Ulster Senior Club Hurling Championship

Current season or competition:
2024 Ulster Senior Club Hurling Championship
Irish| Craobh Iomána Uladh
Code| Hurling
Founded| 1970; 54 years ago (1970)
Region| Ulster (GAA)
Trophy| Four Seasons Cup
No. of teams| 3
Title holders|  Ruairí Óg Cushendall (12th title)
Most titles|  Ruairí Óg Cushendall (12 titles)
Sponsors| Allied Irish Banks
TV partner(s)| TG4
Motto| The toughest of them all
Official website| Ulster GAA

The Ulster Senior Club Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the AIB Ulster GAA Hurling Senior Club Championship) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Ulster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by the champion hurling teams in the province of Ulster in Ireland. It is the most prestigious club competition in Ulster hurling.

Introduced in 1970, it was initially a straight knockout tournament open to the nine county club champion teams in Ulster. The competition currently retains the knockout format but features just four teams who represent the strongest hurling counties in Ulster.

In its current format, the Ulster Club Championship begins in October with the semi-finals. Entrants are not seeded. The two semi-final winners proceed to the final which is currently played in late October or early November. The winner of the Ulster Club Championship, as well as being presented with the Four Seasons Cup, qualifies for the subsequent All-Ireland Club Championship.

The competition has been won by 10 teams, 8 of which have won it more than once. Ruairí Óg, Cushendall is the most successful team in the tournament's history, having won it 11 times. Dunloy are the reigning champions, having beaten Slaughtneil by 2-12 to 0-16 in the final.[1]

## Teams

[edit]

### Qualification

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County  | Championship  | Qualifying team

|
|

Antrim | Antrim Senior Hurling Championship | Champions
Derry | Derry Senior Hurling Championship | Champions
Donegal | Donegal Senior Hurling Championship | Champions
Down | Down Senior Hurling Championship | Champions

## List of finals

[edit]

* The winners are listed in bold if they also won the All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship.

Year  | Winners  | Runners-up

|
|

County  | Club  | Score  | County  | Club  | Score
2023 |  Antrim |  Cushendall | 0-20  |  Derry |  Slaughtneil | 2-10
2022[2] |  Antrim |  Dunloy | 2-12  |  Derry |  Slaughtneil | 0-16
2021  |  Derry |  Slaughtneil | 1-14  |  Down |  Ballycran | 0-10
2020  | Cancelled due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games
2019  |  Derry |  Slaughtneil | 1-15  |  Antrim |  Dunloy | 0-10
2018  |  Antrim |  Cushendall | 1-15  |  Down |  Ballycran | 0-10
2017[3] |  Derry |  Slaughtneil | 2-21  |  Down |  Ballygalget | 1-12
2016[4] |  Derry |  Slaughtneil | 2-14  |  Antrim |  Loughgiel Shamrocks | 1-13
2015  |  Antrim |  Cushendall | 1-24 (aet)  |  Derry |  Slaughtneil | 3-17 (aet)
2014[5][6] |  Down |  Portaferry | 1-16  |  Antrim |  Cushendall | 0-10
2013/14[7] |  Antrim |  Loughgiel Shamrocks | 3-14  |  Derry |  Slaughtneil | 1-15
2012/13[8] |  Antrim |  Loughgiel Shamrocks | 2-25  |  Down |  Portaferry | 0-12
2011/12  |  Antrim |  Loughgiel Shamrocks | 2-18  |  Down |  Ballycran | 0-08
2010/11  |  Antrim |  Loughgiel Shamrocks | 2-24  |  Armagh |  Keady Lamh Dhearg | 0-06
2009/10  |  Antrim |  Dunloy | 2-16  |  Down |  Ballycran | 2-11
2008/09  |  Antrim |  Cushendall | 1-14  |  Down |  Ballygalget | 1-13
2007/08  |  Antrim |  Dunloy | 2-14  |  Derry |  Kevin Lynch's | 2-08
2006/07  |  Antrim |  Cushendall | 1-13; 1-15 (R)  |  Derry |  Kevin Lynch's | 2-10; 1-07 (R)
2005/06  |  Down |  Ballygalget | 1-18  |  Antrim |  Cushendall | 3-08
2004/05  |  Antrim |  O'Donovan Rossa | 0-16  |  Down |  Ballygalget | 0-14
2003/04  |  Antrim |  Dunloy | 3-19  |  Derry |  Kevin Lynch's | 0-09
2002/03  |  Antrim |  Dunloy | 0-12  |  Down |  Portaferry | 1-06
2001/02  |  Antrim |  Dunloy | 3-11  |  Derry |  Lavey | 1-07
2000/01  |  Antrim |  Dunloy | 4-11  |  Derry |  Slaughtneil | 0-09
1999/00  |  Antrim |  Cushendall | 1-12  |  Down |  Ballygalget | 1-8
1998/99  |  Down |  Ballygalget | 1-13; 1-14 (R)  |  Antrim |  McQuillan Ballycastle | 3-07; 1-12 (R)
1997/98  |  Antrim |  Dunloy | 3-16  |  Derry |  Lavey | 4-10
1996/97  |  Antrim |  Cushendall |  |  Down |  Portaferry |
1995/96  |  Antrim |  Dunloy | 2-18  |  Down |  Ballycran | 0-09
1994/95  |  Antrim |  Dunloy | 3-09  |  Derry |  Lavey | 1-12
1993/94  |  Down |  Ballycran | 2-10  |  Antrim |  Cushendall | 0-12
1992/93  |  Antrim |  Cushendall | 2-12  |  Down |  Ballygalget | 1-10
1991/92  |  Antrim |  Cushendall | 1-16  |  Down |  Portaferry | 0-05
1990/91  |  Antrim |  Dunloy | 0-17  |  Down |  Ballygalget | 2-04
1989/90  |  Antrim |  Loughgiel Shamrocks | 1-14  |  Down |  Portaferry | 2-09
1988/89  |  Antrim |  O'Donovan Rossa | 0-13  |  Derry |  Lavey | 0-11
1987/88  |  Antrim |  Cushendall | 3-10  |  Down |  Ballycran | 1-06
1986/87  |  Antrim |  McQuillan Ballycastle | 1-13  |  Derry |  Lavey | 1-08
1985/86  |  Antrim |  Cushendall | 0-19  |  Down |  Ballycran | 0-10
1984/85  |  Antrim |  McQuillan Ballycastle | 1-14  |  Down |  Ballycran | 1-03
1983/84  |  Antrim |  McQuillan Ballycastle | 4-12  |  Down |  Ballygalget | 2-03
1982/83  |  Antrim |  Loughgiel Shamrocks | 1-09  |  Down |  Ballygalget | 0-09
1981/82  |  Antrim |  Cushendall | 4-17  |  Down |  Portaferry | 0-09
1980/81  |  Antrim |  McQuillan Ballycastle | 1-20  |  Down |  Ballycran | 0-13
1979/80  |  Antrim |  McQuillan Ballycastle | 0-11  |  Down |  Ballycran | 0-08
1978/79  |  Antrim |  McQuillan Ballycastle | 2-14  |  Down |  Portaferry | 2-07
1977/78  |  Antrim |  O'Donovan Rossa | 1-13  |  Down |  Ballycran | 2-06
1976/77  |  Down |  Ballycran | 0-08  |  Antrim |  O'Donovan Rossa | 0-07
1975/76  |  Down |  Ballygalget | 4-06  |  Antrim |  McQuillan Ballycastle | 1-09
1974/75  |  Down |  Ballycran | 3-05  |  Antrim |  Patrick Sarsfields | 3-02
1973/74  |  Antrim |  St. John's | w/o  |  Derry |  Kevin Lynch's | scr.
1972/73  |  Antrim |  O'Donovan Rossa | 2-08  |  Down |  Ballycran | 3-02
1971/72  |  Antrim |  Loughgiel Shamrocks | 3-08  |  Down |  Portaferry | 1-12
1970/71  |  Antrim |  Loughgiel Shamrocks | 6-14  |  Down |  Ballygalget | 2-05

## Roll of honour

[edit]

### By county

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County  | Titles  | Runners-up  | Total

|
|
|

Antrim | 42  | 9  | 51
Down | 7  | 29  | 38
Derry | 4  | 14  | 18
Armagh | 0  | 1  | 1

### By club

[edit]

Club  | Titles  | Years won

|
|

Ruairí Óg Cushendall | 12  | 1981, 1985, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2006, 2008, 2015, 2018, 2023
Cuchullians Dunloy | 11  | 1990, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2022
Loughgiel Shamrocks | 8  | 1970, 1971, 1982, 1989, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
McQuillan GAC Ballycastle | 6  | 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1986
O'Donovan Rossa | 4  | 1972, 1977, 1988, 2004
Slaughtneil | 4  | 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021
Ballycran | 3  | 1974, 1976, 1993
Ballygalget | 3  | 1975, 1998, 2005
St John's | 1  | 1973
Portaferry | 1  | 2014

## Records and statistics

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### Teams

[edit]

#### By decade

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The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Ulster Championship titles, is as follows:

* 1970s: 2 each for Loughgiel Shamrocks (1970–71), O'Donovan Rossa (1972–77), Ballycran (1974–76), Ballycastle McQuillan (1978–79)
* 1980s: 4 for Ballycastle McQuillan (1980-83-84-86)
* 1990s: 4 each for Dunloy (1990-94-95-97) and Ruairí Óg (1991-92-96-99)
* 2000s: 6 for Dunloy (2000-01-02-03-07-09)
* 2010s: 4 for Loughgiel Shamrocks (2010-11-12-13)

#### Gaps

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Top five longest gaps between successive championship titles:

* 23 years: Ballygalget (1975-1998)
* 21 years: Loughgiel Shamrocks (1989-2010)
* 17 years: Ballycran (1976-1993)
* 16 years: O'Donovan Rossa (1988-2004)
* 11 years: O'Donovan Rossa (1977-1988)

### Top scorers

[edit]

#### By year

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Year  | Top scorer  | Team  | Score  | Total

|
|
|
|

2006  | Geoffrey McGonagle | Kevin Lynch's | 4-07  | 19
2007  | Gregory O'Kane | Dunloy | 0-21  | 21
2008  | Martin Óg Coulter  | Ballygalget | 2-11  | 17
2009  | Simon Wilson | Ballycran | 1-14  | 17
2010  | Liam Watson | Loughgiel Shamrocks | 1-13  | 16
2011  | Liam Watson | Loughgiel Shamrocks | 1-07  | 10
2012  | Paul Braniff | Portaferry | 0-18  | 18
2013  | Liam Watson | Loughgiel Shamrocks | 0-13  | 13
2014  | Neil McManus | Ruairí Óg | 1-19  | 22
2015  | Cormac O'Doherty  | Slaughtneil | 1-16  | 19
2016  | Cormac O'Doherty  | Slaughtneil | 1-16  | 19
2017  | Cormac O'Doherty  | Slaughtneil | 1-21  | 24
2018  | Scott Nicholason  | Ballycran | 0-09  | 9
Neil McManus | Ruairí Óg
Colum McManus  | Ballycran
2019  | Cormac O'Doherty  | Slaughtneil | 1-15  | 18

#### In finals

[edit]

Final  | Top scorer  | Team  | Score  | Total

|
|
|
|

1999  | Jackie Carson  | Ruairí Óg, Cushendall | 1-04  | 7
2000  | Séamus McMullan  | Dunloy | 1-03  | 6
2001  | Paddy Richmond | Dunloy | 2-03  | 9
2002  | Gregory O'Kane | Dunloy | 0-07  | 7
2003  | Geoffrey McGonigle  | Kevin Lynch's | 0-08  | 8
2004  | Johnny McGrattan  | Ballygalget | 0-07  | 7
2005  | Johnny McGrattan  | Ballygalget | 1-08  | 11
2006  | Geoffrey McGonigle  | Kevin Lynch's | 2-04  | 10
2007  | Gregory O'Kane | Dunloy | 0-07  | 7
2008  | Martin Óg Coulter  | Ballygalget | 0-10  | 10
2009  | Simon Wilson | Ballycran | 1-06  | 9
2010  | Eddie McCloskey  | Loughgiel Shamrocks | 0-07  | 7
2011  | Eddie McCloskey  | Loughgiel Shamrocks | 1-02  | 5
2012  | Liam Watson | Loughgiel Shamrocks | 1-05  | 8
Eddie McCloskey  | Loughgiel Shamrocks | 0-08
2013  | Eddie McCloskey  | Loughgiel Shamrocks | 2-02  | 8
2014  | Eoghan Sands  | Portaferry | 1-03  | 6
Paul Braniff | Portaferry | 0-06
2015  | Neil McManus | Ruairí Óg, Cushendall | 0-13  | 13
2016  | Cormac O'Doherty  | Slaughtneil | 1-08  | 11
2017  | Cormac O'Doherty  | Slaughtneil | 1-10  | 13
2018  | Neil McManus | Ruairí Óg, Cushendall | 0-09  | 9
2019  | Cormac O'Doherty  | Slaughtneil | 1-04  | 18
Conall Cunning  | Dunloy | 0-07

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Early goals set Dunloy on way to Ulster hurling triumph over Slaughtneil". RTÉ. 4 December 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
2. ^ "Early goals set Dunloy on way to Ulster hurling triumph over Slaughtneil". RTÉ. 4 December 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
3. ^ "Slaughtneil claim Ulster hurling double". Irish Independent. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
4. ^ "Slaughtneil become first Derry team to win Ulster Club Hurling title". BBC Sport. 23 October 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
5. ^ "Sands the man as Portaferry sink Cushendall". www.rte.ie. 2 November 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
6. ^ "Ulster club SHC final: Portaferry shock 'Dall". Hogan Stand. 2 November 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
7. ^ "Loughgiel secure title". Irish Examiner. 28 October 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
8. ^ "McCloskey keeps Loughgiel on track". Irish Independent. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.

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Competitions under administration by the Ulster Council

Inter-county football|

* Senior Football Championship (2023)
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* Senior Club Football Championship (2023)
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Inter-county hurling|

* Senior Hurling Championship
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Club hurling|

* Senior Club Hurling Championship
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Defunct competitions|

* Dr Lagan Cup

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All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championships

Seasons|

* 1970–71
* 1971–72
* 1972–73
* 1973–74
* 1974–75
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* 2017–18
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* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
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* 2023–24
* 2024–25

Finals|

* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
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* Connacht Championship
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