The Ulster Council of Gaelic Athletic Association organized the Ulster Senior Hurling Championships. This championship is played annually and is conducted in the province of Ulster. The Ulster Championship is highly played inter-county hurling. Ulster Senior Hurling Championship | Team Performances.
The Ulster Senior Hurling Championship is a battleground where elite clubs from Northern Ireland contend for supremacy. Teams such as Slaughtneil, Dunloy, and Loughgiel Shamrocks showcase their skills, embodying the pride of their countries. Each match displays passion and determination as clubs strive for the prestigious provincial title. Steeped in tradition and rivalry, this championship ignites the spirit of hurling across Ulster, adding new chapters to its rich history with every fiercely contested game.
Beginning of the Title
The Ulster Senior Championship is a long-standing tournament that has been bringing joy to fans since 1901. The matches commence every June and culminate in the showdown held in July. All teams participate in this prestigious event, and the knockout format ensures that every game is a thrilling encounter. Though every team competes fiercely, the spirit of sportsmanship prevails, making it a true celebration of the beautiful game.
The winner of these championships receives a cup, which is known as the Liam Harvey Cup. Ulster Senior Hurling Championship | Team Performances.
Division of the team
The championship includes 4 teams to complete the knock-out format. At present, five dominant teams have clinched the title, each of which has won the championship title on multiple occasions. Antrim is the only team who won the titles 57 times. In the 2017 final, Antrim defeated Armagh by a margin of 5-22 to 1-12.
Sponsorship
The sponsor is involved in this tournament day-to-day in championships. Allied Irish Bank is one of the best commercial banks. Nowadays, he is taking responsibility for sponsorships of Ulster Senior Hurling Championships.
Captains Performances
The captains are lifting the trophies for their teams to celebrate their victories. Some performance with their titles and years of performing is given below:
Colm McGuckian (3)
Colm McGuckian is a hurler and has gained recognition. He is the Captain of the Antrim team. In his captaincy, the Antrim team won 3 titles in the respective years 2002,2003 and 2004.
Paul Shiels (2)
Antrim County team has a talented hurler named Paul Shiels who plays as a midfielder for their senior team. Paul has contributed significantly to the team’s success, helping them secure titles in 2010 and 2014. His impressive performance on the field has earned him a reputation as an exceptional player in the sport of hurling.
Team Performances
Below are the team’s performance in the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship:
- Antrim (58)
- Down (4)
- Derry (4)
- Donegal (3)
- Monaghan (2)
Antrim (58)
The Antrim County Board holds full responsibility for organizing and overseeing all hurling sports activities within the province of Antrim. They won 58 Ulster Hurling Senior Championships and were runner-up for 11 times. They won their first title in 1900.
Their nickname is “The Saffs”. Their colors are saffron and white. In 2009, the Antrim Gaelic Athletic Association had 108 affiliated clubs. In the final of the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, Antrim is the only Ulster county that played the final in 1943 and 1989. Both Cork and Tipperary defeated Antrim in the respective finals of 1943 and 1989.
But in 1943 the result was in the favor of Antrim, and he finished the game by kicking out both the teams Tipperary and Cork in the old Corrigan Park.
Down (4)
Down County board is responsible for the hurling sports in the province of Down. They won 4 Ulster Hurling Senior Championships and were runner-up for 20 times. They won their first title in 1942.
Their nickname is “The Mournemen”. Their colors are black and red. The Down County team’s board takes responsibility for multiple games, including Football, Hurling, Handball, and Camogie. Down has an impressive record of achievements, having won several titles over the years. In 2013, they bagged the Christy Ring Cup, and they also share the record for the most Ulster victories in All Ireland, with a total of five titles. When it comes to Football, the Down County team dominates the game, and the most successful club in this sport is none other than Kilcoo.
Kilcoo Club has brought home the Down Senior Football Title 18 times. Down County played three years in the Leinster Minor Hurling Championship and defeated Galway by a margin of 1-5 to 1-1 in the All Ireland Senior Camogie Championship semi-final.
Derry (4)
The administration of the hurling sports in the province of Derry falls under the purview of the Derry County board. As the responsible authority, the board is tasked with overseeing the organization, management, and development of hurling activities in the region. They won 4 Ulster Hurling Senior Championships and were runner-up 8 times. They won their first title in 1902.
Their nickname is “The Oak Leaf County”. Their colors are white and red. The province of Derry is crazy about football. They’re so good at it too! Back in 1902-1903, the Derry team emerged as the champions of the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship. And that’s not all – the county has also won the Ulster Junior Championships and All-Ireland Junior Championships twice in a row, in 1974 and 1975. It’s no wonder that football is such a big deal in Derry! Derry has won the following titles:
- All Ireland Junior Titles in the era, 1975 and 1982.
- 2 Ulster Minor Titles in the era, 1973 and 1974.
- 5 consecutive Minor Titles.
- Ulster Junior in 1984.
Donegal (3)
Donegal County Board is responsible for the hurling sports in the province of Donegal. The team has a remarkable record of winning 3 Ulster Hurling Senior Championships and securing the runner-up position 12 times. Their first title was won in 1906 and they clinched their most recent championship in 1932.
Their county colors are gold and green. They dominated the Nicky Rackard Cup, taking home the trophy three (3) times, and completely owned the Lory Meagher Cup with a resounding victory in 2021. In the tenure of 2019, the Donegal County team won the Christy Ring Cup.
Monaghan (2)
Monaghan County Board is responsible for the hurling sports in the province of Monaghan. Both the sports football and hurling are famous in the province of Monaghan. They won 2 Ulster Hurling Senior Championships and were runner-up 5 times. They won their first title in 1914.
Their nickname is “The Oriel “. Their colors are white and white. Currently, The Monaghan is sponsored by Investec. They have dominated the Ulster Junior Hurling Championships, triumphing an impressive six times. Their first title win dates back to 1971, setting the tone for their continued success.