Ulster Senior League (men's hockey)

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The Ulster Senior League is a league competition for the first teams of men's hockey clubs affiliated to the Ulster Hockey Union of Hockey Ireland.

Contents

Formation

At a Special General Meeting of the Union held on 15 October 1897 in the Royal Avenue Hotel, Belfast, the clubs present resolved to form the Ulster Senior League. [1] Eight teams participated in the first season: Antrim, Ards, Cliftonville, King's (Liverpool) Regiment, Lisburn, North Down, North Staffordshire Regiment and Ulster [2]

Current composition of the Senior League

In 2024–25, there are 10 clubs in the Ulster Senior League season. [3]

Premier League
Belfast Harlequins
Bangor
Cookstown
Kilkeel
Kilkeel
North Down
PSNI
Portadown
Queen's University
South Antrim

Early format

From its formation until 1953 entry to the Ulster Senior League could only be obtained by application to the Ulster Hockey Union. The applicant club would then have to be successful in a vote amongst the Senior Clubs. The size of the Senior League varied between seven competing clubs in the 1900s to as many as eighteen in the late 1920s. With eighteen teams it was necessary to play the league in two pools with the winners of the pools playing a Test Match to decide that year's league champions.

1953 reorganisation

In 1953 the eight team Senior League amalgamated with the eight team Qualifying League. There was no realignment of teams at this time, the only difference was the renaming of the two leagues as Senior League Section A (the old Senior League) and Senior League Section B (the old Qualifying League). Teams did not change Sections during this period and no teams were promoted or relegated to or from the Senior League.

At the end of each league season the winner of Section A played the winner of Section B in a Test Match to decide the winner of the Keightley Cup. The loser of the Test Match was awarded the Ireland's Saturday Night Cup. During this period the trophy was always won by the Section A winner.

Senior League 1953–54 to 1956–57
Section ASection B
Antrim Albert Foundry
Banbridge Down
Belfast YMCA East Antrim
Cliftonville Holywood
Lisnagarvey Mossley
North Down Newry Olympic
Portrush Parkview
Queen's University South Antrim

1958 reorganisation

Prior to the start of the 1957–58 season, the Council of the Ulster Branch made a controversial decision. Portrush, who had finished bottom of Section A in 1956–57 were demoted to Section B. Parkview, the winners of Section B in 1956–57, were moved to Section A. This signalled the intention of the League to move to Promotion and Relegation. A report was commissioned by the Council of the Ulster Branch to establish new league structures.

The report and debate lead to the league reorganising to allow for promotion and relegation prior to the start of the 1958–59 season. There were eight teams in each league section. A Qualifying League in two sections provided two lower rungs for the league, with a further Intermediate section below that. The formation of the sections again proved controversial, as some clubs were not placed in the section that their previous seasons standing would merit. In particular, it was reported that Saintfield (Intermediate A) had finished above four clubs in 1957–58 that were placed in Qualifying B.

Ulster Leagues after re-alignment in 1958–59
Senior LeagueQualifying AQualifying BIntermediate A
Antrim Albert FoundryBallymena Cookstown
Banbridge Down Bangor Courtalds
Belfast YMCA East Antrim King's ScholarsDunmurry
Cliftonville HolywoodLisburn OBHollerith
Lisnagarvey Mossley NICS Lisnafillin
Parkview Newry Olympic Old BleachMontalto
Portrush North Down RUC Portadown
Queen's University South Antrim Shorts & Harland Saintfield

1969 reorganisation

At the end of the 1968–69 season the Senior League expanded from eight to ten teams and was renamed as Senior League Section 1. The remaining six Qualifying League 'A' were joined by the top four teams from Qualifying 'B' to form a ten team league known as Senior League Section 2. All remaining club first teams were entered in the Intermediate League. In season 1975–76 Section 2 was increased to 12 teams.

Membership of the two Senior League Sections at the start of the 1969–70 season was as follows

Senior League prior to 1969–70
Section 1Section 2
Antrim Bangor
Banbridge Cookstown
Belfast YMCA Crossgar
Cliftonville East Antrim
Friends School OB Newry
Instonians North Down
Lisnagarvey N.I.C.S.
Mossley Parkview
Portrush R.U.C.
Queen's University Saintfield

2001 reorganisation

In 2001 Section 1 was reduced to eight teams, and was renamed as the Premier League. Section 2 remained with twelve teams and was renamed as Senior 1. The Intermediate League was renamed as Senior 2, with all remaining teams placed in this section.

The top three teams in the Premier League at the end of the season qualify for the All-Ireland Club Championship.

2015 reorganisation

The top four teams departed for the new Irish Hockey League (IHL) and the league reduced from three divisions to two. The League champions now qualify for the Provincial play-offs where they compete for promotion to the IHL.

2017 reorganisation

Four teams dropped into junior hockey and the two divisions were amalgamated into a single Premier League of fourteen teams. [4]

2018 reorganisation

The Intermediate League was revived.

Trophies

League winners and relegated clubs

2018–19 on

YearRelegated from Irish Hockey LeaguePremier League winnerPromoted to Irish Hockey League 1Premier League relegatedIntermediate League promoted
2024–25 ? Cookstown [6] Cookstown [7] PSNI Mossley
2023–24 Instonians Cookstown [8] [9] n/a NICS
Raphoe
PSNI
2022–23 Cookstown Queen's University [10] n/a Mossley
Newry
Raphoe
2021–22n/a Instonians [11] Cookstown
Instonians [12]
Raphoe Bangor
2019–20n/a2 Cookstown [13] 2n/a2 Bangor
Ballynahinch 2
Belfast Harlequins
NICS 2
2018–19 Cookstown Instonians [14] n/a Antrim
Belfast Harlequins
NICS
Ballynahinch

Key:

2017–18

YearRelegated from Irish Hockey LeaguePremier League winnerAlso promoted from Premier LeaguePremier League relegated
2017–18n/a Kilkeel n/a Cliftonville 1

Key:

2015–16 to 2016–17

YearRelegated from Irish Hockey LeaguePremier League winnerAlso promoted from Premier LeaguePremier League relegatedSenior One winner
2016–17 Instonians [16] Cookstown [17] 1 Annadale 2 Campbellians 3 South Antrim 4
2015–16 Annadale & Cookstown Instonians [18] 5n/a South Antrim Campbellians [19]

Key:

2010–11 to 2014–15

YearPremier League WinnerPremier League RelegatedSenior One WinnerSenior One RelegatedSenior Two Winner
2014–15 Banbridge [20] 1 Antrim unknown2PSNI(?) Cliftonville 3
2013–14 Lisnagarvey [21] Raphoe Newry Cliftonville Portrush
2012–13 Banbridge [22] Mossley RaphoeArmagh
Ballynahinch
PSNI4
2011–12 Cookstown North Down Antrim Cliftonville Ballynahinch
2010–11 Lisnagarvey Bangor Belfast Harlequins Ballynahinch Campbellians
2009–10 Cookstown [23] Raphoe N.I.C.S. Down Ballynahinch
2008–09 Cookstown [24] Raphoe5 Kilkeel 6Ballynahinch Down
2007–08 Cookstown [25] KilkeelRaphoeDown Armagh
2006–07 Annadale N.I.C.S. Mossley PSNI Down
2005–06Annadale North Down KilkeelArmagh South Antrim
2004–05AnnadaleRaphoeNorth DownSouth AntrimArmagh
2003–04AnnadaleKilkeelRaphoeArmagh Ballynahinch
2002–03AnnadaleMossley Bangor Parkview Portadown
2001–02 Lisnagarvey Newry KilkeelPortadownParkview

Key:

2000–01 to 1969–70

YearSection 1 WinnerSection 1 RelegatedSection 2 WinnerSection 2 RelegatedIntermediate Winner
2000–01 Lisnagarvey North Down & Raphoe Bangor 1 Larne, Parkview & Portrush Armagh
1999-2000Lisnagarvey Cliftonville N.I.C.S. Down R.U.C.
1998–99LisnagarveyBangorNorth DownR.U.C.Portrush
1997–98 Instonians Holywood '87Bangor Ballynahinch Larne & South Antrim 2
1996–97LisnagarveyCliftonville3Bangor3R.U.C.3Larne3
1995–96Instonians [26] BangorCliftonvillePortrushNorth Down
1994–95Lisnagarvey [27] CliftonvilleBangor East Antrim R.U.C.
1993–94Lisnagarvey [28] BangorRaphoeSouth AntrimParkview
1992–93Holywood '87 Queen's University BangorR.U.C.Portrush
1991–92LisnagarveyBangorCliftonvilleWanderersPortadown
1990–91LisnagarveyR.U.C.BangorNorth DownBallynahinch
1989–90LisnagarveyBangor Newry Friends School Old BoysNorth Down
1988–89 Banbridge Collegians Queen's UniversityNorth DownWanderers
1987–88Banbridge Antrim CollegiansPortrushN.I.C.S.
1986–87BanbridgeRaphoeR.U.C.Corinthians Kilkeel
1985–86BanbridgeR.U.C.RaphoeN.I.C.S.Collegians
1984–85Belfast Y.M.C.A.CliftonvilleAnnadaleCollegiansDown
1983–84Belfast Y.M.C.A.AnnadaleR.U.C.ParkviewCollegians
1982–83 Cookstown Queen's UniversityAnnadalePortadownEast Antrim
1981–82Belfast Y.M.C.A. Portadown BangorDown & East AntrimNewry & Parkview
1980–81Lisnagarvey [29] AnnadalePortadownNewry & ParkviewCorinthians & Down
1979–80Belfast Y.M.C.A.RaphoeQueen's UniversityCollegians & DownNorth Down & Parkview
1978–79Belfast Y.M.C.A.4 [30] BangorRaphoeNorth Down & ParkviewDown & South Antrim
1977–78Lisnagarvey Mossley 5N.I.C.S.5 Crossgar & StranmillisCollegians & Newry
1976–77LisnagarveyPortrushBangorCollegians & NewryRaphoe & Stranmillis
1975–76Cliftonville [31] Friends School Old BoysAnnadaleStranmillisPortadown
1974–75Instonians [32] ParkviewCookstownNo relegationN.I.C.S. & Newry
1973–74CliftonvilleQueen's UniversityBelfast Y.M.C.A.NewryEast Antrim
1972–73CliftonvilleCollegiansBanbridgeEast AntrimNewry
1971–72LisnagarveyBanbridgeCollegiansNewryStranmillis
1970–71Belfast Y.M.C.A.ParkviewN.I.C.S.Annadale
1969–70LisnagarveyBanbridge & Mossley6Parkview6SaintfieldCollegians

Key:

1968–69 to 1957–58

YearSenior WinnerSenior RelegatedQual. 'A' WinnerQual. 'A' RelegatedQual. 'B' WinnerQual. 'B' RelegatedInter. 'A' Winner
1968–69 Cliftonville F.S.O.B.North DownCollegians
1967–68CliftonvilleR.U.C. Mossley East Antrim1CookstownShort & Harland
1966–67Cliftonville Banbridge R.U.C.PortadownEast AntrimBallymenaCookstown
1965–66 Lisnagarvey Mossley Instonians Lissara2F.S.O.B.HolywoodEast Antrim
1964–65Lisnagarvey3ParkviewMossleyNorth DownLissaraAlbert FoundryLisburn OB4
1963–64Y.M.C.A.BangorParkviewMontalto5PortadownNone5Lissara
1962–63Lisnagarvey [33] Parkview Portrush HolywoodInstoniansSouth AntrimKing's Scholars
1961–62BanbridgePortrushBangorDownOld BleachEast AntrimInstonians
1960–61Lisnagarvey [34] MossleyParkviewAlbert FoundryBangorShort & HarlandPortadown
1959–60Lisnagarvey [35] ParkviewCliftonvilleSouth AntrimMontaltoKing's ScholarsSaintfield
1958–59CliftonvilleMossleyEast AntrimRUCLisburn OBMontalto
1957–58North DownPortrush

KEY

1956–57 to formation

Sources

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  2. Ireland's Saturday Night 4 December 1897
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  27. Belfast Newsletter. 6 March 1995. p. 22.{{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  28. Belfast Newsletter. 10 March 1994. p. 34.{{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
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  42. Belfast Newsletter. 9 April 1935. p. 2.{{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
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  45. Belfast Newsletter. 18 April 1932. p. 10.{{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  46. Northern Whig & Belfast Post. 8 April 1931. p. 3.{{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
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Information gathered from Belfast Newsletter and Ireland Saturday Night