Ulster Senior Football Championship
Ulster Senior Football Championship | |
---|---|
Current season or competition:![]() | |
Code | Gaelic football |
Founded | 1888 |
Region | Ulster (GAA) |
Trophy | Anglo-Celt Cup |
No. of teams | 9 |
Title holders | ![]() |
Most titles | |
Sponsors | Vodafone Ulster Bank Toyota |
The Ulster Senior Football Championship is an inter-county and cross-border competition for Gaelic football teams in the Irish province of Ulster. It is organised by the Ulster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and begins in April. The final is played in May, but, traditionally, was usually played on the third Sunday in July.
All nine Ulster counties participate. It is regarded as hardest to win of the four provincial football championships.[1][2] At a referee conference in January 2015, David Coldrick said about officiating in the competition: "Ulster makes or breaks you. It can be a graveyard. The games are different. There is an extra dimension and intensity, and you must be at your best. If you aren't prepared physically and mentally, the chances are you will be caught out. But when you are appointed for your first Ulster championship match, that's making progress".[3]
The winners receive the Anglo-Celt Cup, which was presented to the Ulster Council in 1925 by John F. O'Hanlon, who was editor of The Anglo-Celt newspaper based in Cavan.
Cavan have won the most championships (40). Donegal are the title holders, defeating Armagh on penalties in the 2024 final.
History
Cavan are the most successful team in Ulster SFC history, having won the competition on 40 occasions.[4] Cavan maintain the record for consecutive appearances in Ulster Finals. During the 1930s and 1940s, they appeared in and won seven consecutive Ulster SFC titles. Fermanagh remain the only team not to have won an Ulster SFC title. The Ulster Senior Football Championship celebrated its 125th year in 2013.[5]
For many decades, winning the Ulster Senior Football Championship was considered as much as a team from Ulster could hope for, as the other provinces were usually much stronger and more competitive.
Before 1990, only Cavan in 1933, 1935, 1947, 1948 and 1952, and Down in 1960, 1961 and 1968, had won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title. In the 1990s however, a significant sea change took place, as the Ulster Champions won the All-Ireland in four consecutive years from 1991 to 1994. Since then Ulster has produced more All-Ireland winning teams than any other province.[6]
Currently the Ulster Senior Football Championship is considered one of the toughest provinces to compete in. Ulster teams have gained considerable dominance on the All-Ireland scene, having won three All-Irelands from four in the early 2000s, including in 2003 when for the first time ever, the All-Ireland football final was competed for by two teams from one province.[citation needed]
The Ulster SFC final is normally played on the third Sunday in July, usually at St Tiernach's Park in Clones. From 2004 until 2006, it was staged at Croke Park in Dublin.[7] The 2007 final—contested by Monaghan and Tyrone—marked a return to Clones, with Tyrone emerging victorious.[citation needed] The Athletic Grounds in Armagh hosted the 2020 final, as the fixture was played behind closed doors due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games.[8] The final was last played in Belfast in 1971.[9]
In the 2000s, Armagh were a dominant force in Ulster, winning six titles in eight years between 1999 and 2006. Donegal won consecutive Ulster SFC titles from the preliminary round in 2011 and 2012 (a feat achieved by no other county) and added the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 2012.[citation needed]
The 2019 final had the highest score for the winning team in the final (Donegal that year) since 1933 when Cavan won, and the second highest score ever. It also had the highest Ulster SFC final score for the losing team ever (Cavan on this occasion).[10]
Format
Overview
The Ulster Senior Football Championship is a single elimination tournament. Each team is afforded only one defeat before being eliminated from the championship. Pairings for matches are drawn at random and there is currently no seeding. Each match is played as a single leg. If a match is drawn there is a period of extra time, however, if both sides are still level at the end of extra time a replay takes place and so on until a winner is found.
Qualification for subsequent competitions
- The winner and runner-up of the championship qualify for the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship group stage. The remaining seven Ulster teams may also qualify for the All-Ireland SFC group stage via the National Football League. Those who fail to do so qualify for the Tailteann Cup.
- Note: Before the introduction of the qualifiers in 2001, the winners of the Ulster SFC went straight to the semi-final stage of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, along with the winners of the Leinster, Munster and Connacht Championships.
Progression
Teams entering in this round | Teams advancing from previous round | |
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Preliminary round (2 teams) |
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Quarter-finals (8 teams) |
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Semi-finals (4 teams) |
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Final (2 teams) |
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Teams
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Ulster_locator_map.svg/220px-Ulster_locator_map.svg.png)
The Ulster SFC is contested by the nine traditional counties in the Irish province of Ulster. The province comprises the six counties of Northern Ireland, plus the counties of Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland. It is the only provincial championship with most participating teams being from the UK.
2025 Championship
Nine counties will compete in the 2025 Ulster Senior Football Championship:
County team | Location | Stadium | Position in 2024 Championship | Ulster SFC titles | Last Ulster SFC title | All-Ireland SFC titles | Last All-Ireland SFC title |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Belfast | Corrigan Park | Quarter-finalist | 10 | 1951 | 0 | — |
![]() | Armagh | Athletic Grounds | Runner-up | 14 | 2008 | 1 | 2024 |
![]() | Cavan | Breffni Park | Quarter-finalist | 40 | 2020 | 5 | 1952 |
![]() | Derry | Celtic Park | Quarter-finalist | 9 | 2023 | 1 | 1993 |
![]() | Ballybofey | MacCumhaill Park | Winner | 11 | 2024 | 2 | 2012 |
![]() | Newry | Páirc Esler | Semi-finalist | 12 | 1994 | 5 | 1994 |
![]() | Enniskillen | Brewster Park | Quarter-finalist | 0 | — | 0 | — |
![]() | Clones | St Tiernach's Park | Preliminary round exit | 16 | 2015 | 0 | — |
![]() | Omagh | Healy Park | Semi-finalist | 16 | 2021 | 4 | 2021 |
Personnel and kits
County team | Manager | Captain(s) | Sponsors |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Andy McEntee[11] | Peter Healy[12][13] | Fibrus |
![]() | Kieran McGeeney | Aidan Forker[14] | Simply Fruit |
![]() | Mickey Graham | Raymond Galligan | Kingspan Group |
![]() | Mickey Harte | Conor Glass | Errigal Contracts |
![]() | Jim McGuinness | Paddy McBrearty | Circet |
![]() | Conor Laverty[15] | Pierce Laverty | EOS IT Solutions |
![]() | Kieran Donnelly | Eoin Donnelly | Tracey Concrete |
![]() | Vinny Corey[16][17] | Ryan Wylie | All Boro Floor Services |
![]() | Feargal Logan Brian Dooher | Pádraig Hampsey[18][19] | McAleer & Rushe Ltd |
List of finals
Year | Date | Winner | Runner-up | Venue | Winning captain | Winning margin | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
County team | Score | County team | Score | |||||
1887 | No championship | |||||||
1888 | Monaghan | 0-2, 0-3 (R) | Cavan | 0-2, 0-1 (R) | ||||
1889 | No championship | |||||||
1890 | Armagh | 2-8 | Tyrone | 1-2 | ||||
1891 | Cavan | 1-11 | Armagh | 0-0 | ||||
1892–1900 | No championship | |||||||
1901–02 * | Antrim | 3-5 | Armagh | 2-5 | ||||
1903 | Armagh | 2-2 | Antrim | 1-4 | ||||
1904 | Cavan | 0-5, 0-5 (R1), 0-8 (R2) | Armagh | 0-5, 0-5 (R1), 0-4 (R2) | ||||
1905 | Cavan | 0-7 | Monaghan | 0-3 | ||||
1906 | Monaghan | 2-10 | Antrim | 1-2 | ||||
1907 | No record | |||||||
1908 | Antrim | 1-8 | Cavan | 0-4 | ||||
1909 | Antrim | 1-9 | Cavan | 0-5 | ||||
1910 | Antrim | 3-4 | Cavan | 0-1 | ||||
1911 | Antrim | 2-8 | Cavan | 0-4 | ||||
1912 | Antrim | 2-2 | Armagh | 0-1 | ||||
1913 | Antrim | 2-1 | Monaghan | 1-2 | ||||
1914 | Monaghan | 2-4 | Fermanagh | 0-2 | ||||
1915 | Cavan | 3-2, 0-4 (R) | Monaghan | 2-5, 0-3 (R) | ||||
1916 | Monaghan | 2-3 | Cavan | 0-2 | ||||
1917 | Monaghan | 4-2 | Armagh | 0-4 | ||||
1918 | Cavan | 3-2 | Antrim | 0-0 | ||||
1919 | Cavan | 5-6 | Antrim | 0-2 | ||||
1920 | Cavan | 4-6 | Armagh | 1-4 | ||||
1921 | Monaghan | 2-2 | Derry | 1-1 | ||||
1922[note 1] | Monaghan | 2-3, 3-4 (R) | Cavan | 2-3, 3-3 (R) | ||||
1923 | Cavan | 5-10 | Monaghan | 1-1 | ||||
1924 | Cavan | 1-3, 2-3 (R) | Monaghan | 0-6, 1-3 (R) | ||||
1925 | Cavan | 2-3, 3-6 (R) | Antrim | 3-0, 0-1 (R) | ||||
1926 | Cavan | 5-3 | Antrim | 0-6 | ||||
1927 | Monaghan | 3-5 | Armagh | 2-5 | ||||
1928 | Cavan | 2-6 | Armagh | 1-4 | ||||
1929 | Monaghan | 1-4, 1-10 (R) | Cavan | 1-4, 0-7 (R) | ||||
1930 | Monaghan | 4-3 | Cavan | 1-5 | ||||
1931 | Cavan | 0-8 | Armagh | 2-1 | ||||
1932 | Cavan | 2-4 | Armagh | 0-2 | ||||
1933 | Cavan | 6-13 | Tyrone | 1-2 | ||||
1934 | Cavan | 3-8 | Armagh | 0-2 | ||||
1935 | Cavan | 2-6 | Fermanagh | 2-1 | ||||
1936 | Cavan | 1-7 | Monaghan | 0-7 | ||||
1937 | Cavan | 0-13 | Armagh | 0-3 | ||||
1938 | Monaghan | 2-5 | Armagh | 2-2 | ||||
1939 | Cavan | 2-3, 2-3 (R)* | Armagh | 1-3, 1-4 (R) | ||||
1940 | Cavan | 4-10 | Down | 1-5 | ||||
1941 | Cavan | 3-9 | Tyrone | 0-5 | ||||
1942 | Cavan | 5-11 | Down | 1-3 | ||||
1943 | Cavan | 2-3 | Monaghan | 0-5 | ||||
1944 | Cavan | 1-9 | Monaghan | 1-6 | ||||
1945 | Cavan | 4-10 | Fermanagh | 1-4 | ||||
1946 | Antrim | 2-8 | Cavan | 1-7 | ||||
1947 | Cavan | 3-4 | Antrim | 1-6 | ||||
1948 | Cavan | 2-12 | Antrim | 2-4 | ||||
1949 | Cavan | 1-7 | Armagh | 1-6 | ||||
1950 | Armagh | 1-11 | Cavan | 1-7 | ||||
1951 | Antrim | 1-7 | Cavan | 2-3 | ||||
1952 | Cavan | 1-8 | Monaghan | 0-8 | ||||
1953 | Armagh | 1-6 | Cavan | 0-5 | ||||
1954 | Cavan | 2-10 | Armagh | 2-5 | ||||
1955 | Cavan | 0-11 | Derry | 0-8 | ||||
1956 | Tyrone | 3-5 | Cavan | 0-4 | ||||
1957 | Tyrone | 1-9 | Derry | 0-10 | ||||
1958 | Derry | 1-11 | Down | 2-4 | ||||
1959 | Down | 2-16 | Cavan | 0-7 | ||||
1960 | Down | 3-7 | Cavan | 1-8 | ||||
1961 | Down | 2-10 | Armagh | 1-10 | ||||
1962 | Cavan | 3-6 | Down | 0-5 | ||||
1963 | Down | 2-11 | Donegal | 1-4 | ||||
1964 | Cavan | 2-10 | Down | 1-10 | ||||
1965 | Down | 3-5 | Cavan | 1-8 | ||||
1966 | Down | 1-7 | Donegal | 0-8 | ||||
1967 | Cavan | 2-12 | Down | 0-8 | ||||
1968 | Down | 0-16 | Cavan | 1-8 | ||||
1969 | Cavan | 2-13 | Down | 2-6 | ||||
1970 | Derry | 2-13 | Antrim | 1-12 | ||||
1971 | Down | 4-15 | Derry | 4-11 | ||||
1972 | Donegal | 2-13 | Tyrone | 1-11 | ||||
1973 | Tyrone | 3-13 | Down | 1-11 | ||||
1974 | Donegal | 1-14, 3-9 (R) | Down | 2-11, 1-12 (R) | ||||
1975 | Derry | 1-16 | Down | 2-6 | ||||
1976 | Derry | 1-8, 0-22 (R) | Cavan | 1-8, 1-16 (R) | ||||
1977 | Armagh | 3-10 | Derry | 1-5 | ||||
1978 | Down | 2-19 | Cavan | 2-12 | ||||
1979 | Monaghan | 1-15 | Donegal | 0-11 | ||||
1980 | Armagh | 4-10 | Tyrone | 4-7 | ||||
1981 | Down | 3-12 | Armagh | 1-10 | ||||
1982 | Armagh | 0-10 | Fermanagh | 1-4 | ||||
1983 | Donegal | 1-14 | Cavan | 1-11 | ||||
1984 | Tyrone | 0-15 | Armagh | 1-7 | ||||
1985 | Monaghan | 2-9 | Derry | 0-8 | ||||
1986 | Tyrone | 1-11 | Down | 0-10 | ||||
1987 | Derry | 0-11 | Armagh | 0-9 | ||||
1988 | Monaghan | 1-10 | Tyrone | 0-11 | ||||
1989 | Tyrone | 0-11, 2-13 (R) | Donegal 0-11, 0-7 (R) | |||||
1990 | Donegal | 0-15 | Armagh | 0-14 | Anthony Molloy | 1 | ||
1991 | Down | 1-15 | Donegal | 0-10 | Paddy O'Rourke | 8 | ||
1992 | Donegal | 0-14 | Derry | 1-9 | Anthony Molloy | 2 | ||
1993 | Derry | 0-8 | Donegal | 0-6 | Henry Downey | 2 | ||
1994 | Down | 1-17 | Tyrone | 1-11 | 6 | |||
1995 | Tyrone | 2-13 | Cavan | 0-10 | 9 | |||
1996 | Tyrone | 1-9 | Down | 0-9 | 3 | |||
1997 | Cavan | 1-14 | Derry | 0-16 | 1 | |||
1998 | Derry | 1-7 | Donegal | 0-8 | 2 | |||
1999 | Armagh | 3-12 | Down | 0-10 | Jarlath Burns | 11 | ||
2000 | Armagh | 1-12 | Derry | 1-11 | Kieran McGeeney | 1 | ||
2001 | Tyrone | 1-13 | Cavan | 1-11 | 2 | |||
2002 | Armagh | 1-14 | Donegal | 1-10 | Kieran McGeeney | 4 | ||
2003 | Tyrone | 1-17, 0-23 (R) | Down | 4-8, 1-5 (R) | 15 (R) | |||
2004 | Armagh | 3-15 | Donegal | 0-11 | Kieran McGeeney | 13 | ||
2005 | Armagh | 2-8, 0-13 (R) | Tyrone | 0-14, 0-11 (R) | Kieran McGeeney | 2 (R) | ||
2006 | Armagh | 1-9 | Donegal | 0-9 | 3 | |||
2007 | Tyrone | 1-15 | Monaghan | 1-13 | 2 | |||
2008 | Armagh | 2-8, 1-11 (R) | Fermanagh | 1-11, 0-8 (R) | 6 (R) | |||
2009 | Tyrone | 1-18 | Antrim | 0-15 | 6 | |||
2010 | Tyrone | 1-14 | Monaghan | 0-7 | 10 | |||
2011 | Donegal | 1-11 | Derry | 0-8 | Michael Murphy | 6 | ||
2012 | Donegal | 2-18 | Down | 0-13 | Michael Murphy | 11 | ||
2013[20] | Monaghan | 0-13 | Donegal | 0-7 | 6 | |||
2014[21] | 20 July | Donegal | 0-15 | Monaghan | 1-9 | St Tiernach's Park | Michael Murphy | 3 |
2015 | 19 July | Monaghan | 0-11 | Donegal | 0-10 | St Tiernach's Park | Conor McManus | 1 |
2016 | 17 July | Tyrone | 0-13 | Donegal | 0-11 | St Tiernach's Park | Seán Cavanagh | 2 |
2017 | 16 July | Tyrone | 2-17 | Down | 0-15 | St Tiernach's Park | Seán Cavanagh | 8 |
2018 | 24 June | Donegal | 2-18 | Fermanagh | 0-12 | St Tiernach's Park | Michael Murphy | 12 |
2019 | 23 June | Donegal | 1-24 | Cavan | 2-16 | St Tiernach's Park | Michael Murphy | 8 |
2020 | 22 November | Cavan | 1-13 | Donegal | 0-12 | Athletic Grounds | Raymond Galligan | 4 |
2021 | 31 July | Tyrone | 0-16 | Monaghan | 0-15 | Croke Park | Pádraig Hampsey | 1 |
2022 | 29 May | Derry | 1-16 | Donegal | 1-14 | St Tiernach's Park | Chrissy McKaigue | 2 |
2023 | 14 May | Derry | 1-15 (a.e.t.) (3–1 p) | Armagh | 0-18 (a.e.t.) (3–1 p) | St Tiernach's Park | Conor Glass | Penalties |
2024 | 12 May | Donegal | 0-20 (a.e.t.) (6–5 p) | Armagh | 0-20 (a.e.t.) (6–5 p) | St Tiernach's Park | Patrick McBrearty | Penalties
|
- Notes
- 1887 No Ulster SFC
- 1888 Ulster Senior Football Championship Inniskeen Grattans of (Monaghan) v Maghera MacFinns of (Cavan) game went to a replay.
- 1889 No Ulster SFC
- 1890 Armagh Harps, (Armagh) v Owen Roe O'Neill's (Tyrone)
- 1891 Cavan Slashers (Cavan) v Armagh Harps (Armagh) game abandoned Smithboro Co Monaghan game replayed Cavan 1-11 Armagh 0-00
- 1892–1900 No championship. Cavan played in Leinster Senior Football Championship in 1895.
- 1900 Antrim were to have represented Ulster but gave walkover to Galway.
- 1901–1902 the championship was played over two seasons and only counts as one Ulster SFC title.
- 1907 No official final result in records
- 1939 Game abandoned – replay ordered
- 2020 No crowd attendance due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games
Team records and statistics
Roll of honour
Legend
- Golden background – Ulster SFC winner or runner-up also won the All-Ireland SFC that year.
Performance by team
County team | Title(s) | Runner-up | Years won | Years runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 40 | 23 | 1891, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1915, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1922,[note 2] 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1928, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1962, 1964, 1967, 1969, 1997, 2020 | 1888, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1916, 1922, 1929, 1930, 1946, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1959, 1960, 1965, 1968, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1995, 2001, 2019 |
![]() | 16 | 12 | 1888, 1906, 1914, 1916, 1917, 1921, 1922,[note 3] 1927, 1929, 1930, 1938, 1979, 1985, 1988, 2013, 2015 | 1905, 1913, 1923, 1924, 1936, 1943, 1944, 1952, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2021 |
![]() | 16 | 7 | 1956, 1957, 1973, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2021 | 1890, 1941, 1972, 1980, 1988, 1994, 2005 |
![]() | 14 | 22 | 1890, 1902, 1950, 1953, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 | 1891, 1901–02, 1904, 1912, 1917, 1920, 1927, 1928, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1938, 1939, 1949, 1954, 1961, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1990, 2023, 2024 |
![]() | 12 | 15 | 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1971, 1978, 1981, 1991, 1994 | 1940, 1942, 1958, 1962, 1967, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1986, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2012, 2017 |
![]() | 11 | 14 | 1972, 1974, 1983, 1990, 1992, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2024 | 1963, 1966, 1979, 1991, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2022 |
![]() | 10 | 9 | 1900, 1901, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1946, 1951 | 1903, 1906, 1918, 1919, 1925, 1926, 1947, 1948, 2009 |
![]() | 9 | 10 | 1958, 1970, 1975, 1976, 1987, 1993, 1998, 2022, 2023 | 1921, 1955, 1957, 1971, 1977, 1985, 1992, 1997, 2000, 2011 |
![]() | 0 | 6 | 1914, 1935, 1945, 1982, 2008, 2018 |
Team progress: 2001–2019
Below is a record of each county's performance following the introduction of the qualifier system to the All-Ireland series in 2001. Before 2001 only the Ulster SFC title winner contested the All-Ireland SFC. Qualifiers did not occur from 2020–2021 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games. They are no longer held, with weaker teams, such as Cavan, Fermanagh and Antrim, moving aside, to instead play in the Tailteann Cup.
Key
Winner |
Finalist |
Semi-finalist |
Quarter-finalist / Super 8s |
Qualifier Rounds 1–4 / Tommy Murphy Cup |
Team | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Antrim | Q2 | Q1 | Q2 | Q1 | Q1 | Q1 | TM | TM | Q4 | Q1 | Q3 | Q3 | Q1 | Q2 | Q2 | Q2 | Q1 | Q1 | Q2 |
Armagh | Q3 | W | F | QF | SF | QF | Q1 | QF | Q1 | Q3 | Q3 | Q1 | Q3 | QF | Q2 | Q1 | QF | Q4 | Q3 |
Cavan | Q4 | Q1 | Q2 | Q2 | Q4 | Q1 | Q1 | Q1 | Q2 | Q2 | Q1 | Q2 | QF | Q2 | Q2 | Q3 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 |
Derry | SF | Q3 | Q2 | SF | Q3 | Q3 | QF | Q1 | Q3 | Q3 | Q4 | Q1 | Q3 | Q1 | Q3 | Q4 | Q2 | Q1 | Q2 |
Donegal | Q2 | QF | SF | Q4 | Q2 | QF | Q3 | Q2 | QF | Q1 | SF | W | QF | F | QF | QF | Q4 | S8s | S8s |
Down | Q1 | Q1 | Q4 | Q2 | Q2 | Q1 | Q1 | Q3 | Q3 | F | Q4 | QF | Q2 | Q3 | Q1 | Q1 | Q4 | Q2 | Q2 |
Fermanagh | Q1 | Q3 | QF | SF | Q1 | Q4 | Q2 | Q3 | Q1 | Q2 | Q1 | Q1 | Q2 | Q1 | QF | Q2 | Q1 | Q4 | Q1 |
Monaghan | Q2 | Q1 | Q2 | Q1 | Q4 | Q2 | QF | Q4 | Q2 | Q4 | Q1 | Q2 | QF | QF | QF | Q2 | QF | SF | Q2 |
Tyrone | QF | Q4 | W | QF | W | Q2 | QF | W | SF | QF | QF | Q3 | SF | Q2 | SF | QF | SF | F | SF |
By semi-final appearances (since 2016)
Bold indicates years team reached the final.
Team | No. | Years in semi-finals |
---|---|---|
![]() | 7 | 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 |
![]() | 6 | 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
![]() | 4 | 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021 |
![]() | 4 | 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022 |
![]() | 4 | 2017, 2018, 2020, 2023 |
![]() | 4 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023 |
![]() | 2 | 2022, 2023 |
![]() | 1 | 2018 |
![]() | 0 | — |
Post-COVID team results
Legend
- 1st – Winner
- 2nd – Runner-up
- SF/QF/PR – Semi-finalist / Quarter-finalist / Preliminary round exit
For each year, the number of competing teams is shown (in brackets).
Team | 2023 (9) | 2024 (9) | Years |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | PR | 2 | |
![]() | 2nd | 2 | |
![]() | QF | 2 | |
![]() | 1st | 2 | |
![]() | QF | 2 | |
![]() | SF | 2 | |
![]() | QF | 2 | |
![]() | SF | 2 | |
![]() | QF | 2 |
Consecutive titles
Septuple
Sextuple
Antrim (1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913)
Quintuple
Cavan (1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926)
Treble
Cavan (1903, 1904, 1905)
Cavan (1918, 1919, 1920)
Cavan (1947, 1948, 1949)
Down (1959, 1960, 1961)
Armagh (2004, 2005, 2006)
Double
Antrim (1900, 1901)
Monaghan (1916, 1917)
Monaghan (1921, 1922)
Monaghan (1929, 1930)
Cavan (1954, 1955)
Tyrone (1956, 1957)
Down (1965, 1966)
Derry (1975, 1976)
Tyrone (1995, 1996)
Armagh (1999, 2000)
Tyrone (2009, 2010)
Donegal (2011, 2012)
Tyrone (2016, 2017)
Donegal (2018, 2019)
Derry (2022, 2023)
Titles by decade
The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Ulster SFC titles, is as follows:
- 1880s: 1 for
Monaghan (1888)
- 1890s: 1 for
Armagh (1890),
Cavan (1891)
- 1900s: 3 for
Antrim (01, 08, 09)
- 1910s: 4 for
Antrim (10, 11, 12, 13)
- 1920s: 6 for
Cavan (20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28)
- 1930s: 8 for
Cavan (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39)
- 1940s: 9 for
Cavan (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49)
- 1950s: 3 for
Cavan (52, 54, 55)
- 1960s: 6 for
Down (60, 61, 63, 65, 66, 68)
- 1970s: 3 for
Derry (70, 75, 76)
- 1980s: 3 for
Tyrone (84, 86, 89)
- 1990s: 2 for
Donegal (90, 92),
Down (91, 94),
Tyrone (95, 96),
Derry (93, 98)
- 2000s: 6 for
Armagh (00, 02, 04, 05, 06, 08)
- 2010s: 5 for
Donegal (11, 12, 14, 18, 19)
- 2020s: 2 for
Derry (22, 23)
Team debuts
Year | Debutants | Total |
---|---|---|
1888 | ![]() ![]() | 2 |
1889 | None | 0 |
1890 | ![]() ![]() ![]() | 3 |
1891–1902 | None | 0 |
1903 | ![]() | 1 |
1904 | ![]() ![]() | 2 |
1905 | None | 0 |
1906 | ![]() | 1 |
1907– | None | 0 |
Total | 9 |
Other records
Final success rate
No county teams have appeared in the final, being victorious on all occasions.
On the opposite end of the scale, one team has appeared in the final, losing on each occasion:
Fermanagh (1914, 1935, 1945, 1982, 2008, 2018)
Winning other trophies
Although not an officially recognised achievement, a number of teams have achieved the distinction of winning the Ulster SFC, the All-Ireland SFC and the National Football League all in the same season.
Gaps
- Longest gaps between successive Ulster SFC titles:
- Longest gaps between successive Ulster SFC finals:
- 58 years:
Antrim (1951–2009)
- 51 years:
Tyrone (1890–1941)
- 37 years:
Fermanagh (1945–1982)
- 34 years:
Derry (1921–1955)
- 27 years:
Monaghan (1952–1979)
- 26 years:
Fermanagh (1982–2008)
- 21 years:
Fermanagh (1914–1935)
- 20 years:
Antrim (1926–1946)
- 19 years:
Monaghan (1988–2007)
- 18 years:
Cavan (2001–2019)
- 58 years:
Active gaps
- Longest active gaps since an Ulster SFC title:
- Longest active gap since an Ulster SFC final appearance:
Player records
- On 9 July 2006, Oisín McConville became the record point scorer in the history of the Ulster Senior Football Championship in that year's final at Croke Park.[31]
All-time top scorers: Ulster players
As of 3 June 2008, according to the BBC.[32] Updated list (2012)
Rank | Player | County | Tally | Total score | Championship years |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Paddy Bradley | Derry | 17–201 | 252 | 2000–2012 |
2 | Michael Murphy | Donegal | 4–223 | 239 | 2007-2022 |
3 | Oisín McConville | Armagh | 11–197 | 230 | 1997–2008 |
4 | Peter Canavan | Tyrone | 9–191 | 218 | 1989–2005 |
5 | Paddy Doherty | Down | 15–159 | 204 | 1954–1971 |
6 | Peter Donohoe | Cavan | 17–133 | 184 | 1945–1955 |
7 | Seán O'Neill | Down | 17–125 | 176 | 1959–1975 |
8 | Charlie Gallagher | Cavan | 10–142 | 172 | 1955–1969 |
9 | Steven McDonnell | Armagh | 15–111 | 156 | 2000–2011 |
10 | Seán O'Connell | Derry | 11–118 | 151 | 1957–1975 |
Notes:
- Includes Ulster SFC, All-Ireland SFC and SFC Qualifiers.
All-time top goalscorers: Ulster players
As of 15 June 2008, according to the Sunday Tribune.[33]
Rank | Player | County | Number of goals | Championship years |
---|---|---|---|---|
1= | Steven McDonnell | Armagh | 17 | 1999–2011 |
1= | Peter Donohoe | Cavan | 17 | 1945–1955 |
1= | Seán O'Neill | Down | 17 | 1959–1975 |
4 | Paddy Doherty | Down | 15 | 1954–1971 |
5= | Paddy Bradley ** | Derry | 13 | 2000–2012 |
5= | Ger Houlahan | Armagh | 13 | 1984–2000 |
5= | James McCartan Snr | Down | 13 | 1958–1967 |
5= | Brendan Coulter * | Down | 13 | 2000–2014 |
9= | Joe Stafford | Cavan | 12 | 1943–1949 |
9= | Enda Muldoon | Derry | 12 | 1997–2011 |
9= | Jason Reilly | Cavan | 12 | 1997–2008 |
12= | Seán O'Connell | Derry | 11 | 1957–1975 |
12= | PT Treacy | Fermanagh | 11 | 1960–1973 |
12= | Oisín McConville | Armagh | 11 | 1997–2008 |
Notes:
- Includes Ulster SFC, All-Ireland SFC and SFC Qualifiers.
- Since the records have been done, Brendan Coulter has become the top goal scorer with 18.
- Paddy Bradley scored 4 more goals and finished on 17.
Ulster SFC top scorers: by year
- 1948 Peter Donohoe (Cavan) 3–12
- 1949 Peter Donohoe (Cavan) 4–10
- 1950 Peter Donohoe (Cavan) 3–18
- 1951 Joe McCallin (Antrim) 3–14
- 1952 John Joe Cassidy (Cavan) 1-7
- 1953 Art O'Hagan (Armagh) 3-4
- 1954 Brian Gallagher (Cavan) 0–14
- 1955 Peter Donohoe (Cavan) 0–14
- 1956 Frankie Donnelly (Tyrone) & Victor Sherlock (Cavan) 2–7
- 1957 Frankie Donnelly (Tyrone) 1–14
- 1958 Paddy Doherty (Down) 3–14
- 1959 Paddy Doherty (Down) 1–17
- 1960 Con Smith (Cavan) 1–17
- 1961 Paddy Doherty (Down) 1–16
- 1962 Seamus McMahon (Cavan) & Frankie Donnelly (Tyrone) 0–11
- 1963 Harry Laverty (Donegal) 2–10
- 1964 Charlie Gallagher (Cavan) 0-*19
- 1965 Charlie Gallagher (Cavan) 2–29
- 1966 PT Treacy (Fermanagh) 4–13
- 1967 Charlie Gallagher (Cavan) 0-*19
- 1968 Paddy Doherty (Down) 1–17
- 1969 Sean Woods (Monaghan) & Gene Cusack (Cavan) 3–7
- 1970 Andy McCallin (Antrim) 3–15
- 1971 Sean O'Connell (Derry) 1–18
- 1972 Joe Winston (Donegal) 0–26
- 1973 Patsy Hetherington (Tyrone) 0–17
- 1974 Seamus Bonner (Donegal) 6–4
- 1975 Willie Walsh (Down) 3–8
- 1976 Steve Duggan (Cavan) 1–22
- 1977 Brendan Kelly (Derry) 2–10
- 1978 Donal Donohoe (Cavan) 0–12
- 1979 Kieran Finlay (Monaghan) 1–18
- 1980 Patsy Hetherington (Tyrone) & Patsy Kerlin (Tyrone) 4–3
- 1981 Eamonn McEneaney (Monaghan) & Brendan McGovern (Down) 1–17
- 1982 John Corvan (Armagh) & Peter McGinnity (Fermanagh) 1–9
- 1983 Derek McDonnell (Cavan) 4–11
- 1984 Frank McGuigan (Tyrone) 0–19
- 1985 Eamonn McEneaney (Monaghan) 3–16
- 1986 Brendan Mason (Down) 3–17
- 1987 Enda Gormley (Derry) 0–20
- 1988 Stephen Conway (Tyrone) 0–17
- 1989 Martin McHugh (Donegal) 2–16
- 1990 Manus Boyle (Donegal) 1–16
- 1991 Ross Carr (Down) 0–21
- 1992 Enda Gormley (Derry) 0–25
- 1993 John Toner (Armagh) 0–23
- 1994 Peter Canavan (Tyrone) 1–17
- 1995 Peter Canavan (Tyrone) 0–20
- 1996 Peter Canavan (Tyrone) 3–13
- 1997 Joe Brolly (Derry) 3–15
- 1998 Joe Brolly (Derry) & Tony Boyle (Donegal) 0–13
- 1999 Oisín McConville (Armagh) 3–18
- 2000 Rory Gallagher (Fermanagh) 1–19
- 2001 Rory Gallagher (Fermanagh) 0–16
- 2002 Rory Gallagher (Fermanagh) 4–12
- 2003 Peter Canavan (Tyrone) 1–38
- 2004 Colm McFadden (Donegal) & Oisín McConville (Armagh) 1–13
- 2005 Stephen O'Neill (Tyrone) 1–26
- 2006 Oisín McConville (Armagh) 3–25
- 2007 Tommy Freeman (Monaghan) 1-15[34]
- 2008 Steven McDonnell (Armagh) 1-17[35]
- 2009 Paddy Bradley (Derry) 3–12
- 2010 Martin Clarke (Down) 1-30
- 2011 Martin Clarke (Down) & Seán Cavanagh (Tyrone) 2-16
- 2012 Colm McFadden (Donegal) 2-15
- 2013 Colm McFadden (Donegal) 2-12
- 2014 Conor McManus (Monaghan) 1-14
- 2015 Conor McManus (Monaghan) 1-19
- 2016 Conor McManus (Monaghan) 1-20
- 2017 Conor McManus (Monaghan) 2-13
- 2018 Paddy McBrearty (Donegal) 0-19
- 2019 Rian O'Neill (Armagh) 0-18
- 2020 Gearóid McKiernan (Cavan) 0-11 & Rian O'Neill (Armagh) 0-11 & Donal O'Hare (Down) 1-8
- 2021 Darren McCurry (Tyrone) 0-22
- 2022 Shane McGuigan (Derry) 1-17
- 2023 Shane McGuigan (Derry) 2-21
- 2024 Paddy Lynch (Cavan) 1-14
* Scores only include Ulster SFC. All-Ireland SFC and SFC Qualifiers are not included.
Managers
Managers in the Ulster SFC are involved in the day-to-day running of the team, including the training, team selection, and sourcing of players from the club championships. Their influence varies from county-to-county and is related to the individual county boards. From 2018, all inter-county head coaches must be Award 2 qualified. The manager is assisted by a team of two or three selectors and an extensive backroom team consisting of various coaches. Prior to the development of the concept of a manager in the 1970s, teams were usually managed by a team of selectors with one member acting as chairman.
Winning managers (1983–present)
# | Manager(s) | Winning team(s) | Titles(s) | Winning years |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | Tyrone | 6 | 2003, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017 |
2 | ![]() | Donegal | 4 | 2011, 2012, 2014, 2024 |
![]() | Tyrone | 4 | 1984, 1995*, 1996*, 2001* | |
![]() | Armagh | 4 | 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 | |
5 | ![]() | Donegal | 3 | 1983, 1990, 1992 |
![]() | Tyrone | 3 | 1995*, 1996*, 2001* | |
7 | ![]() | Monaghan | 2 | 1985, 1989 |
![]() | Down | 2 | 1991, 1994 | |
![]() ![]() | Armagh | 2 | 1999, 2000 | |
![]() | Monaghan | 2 | 2013, 2015 | |
![]() | Donegal | 2 | 2018, 2019 | |
12 | ![]() | Tyrone | 1 | 1986 |
![]() | Derry | 1 | 1993 | |
![]() | Cavan | 1 | 1997 | |
![]() | Derry | 1 | 1998 | |
![]() | Armagh | 1 | 2008 | |
![]() | Cavan | 1 | 2020 | |
![]() | Tyrone | 1 | 2021 | |
![]() | Derry | 1 | 2022 | |
![]() | Derry | 1 | 2023 |
Notes
* = joint managers
Media coverage
In the late 1990s, matches were broadcast in Northern Ireland by UTV, before moving to BBC Northern Ireland.
Venues
Belfast | Derry | Clones, County Monaghan | Omagh, County Tyrone | Enniskillen, County Fermanagh |
---|---|---|---|---|
Casement Park | Celtic Park | St Tiernach's Park | Healy Park | Brewster Park |
Capacity: 31,661 | Capacity: 15,000 | Capacity: 29,000 | Capacity: 18,500 | Capacity: 16,000 |
![]() | ![]() |
Stadia and locations
County team | Location | Province | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Belfast | Ulster | Corrigan Park | 3,700 |
![]() | Armagh | Ulster | Athletic Grounds | 18,500 |
![]() | Cavan | Ulster | Breffni Park | 25,030 |
![]() | Derry | Ulster | Celtic Park | 18,500 |
![]() | Ballybofey | Ulster | MacCumhaill Park | 17,500 |
![]() | Newry | Ulster | Páirc Esler | 20,000 |
![]() | Enniskillen | Ulster | Brewster Park | 18,000 |
![]() | Clones | Ulster | St Tiernach's Park | 29,000 |
![]() | Omagh | Ulster | Healy Park | 17,636 |
See also
- Ulster Senior Football Championship records and statistics
- Ulster Senior Club Football Championship
- Ulster Senior Hurling Championship
- All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
Notes
References
- ^ "Ulster the hardest province to win - Harte". The Irish Times. 13 May 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
- ^ Scott, Ronan (28 November 2008). "Ulster 'best' says Sean Og". Gaelic Life. p. 5.
- ^ "Coldrick: I should have given Conor Maginn the black card". Independent.ie. 11 January 2015.
- ^ "Counties/Cavan". Ulster GAA. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
- ^ "Summer begins with the Ulster GAA Championships". 1 May 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
2013 marks the 125th Anniversary of the Ulster Football Championship and the Ulster Museum in Botanic Gardens was transformed into an exhibition of Ulster's finest memories over those 125 years.
- ^ Moran, Seán (26 May 2013). "Donegal hoping to avoid being fifth All-Ireland champions in 20 years to fall at first hurdle in Ulster: Uneasy lies the head that wears the northern crown". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ^ "Ulster open to Croke Park final again". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
- ^ "Athletic Grounds to host Ulster SFC final". Hogan Stand. 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
- ^ Lawlor, Damian (15 October 2020). "Casement rebuild can bring 'major' events to Ireland". rte.ie. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ According to Mark Sidebottom, who presented BBC's live coverage of the game, in the post-match discussion. 23 June 2019.
- ^ "'It probably surprises me as much as anybody else'". Hogan Stand. 12 July 2022.
- ^ "Healy handed Antrim football captaincy". Hogan Stand. 14 May 2021.
- ^ "McGinley departure a surprise to Antrim players, says captain Healy". Hogan Stand. 2 June 2022.
- ^ "Forker handed Armagh captaincy ahead of Louth visit". hoganstand.com. 26 January 2024.
- ^ O'Brien, Kevin (8 August 2022). "Down appoint Conor Laverty as manager". The42.ie.
- ^ "Vinny Corey ratified as new Monaghan manager". RTÉ. 22 September 2022.
- ^ "Vinny Corey: Former Farney defender succeeds Seamus McEnaney as Monaghan boss". BBC. 22 September 2022.
- ^ "Team news: Hampsey is new Red Hands captain". Hogan Stand. 14 May 2021.
- ^ "Pádraig Hampsey is new Tyrone captain – but no sign of Cathal McShane comeback just yet". Irish Independent. 14 May 2021.
- ^ "Relentless Monaghan turntables on Donegal". Irish Examiner. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- ^ "Ominous signs as Donegal make it three from four". Irish Examiner. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ^ "Cavan — Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Uladh". Ulster GAA. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ "Monaghan — Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Uladh". Ulster GAA. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ "Tyrone — Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Uladh". Ulster GAA. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ "Armagh — Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Uladh". Ulster GAA. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ "Down — Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Uladh". Ulster GAA. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ "Donegal — Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Uladh". Ulster GAA. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ "Antrim — Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Uladh". Ulster GAA. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ "Derry — Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Uladh". Ulster GAA. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ "Fermanagh — Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Uladh". Ulster GAA. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ "Donegal 0-09 1-09 Armagh". BBC Sport. BBC. 9 July 2006. Retrieved 9 July 2006.
- ^ "Ulster's hot-shots". BBC Online. 3 June 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
- ^ Shannon, Kieran; Leo McGeough (15 June 2008). "When Sunday Comes – Stevie from Killeavy: Ulster's top predator". Sunday Tribune.
- ^ "Ulster GAA". ulster.gaa.ie.
- ^ "Ulster GAA". ulster.gaa.ie.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- "Anglo Celt Cup winners". BBC. 2009.
- Do you remember the last Ulster SFC final before the back door arrived?