Ulster Senior Football Championship

Last updated

Ulster Senior Football Championship
Current season or competition:
Current event clock.svg 2025 Ulster Senior Football Championship
Code Gaelic football
Founded1888
Region Ulster (GAA)
TrophyAnglo-Celt Cup
No. of teams9
Title holders Colours of Donegal GAA.svg Donegal (12th title)
Most titles Laois colours.PNG Cavan (40 titles)
Sponsors SuperValu
Allianz
AIB

The Ulster Senior Football Championship is an inter-county 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. Since 2022 the final has been played in May. Until 2018, the year it moved to June, the final was usually traditionally played on the third Sunday in July.

Contents

All nine Ulster counties participate. It is regarded as the 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 after extra-time in the 2025 final.

History

Following the founding of the GAA in 1884, the first Ulster Senior Football Championship was played in 1888, when Red Hand of Monaghan played Mocha Finn's of Cavan at Bryanstown. Monaghan were the first ever Ulster Champions following a 0-3 to 0-2 win after a replay. [4]

Cavan are the most successful team in Ulster SFC history, having won the competition on 40 occasions. [5] 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. [6]

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. [7]

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. [8] The 2007 final—contested by Monaghan and Tyrone —marked a return to Clones, with Tyrone emerging victorious. [9] 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. [10] The final was last played in Belfast in 1971. [11]

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). [12]

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 roundTeams advancing from previous round
Preliminary round (2 teams)
  • Two teams drawn at random
Quarter-finals

(8 teams)

  • Seven teams drawn at random
  • Winner from the preliminary-round
Semi-finals

(4 teams)

  • 4 winners from the quarter-finals
Final

(2 teams)

  • 2 winners from the semi-finals

Teams

The province of Ulster is located in the north of Ireland. Ulster locator map.svg
The province of Ulster is located in the north of Ireland.

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 football championship with any participating teams from Northern Ireland.

2025 Championship

Nine counties competed in the 2025 Ulster Senior Football Championship:

County team LocationStadiumPosition in 2025 ChampionshipUlster SFC titlesLast Ulster SFC titleAll-Ireland SFC titlesLast All-Ireland SFC title
Colours of Antrim.svg Antrim Belfast Corrigan Park Quarter-finalist10 1951 0—
Colours of Armagh.svg Armagh Armagh Athletic Grounds Runner-up14 2008 2 2024
Colours of Cavan.svg Cavan Cavan Breffni Park Quarter-finalist40 2020 5 1952
Colours of Derry.svg Derry Derry Celtic Park Preliminary round exit9 2023 1 1993
Colours of Donegal GAA.svg Donegal Ballybofey MacCumhaill Park Winner12 2025 2 2012
Colours of Down.svg Down Newry Páirc Esler Semi-finalist12 1994 5 1994
Colours of Fermanagh.svg Fermanagh Enniskillen Brewster Park Quarter-finalist0—0—
Colours of Monaghan.svg Monaghan Clones St Tiernach's Park Quarter-finalist16 2015 0—
Colours of Tyrone.svg Tyrone Omagh Healy Park Semi-finalist16 2021 4 2021

Personnel and kits

County team Manager Captain(s) Sponsor(s)
Colours of Antrim.svg Antrim VacantFibrus
Colours of Armagh.svg Armagh Kieran McGeeney Aidan Forker [13] Simply Fruit
Colours of Cavan.svg Cavan Raymond Galligan Padraig Faulkner & Ciarán Brady Kingspan Group
Colours of Derry.svg Derry Mickey Harte Conor Glass Errigal Contracts
Colours of Donegal GAA.svg Donegal Jim McGuinness Paddy McBrearty Circet
Colours of Down.svg Down Conor Laverty [14] Pierce Laverty EOS IT Solutions
Colours of Fermanagh.svg Fermanagh Kieran Donnelly Eoin DonnellyTracey Concrete
Colours of Monaghan.svg Monaghan Gabriel Bannigan [15] [16] Micheál BanniganAll Boro Floor Services
Colours of Tyrone.svg Tyrone Malachy O'Rourke Brian Kennedy [17] [18] McAleer & Rushe Ltd

List of finals

YearDateWinnerRunner-upVenueWinning captainWinning margin
County teamScoreCounty teamScore
1887No championship
1888 19 August
9 September		 Monaghan 0-2, 0-3 (R) Cavan 0-2, 0-1 (R) Drogheda
Bryanstown 		2
1889No championship
1890 12 October Armagh 2-8 Tyrone 1-2 Lisburn 9
18911 November
6 December		 Cavan 0-7
1-11 (R)		 Armagh 0-1
0-0 (R)		 Bailieboro
Smithborough 		14
1892–1900No championship
190129 March 1903 Antrim 3-5 Armagh 2-53
1902 3 April 1904 Armagh 2-2 Antrim 1-4 Belfast 1
190323 April 1905
28 May 1905
11 June 1905		 Cavan 0-5, 0-5 (R1), 0-8 (R2) Armagh 0-5, 0-5 (R1), 0-4 (R2) Armagh
Cavan
Newbliss 		4
1904 Cavan 0-5
0-8 (R)		 Armagh 0-5
0-4 (R)		 Cavan
Newbliss 		4
1905 Cavan 0-7 Monaghan 0-34
190615 September 1907 Monaghan 2-10 Antrim 1-2 Clones 11
190713 September 1908 Cavan 1-8 Antrim 0-4 Clones 7
19081 November
13 December		 Antrim 1-8 Cavan 0-4 Castleblaney
Newbliss 		7
190928 November Antrim 1-9 Cavan 0-5 Clones 7
191018 June 1911 Antrim 3-4 Cavan 0-1 Athletic Grounds, Dundalk 12
1911 Antrim 2-8 Cavan 0-4 H Sheehan 10
191210 November Antrim 2-2 Armagh 0-1 Castleblaney John Coburn 7
191321 September Antrim 2-1 Monaghan 1-2 Newbliss 2
19149 August Monaghan 2-4 Fermanagh 0-2 Newbliss 10
191522 August
5 September		 Cavan 3-2, 0-4 (R) Monaghan 2-5, 0-3 (R) Clones
Belturbet 		1
191624 September Monaghan 2-3 Cavan 0-2 Clones 7
191728 October Monaghan 4-2 Armagh 0-4 Clones 14
191815 September Cavan 3-2 Antrim 0-0 Belturbet 11
191931 August Cavan 5-6 Antrim 0-2 Clones 19
19208 August Cavan 4-6 Armagh 1-4 Cootehill 11
192128 October 1923 Monaghan 2-2 Derry 1-1 Clones 4
1922 [note 1] 22 April 1923
20 May 1923		 Monaghan 2-3, 3-4 (R) Cavan 2-3, 3-3 (R) Clones
Belturbet 		1
19232 September Cavan 5-10 Monaghan 1-1 Cavan 18
192421 September
2 November		 Cavan 1-3, 2-3 (R) Monaghan 0-6, 1-3 (R) Belturbet
Ballybay 		3
19252 August
16 August		 Cavan 2-3, 3-6 (R) Antrim 3-0, 0-1 (R) Monaghan
Belturbet 		14
192622 August Cavan 5-3 Antrim 0-6 Breffni Park 9
192731 July Monaghan 3-5 Armagh 2-5 Athletic Grounds 3
192829 July Cavan 2-6 Armagh 1-4 Breffni Park Jim Smith 2
192928 July
11 August		 Monaghan 1-4, 1-10 (R) Cavan 1-4, 0-7 (R) Breffni Park
Carrickmacross 		6
193027 July Monaghan 4-3 Cavan 1-5 Carrickmacross Paddy Kilroy 4
19319 August Cavan 0-8 Armagh 2-1 Athletic Grounds, Dundalk [19] 4
193219 June Cavan 2-4 Armagh 0-2 Monaghan 8
19336 August Cavan 6-13 Tyrone 1-2 Breffni Park Jim Smith 14
193429 July Cavan 3-8 Armagh 0-2 St. Mary's Park 15
193528 July Cavan 2-6 Fermanagh 2-1 Belturbet Hughie O'Reilly 5
19369 August Cavan 1-7 Monaghan 0-7 St. Mary's Park 3
193725 July Cavan 0-13 Armagh 0-3 St. Mary's Park Tom O'Reilly 10
193831 July Monaghan 2-5 Armagh 2-2 Athletic Grounds 3
19396 August
15 August		 Cavan 2-3, 2-3 (R)* Armagh 1-3, 1-4 (R) St. Mary's Park
Croke Park 		3
194028 July Cavan 4-10 Down 1-5 Breffni Park 14
19413 August Cavan 3-9 Tyrone 0-5 Athletic Grounds 9
194219 July Cavan 5-11 Down 1-3 Athletic Grounds, Dundalk 20
194325 July Cavan 2-3 Monaghan 0-5 St Tiernach's Park Tom O'Reilly 4
194430 July Cavan 1-9 Monaghan 1-6 St Tiernach's Park 3
194529 July Cavan 4-10 Fermanagh 1-4 St Tiernach's Park Tom O'Reilly 18
194621 July Antrim 2-8 Cavan 1-7 St Tiernach's Park 4
194720 July Cavan 3-4 Antrim 1-6 St Tiernach's Park John Joe O’Reilly 4
194825 July Cavan 2-12 Antrim 2-4 St Tiernach's Park John Joe O’Reilly 8
194931 July Cavan 1-7 Armagh 1-6 St Tiernach's Park John Joe O’Reilly 1
195023 July Armagh 1-11 Cavan 1-7 St Tiernach's Park 4
195129 July Antrim 1-7 Cavan 2-3 St Tiernach's Park 1
195227 July Cavan 1-8 Monaghan 0-8 Breffni Park Mick Higgins 3
195326 July Armagh 1-6 Cavan 0-5 Casement Park Seán Quinn 4
195425 July Cavan 2-10 Armagh 2-5 St Tiernach's Park 5
195531 July Cavan 0-11 Derry 0-8 St Tiernach's Park 3
195629 July Tyrone 3-5 Cavan 0-4 St Tiernach's Park 10
195728 July Tyrone 1-9 Derry 0-10 St Tiernach's Park 2
195827 July Derry 1-11 Down 2-4 St Tiernach's Park Jim McKeever 4
19599 August Down 2-16 Cavan 0-7 St Tiernach's Park 15
196031 July Down 3-7 Cavan 1-8 St Tiernach's Park Kevin Mussen 5
196123 July Down 2-10 Armagh 1-10 Casement Park Paddy Doherty 3
196229 July Cavan 3-6 Down 0-5 Casement Park 10
196328 July Down 2-11 Donegal 1-4 Breffni Park 10
196419 July Cavan 2-10 Down 1-10 Casement Park 3
19651 August Down 3-5 Cavan 1-8 Casement Park 3
196624 July Down 1-7 Donegal 0-8 Casement Park 2
196723 July Cavan 2-12 Down 0-8 St Tiernach's Park 10
196828 July Down 0-16 Cavan 1-8 Casement Park Joe Lennon 5
196927 July Cavan 2-13 Down 2-6 Casement Park 7
197026 July Derry 2-13 Antrim 1-12 St Tiernach's Park 4
197125 July Down 4-15 Derry 4-11 Casement Park 4
197230 July Donegal 2-13 Tyrone 1-11 St Tiernach's Park 8
197329 July Tyrone 3-13 Down 1-11 St Tiernach's Park 8
197428 July
4 August		 Donegal 1-14, 3-9 (R) Down 2-11, 1-12 (R) St Tiernach's Park 3(R)
197527 July Derry 1-16 Down 2-6 St Tiernach's Park 7
197618 July
25 July		 Derry 1-8, 0-22 (R) Cavan 1-8, 1-16 (R) St Tiernach's Park 3(R)
197724 July Armagh 3-10 Derry 1-5 St Tiernach's Park Jimmy Smyth 11
197823 July Down 2-19 Cavan 2-12 St Tiernach's Park 7
197922 July Monaghan 1-15 Donegal 0-11 St Tiernach's Park 4
198020 July Armagh 4-10 Tyrone 4-7 St Tiernach's Park 3
198119 July Down 3-12 Armagh 1-10 St Tiernach's Park 8
198218 July Armagh 0-10 Fermanagh 1-4 St Tiernach's Park 3
198324 July Donegal 1-14 Cavan 1-11 St Tiernach's Park 3
198415 July Tyrone 0-15 Armagh 1-7 St Tiernach's Park 5
198521 July Monaghan 2-9 Derry 0-8 St Tiernach's Park 7
198620 July Tyrone 1-11 Down 0-10 St Tiernach's Park Eugene McKenna 4
198719 July Derry 0-11 Armagh 0-9 St Tiernach's Park 2
198817 July Monaghan 1-10 Tyrone 0-11 St Tiernach's Park 3
198916 July
23 July		 Tyrone 0-11, 2-13 (R) Donegal 0-11, 0-7 (R) St Tiernach's Park 12(R)
199015 July Donegal 0-15 Armagh 0-14 St Tiernach's Park Anthony Molloy 1
199128 July Down 1-15 Donegal 0-10 St Tiernach's Park Paddy O'Rourke 8
199219 July Donegal 0-14 Derry 1-9 St Tiernach's Park Anthony Molloy 2
199318 July Derry 0-8 Donegal 0-6 St Tiernach's Park Henry Downey 2
199417 July Down 1-17 Tyrone 1-11 St Tiernach's Park D. J. Kane 6
199523 July Tyrone 2-13 Cavan 0-10 St Tiernach's Park Ciarán Corr 9
199628 July Tyrone 1-9 Down 0-9 St Tiernach's Park 3
199720 July Cavan 1-14 Derry 0-16 St Tiernach's Park 1
199819 July Derry 1-7 Donegal 0-8 St Tiernach's Park 2
1999 1 August Armagh 3-12 Down 0-10 St Tiernach's Park Jarlath Burns 11
200016 July Armagh 1-12 Derry 1-11 St Tiernach's Park Kieran McGeeney 1
20018 July Tyrone 1-13 Cavan 1-11 St Tiernach's Park Sean Teague 2
2002& July Armagh 1-14 Donegal 1-10 St Tiernach's Park Kieran McGeeney 4
200313 July
20 July		 Tyrone 1-17, 0-23 (R) Down 4-8, 1-5 (R) St Tiernach's Park Peter Canavan 15 (R)
200411 July Armagh 3-15 Donegal 0-11 Croke Park Kieran McGeeney 13
200510 July
23 July		 Armagh 2-8, 0-13 (R) Tyrone 0-14, 0-11 (R) Croke Park Kieran McGeeney 2 (R)
20069 July Armagh 1-9 Donegal 0-9 Croke Park 3
200715 July Tyrone 1-15 Monaghan 1-13 St Tiernach's Park 2
2008 20 July
27 July		 Armagh 2-8, 1-11 (R) Fermanagh 1-11, 0-8 (R) St Tiernach's Park 6 (R)
2009 19 July Tyrone 1-18 Antrim 0-15 St Tiernach's Park 6
2010 18 July Tyrone 1-14 Monaghan 0-7 St Tiernach's Park 10
2011 17 July Donegal 1-11 Derry 0-8 St Tiernach's Park Michael Murphy 6
2012 22 July Donegal 2-18 Down 0-13 St Tiernach's Park Michael Murphy 11
2013 [20] 21 July Monaghan 0-13 Donegal 0-7 St Tiernach's Park 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
2025 10 May Donegal 2-23 ( a.e.t. ) Armagh 0-28 ( a.e.t. ) St Tiernach's Park Patrick McBrearty 1
Notes

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 teamTitle(s)Runner-upYears wonYears runner-up
Colours of Cavan.svg Cavan [22] 40231891, 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, 20201888, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1916, 1922, 1929, 1930, 1946, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1959, 1960, 1965, 1968, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1995, 2001, 2019
Colours of Monaghan.svg Monaghan [23] 16121888, 1906, 1914, 1916, 1917, 1921, 1922, [note 3] 1927, 1929, 1930, 1938, 1979, 1985, 1988, 2013, 20151905, 1913, 1923, 1924, 1936, 1943, 1944, 1952, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2021
Colours of Tyrone.svg Tyrone [24] 1671956, 1957, 1973, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2003 , 2007, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2021 1890, 1941, 1972, 1980, 1988, 1994, 2005
Colours of Armagh.svg Armagh [25] 14231890, 1902, 1950, 1953, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1999, 2000, 2002 , 2004, 2005, 2006, 20081891, 1901–02, 1904, 1912, 1917, 1920, 1927, 1928, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1938, 1939, 1949, 1954, 1961, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1990, 2023, 2024 , 2025
Colours of Down.svg Down [26] 12151959, 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
Colours of Donegal GAA.svg Donegal [27] 12141972, 1974, 1983, 1990, 1992 , 2011, 2012 , 2014, 2018, 2019, 2024, 20251963, 1966, 1979, 1991, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2022
Colours of Antrim.svg Antrim [28] 1091900, 1901, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1946, 19511903, 1906, 1918, 1919, 1925, 1926, 1947, 1948, 2009
Colours of Derry.svg Derry [29] 9101958, 1970, 1975, 1976, 1987, 1993 , 1998, 2022, 20231921, 1955, 1957, 1971, 1977, 1985, 1992, 1997, 2000, 2011
Colours of Fermanagh.svg Fermanagh [30] 061914, 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)

Boldindicates years team reached the final.

TeamNo.Years in semi-finals
Colours of Donegal GAA.svg Donegal 92016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025
Colours of Tyrone.svg Tyrone 62016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2024, 2025
Colours of Armagh.svg Armagh 62019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Colours of Monaghan.svg Monaghan 62016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023
Colours of Down.svg Down 62017, 2018, 2020, 2023, 2024, 2025
Colours of Cavan.svg Cavan 42016, 2019, 2020, 2022
Colours of Derry.svg Derry 2 2022, 2023
Colours of Fermanagh.svg Fermanagh 12018
Colours of Antrim.svg Antrim 0—

Post-COVID team results

Legend

For each year, the number of competing teams is shown (in brackets).

Team 2023 (9) 2024 (9) 2025 (9)Years
Colours of Antrim.svg Antrim PRQFQF3
Colours of Armagh.svg Armagh 2nd2nd2nd3
Colours of Cavan.svg Cavan QFQFQF3
Colours of Derry.svg Derry 1stQFPR3
Colours of Donegal GAA.svg Donegal QF1st1st3
Colours of Down.svg Down SFSFSF3
Colours of Fermanagh.svg Fermanagh QFQFQF3
Colours of Monaghan.svg Monaghan SFPRQF3
Colours of Tyrone.svg Tyrone QFSFSF3

Consecutive titles

Septuple

  • Colours of Cavan.svg Cavan (1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937)
  • Colours of Cavan.svg Cavan (1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945)

Sextuple

  • Colours of Antrim.svg Antrim (1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913)

Quintuple

  • Colours of Cavan.svg Cavan (1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926)

Treble

  • Colours of Cavan.svg Cavan (1903, 1904, 1905)
  • Colours of Cavan.svg Cavan (1918, 1919, 1920)
  • Colours of Cavan.svg Cavan (1947, 1948, 1949)
  • Colours of Down.svg Down (1959, 1960, 1961)
  • Colours of Armagh.svg Armagh (2004, 2005, 2006)

Double

Titles by decade

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

Team debuts

YearDebutantsTotal
1888 Colours of Cavan.svg Cavan, Colours of Monaghan.svg Monaghan 2
1889None0
1890 Colours of Antrim.svg Antrim, Colours of Armagh.svg Armagh, Colours of Tyrone.svg Tyrone 3
1891–1902None0
1903 Colours of Fermanagh.svg Fermanagh 1
1904 Colours of Derry.svg Derry, Colours of Down.svg Down 2
1905None0
1906 Colours of Donegal GAA.svg Donegal 1
1907–None0
Total9

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:

  • Colours of Fermanagh.svg 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:

Active gaps

  • Longest active gaps since an Ulster SFC title:
  • Longest active gap since an Ulster SFC final appearance:

Player records

All-time top scorers: Ulster players

As of 3 June 2008, according to the BBC. [32] Updated list (2012)

RankPlayerCountyTallyTotal scoreChampionship years
1 Paddy Bradley Derry 17–2012522000–2012
2 Michael Murphy Donegal 4–2232392007-2022
3 Oisín McConville Armagh 11–1972301997–2008
4 Peter Canavan Tyrone 9–1912181989–2005
5 Paddy Doherty Down 15–1592041954–1971
6 Peter Donohoe Cavan 17–1331841945–1955
7 Seán O'Neill Down 17–1251761959–1975
8 Charlie Gallagher Cavan 10–1421721955–1969
9 Steven McDonnell Armagh 15–1111562000–2011
10 Seán O'Connell Derry 11–1181511957–1975

Notes:

All-time top goalscorers: Ulster players

As of 15 June 2008, according to the Sunday Tribune . [33]

RankPlayerCountyNumber of goalsChampionship years
1= Steven McDonnell Armagh 171999–2011
1= Peter Donohoe Cavan 171945–1955
1= Seán O'Neill Down 171959–1975
4 Paddy Doherty Down 151954–1971
5= Paddy Bradley ** Derry 132000–2012
5= Ger Houlahan Armagh 131984–2000
5= James McCartan Snr Down 131958–1967
5= Brendan Coulter * Down 132000–2014
9= Joe Stafford Cavan 121943–1949
9= Enda Muldoon Derry 121997–2011
9=Jason Reilly Cavan 121997–2008
12= Seán O'Connell Derry 111957–1975
12=PT Treacy Fermanagh 111960–1973
12= Oisín McConville Armagh 111997–2008

Notes:

Ulster SFC top scorers: by year

* 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 Colours of Tyrone.svg Mickey Harte Tyrone 62003, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017
2 Colours of Donegal GAA.svg Brian McEniff Donegal 51972, 1974, 1983, 1990, 1992
Colours of Donegal GAA.svg Jim McGuinness Donegal 5 2011, 2012, 2014, 2024, 2025
4 Colours of Tyrone.svg Art McRory Tyrone 41984, 1995*, 1996*, 2001*
Colours of Armagh.svg Joe Kernan Armagh 42002, 2004, 2005, 2006
6 Colours of Tyrone.svg Eugene McKenna Tyrone 31995*, 1996*, 2001*
7 Colours of Monaghan.svg Seán McCague Monaghan 21985, 1988
Colours of Down.svg Pete McGrath Down 21991, 1994
Colours of Armagh.svg Brian McAlinden
Colours of Armagh.svg Brian Canavan 		Armagh 21999, 2000
Colours of Fermanagh.svg Malachy O'Rourke Monaghan 2 2013, 2015
Colours of Donegal GAA.svg Declan Bonner Donegal 2 2018, 2019
12 Colours of Tyrone.svg John Donnelly Tyrone 11986
Colours of Derry.svg Eamonn Coleman Derry 11993
Colours of Donegal GAA.svg Martin McHugh Cavan 11997
Colours of Dublin.svg Brian Mullins Derry 11998
Colours of Armagh.svg Peter McDonnell Armagh 1 2008
Colours of Laois.svg Mickey Graham Cavan 1 2020
Colours of Tyrone.svg Feargal Logan, Brian Dooher Tyrone 1 2021
Colours of Derry.svg Rory Gallagher Derry 1 2022
Colours of Derry.svg Ciaran Meenagh Derry 1 2023

Notes

* = joint managers

Media coverage

Television

Matches are currently broadcast on RTÉ and by the BBC either on BBC 2 Northern Ireland or through the BBC iPlayer [36] Selected games are also broadcast on the GAA's own GAA+ streaming platform. [37]

Highlights packages are broadcast on RTÉ as part of The Sunday Game .

Radio

Radio coverage is provided by RTÉ Radio 1 on Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport. [38]

Extensive coverage is offered in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland by daily and Sunday newspapers including The Irish News , the Irish Independent , the Irish Examiner and specialist GAA publications such as Gaelic Life .

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: 31,661Capacity: 18,000Capacity: 29,000Capacity: 18,500Capacity: 16,000
Roger Casement Park - geograph.org.uk - 443980.jpg Celtic Park, Derry, August 2009.JPG St. Tiernach's Park.JPG Healy Park, Omagh.jpg

Stadia and locations

County team LocationProvinceStadiumCapacity
Colours of Antrim.svg Antrim Belfast Ulster Corrigan Park 3,700
Colours of Armagh.svg Armagh Armagh Ulster Athletic Grounds 18,500
Colours of Cavan.svg Cavan Cavan Ulster Breffni Park 25,030
Colours of Derry.svg Derry Derry Ulster Celtic Park 18,500
Colours of Donegal GAA.svg Donegal Ballybofey Ulster MacCumhaill Park 17,500
Colours of Down.svg Down Newry Ulster Páirc Esler 20,000
Colours of Fermanagh.svg Fermanagh Enniskillen Ulster Brewster Park 18,000
Colours of Monaghan.svg Monaghan Clones Ulster St Tiernach's Park 29,000
Colours of Tyrone.svg Tyrone Omagh Ulster Healy Park 17,636

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Ulster GAA gives the 1922 title to both Cavan and Monaghan.
  2. ↑ Ulster GAA gives the 1922 title to both Cavan and Monaghan. If removed from Cavan it would leave the county with 39 titles. But 2020 is given as the county's 40th win.
  3. ↑ Ulster GAA gives the 1922 title to both Cavan and Monaghan.

References

  1. ↑ "Ulster the hardest province to win - Harte". The Irish Times. 13 May 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  2. ↑ Scott, Ronan (28 November 2008). "Ulster 'best' says Sean Og". Gaelic Life. p. 5.
  3. ↑ "Coldrick: I should have given Conor Maginn the black card". Independent.ie. 11 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "Gaelic Items". Drogheda Argus and Leinster Journal. 8 September 1888. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  5. ↑ "Counties/Cavan". Ulster GAA . Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  6. ↑ "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.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ "Ulster open to Croke Park final again". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  9. ↑ Keys, Colm (16 July 2007). "Tyrone fail to fly but stoop to conquer". Irish Independent. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  10. ↑ "Athletic Grounds to host Ulster SFC final". Hogan Stand. 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  11. ↑ Lawlor, Damian (15 October 2020). "Casement rebuild can bring 'major' events to Ireland". rte.ie. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  12. ↑ According to Mark Sidebottom, who presented BBC's live coverage of the game, in the post-match discussion. 23 June 2019.
  13. ↑ "Forker handed Armagh captaincy ahead of Louth visit". hoganstand.com. 26 January 2024.
  14. ↑ O'Brien, Kevin (8 August 2022). "Down appoint Conor Laverty as manager". The42.ie.
  15. ↑ "Gabriel Bannigan confirmed as new Monaghan manager". RTÉ. 19 September 2024.
  16. ↑ "Bannigan succeeds Corey as Monaghan manager". BBC. 19 September 2024.
  17. ↑ "'There's definitely a feeling of envy': Captain Kennedy hoping to lead Tyrone back to top table". Irish News. 20 March 2025.
  18. ↑ "Kennedy ready to rumble with the Dubs". Gaelic Life . 27 June 2025.
  19. ↑ Frontier Sentinel - Saturday 01 August 1931
  20. ↑ "Relentless Monaghan turntables on Donegal". Irish Examiner . 22 July 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  21. ↑ "Ominous signs as Donegal make it three from four". Irish Examiner . 21 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  22. ↑ "Cavan — Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Uladh". Ulster GAA . Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  23. ↑ "Monaghan — Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Uladh". Ulster GAA . Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  24. ↑ "Tyrone — Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Uladh". Ulster GAA . Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  25. ↑ "Armagh — Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Uladh". Ulster GAA . Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  26. ↑ "Down — Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Uladh". Ulster GAA . Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  27. ↑ "Donegal — Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Uladh". Ulster GAA . Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  28. ↑ "Antrim — Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Uladh". Ulster GAA . Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  29. ↑ "Derry — Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Uladh". Ulster GAA . Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  30. ↑ "Fermanagh — Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Uladh". Ulster GAA . Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  31. ↑ "Donegal 0-09 1-09 Armagh". BBC Sport. BBC. 9 July 2006. Retrieved 9 July 2006.
  32. ↑ "Ulster's hot-shots". BBC Online. 3 June 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  33. ↑ Shannon, Kieran; Leo McGeough (15 June 2008). "When Sunday Comes – Stevie from Killeavy: Ulster's top predator". Sunday Tribune .
  34. ↑ "Ulster GAA". ulster.gaa.ie.
  35. ↑ "Ulster GAA". ulster.gaa.ie.
  36. ↑ Grimley, Liam (7 May 2025). "Why the Ulster Championship final is being held on Saturday this year". The Irish News. Retrieved 25 May 2025. To facilitate TG4, RTÉ and the BBC, who are the three broadcasters covering the two Ulster games, the ladies final will begin at 3pm, with the men's final starting at 5.25pm.
  37. ↑ "Spectator information ahead of Ulster Championship Semi Final weekend". Ulster GAA. 25 April 2025. Retrieved 25 May 2025. Armagh V Tyrone – St Tiernach's Park, Clones – 4.45pm, Saturday 26th April (Live on GAA+ only)
  38. ↑ "Football championship weekend: All you need to know". RTÉ. 25 April 2025. Retrieved 25 May 2025. Live commentary and updates on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.