoranThe Oval, Belfast851975–76Ballymena United (3)4 – 0DistilleryInver Park, Larne861976–77Linfield (31)3 – 1GlentoranWindsor Park, Belfast871977–78Glentoran (17)1 – 0CrusadersWindsor Park, Belfast88 1978–79Cliftonville (5)0 – 0 (3 – 1 pens.)CrusadersSeaview, Belfast891979–80Ballymena United (4)0 – 0 (3 – 1 pens.)CrusadersThe Oval, Belfast901980–81Linfield (32)4 – 1GlentoranWindsor Park, Belfast911981–82Linfield (33)1 – 0DistillerySeaview, Belfast921982–83Linfield (34)4 – 1GlentoranWindsor Park, Belfast931983–84Linfield (35)3 – 1CrusadersSeaview, Belfast941984–85Glentoran (18)2 – 1CrusadersThe Oval, Belfast951985–86Distillery (14)3 – 1Ballymena UnitedThe Oval, Belfast961986–87Glentoran (19)3 – 0GlenavonThe Oval, Belfast971987–88Newry Town (1)2 – 1Ballymena UnitedThe Oval, Belfast981988–89Bangor (3)2 – 1 GlentoranSeaview, Belfast991989–90Glentoran (20)0 – 0 (6 – 5 pens.)LinfieldThe Oval, Belfast1001990–91Glenavon (1)4 – 3Newry TownNew Grosvenor Stadium, Ballyskeagh1011991–92Crusaders (5)2 – 1GlenavonThe Oval, Belfast1021992–93Carrick Rangers (1)1 – 1 (a.e.t.)GlentoranWindsor Park, BelfastReplay2 – 1Windsor Park, Belfast1031993–94Ards (3)4 – 2CrusadersThe Oval, Belfast1041994–95Linfield (36)4 – 0GlenavonThe Oval, Belfast1051995–96Glenavon (2)3 – 0CrusadersThe Oval, Belfast1061996–97Cliftonville (6)0 – 0Ballymena UnitedWindsor Park, Belfast0 – 0 (5 – 4 pens.)Windsor Park, Belfast1071997–98Linfield (37)1 – 0 (g.g.)CrusadersThe Oval, Belfast1081998–99Glentoran (21)2 – 0CliftonvilleWindsor Park, Belfast1091999–2000Glentoran (22)2 – 1BangorCastlereagh Park, Newtownards1102000–01Linfield (38)2 – 1GlentoranWindsor Park, Belfast1112001–02Glentoran (23)2 – 0LinfieldThe Oval, Belfast112 2002–03Glentoran (24)3 – 0Ballymena UnitedThe Oval, Belfast1132003–04Linfield (39)2 – 0ArdsThe Oval, Belfast1142004–05Linfield (40)2 – 1 CrusadersThe Oval, Belfast1152005–06Linfield (41)2 – 1Ballymena UnitedSeaview, Belfast1162006–07Cliftonville (7)2 – 1Lisburn DistilleryThe Oval, Belfast1172007–08Glentoran (25)2 – 1CrusadersWindsor Park, Belfast1182008–09Cliftonville (8)2 – 1LinfieldWindsor Park, Belfast1192009–10Crusaders (6)3 – 2 LinfieldWindsor Park, Belfast1202010–11Glentoran (26)3 – 1LinfieldWindsor Park, Belfast1212011–12Cliftonville (9)2 – 1GlentoranThe Oval, Belfast1222012–13Ballymena United (5)1 – 1 (4 – 3 pens.)LinfieldThe Oval, Belfast1232013–14Linfield (42)0 – 0 (4 – 1 pens.)CrusadersThe Showgrounds, Ballymena1242014–15Cliftonville (10)1 – 0 BangorSolitude, Belfast1252015–16Ballymena United (6)3 – 2LinfieldWindsor Park, Belfast1262016–17Linfield (43)3 – 1CrusadersThe Showgrounds, Ballymena1272017–18Crusaders (7)4 – 2Ballymena UnitedThe Showgrounds, Ballymena1282018–19Crusaders (8)4 – 3LinfieldSeaview, Belfast1292019–20Cliftonville (11)2 – 1Ballymena UnitedWindsor Park, Belfast1302020–21Larne (1)0 – 0 (4 – 3 pens.)GlentoranSeaview, Belfast1312021–22Larne (2)1 – 0LinfieldSeaview, Belfast1322022–23Larne (3)0 – 0 (4 – 3 pens.)LinfieldSeaview, Belfast1332023–24Larne (4)2 – 1GlentoranSeaview, Belfast1342024–25Glentoran (27)1 – 1 (5 – 4 pens.)LarneSeaview, Belfast1352025–26Carrick Rangers (2)1 – 1 (4 – 2 pens.)CliftonvilleSeaview, Belfast
Performance by club