Wikipedia

Ulster Minor Club Football Championship

The Ulster Minor Club Football Championship (Irish: Comórtas Pheil Mhionúr Chumann Uladh), often referred to as the St. Paul's Tournament,[2] an annual Gaelic football tournament organised and hosted by the St Paul's club in Belfast. It is played between the Minor championship winners from each of the nine counties of Ulster. The competition has a straight knock-out format. It was first held in 1982 and the winners are awarded the Jimmy McConville Cup.[3]

Ulster Minor Club Football Championship
IrishComórtas Pheil Mhionúr Chumann Uladh[1]
CodeGaelic football
Founded1982; 42 years ago (1982)
RegionUlster, Ireland (GAA)
TrophyJim McConville Cup
Title holdersFour Masters (1st title)
Most titlesBallinderry & Glen (4 titles)
SponsorsFonaCAB Belfast

While unofficial, it is regarded as the Ulster Club Championship for club minor teams.[2] The competition begins in late November or early December with the final taking place in January, typically on New Year's Day (e.g. the 2017 final took place on 1 January 2018).

Derry clubs have won the competition eighteen times, more than any other county. Ballinderry and Glen are the most successful clubs, having both won the competition four times, with Glen's four titles being won consecutively. The current champions are Four Masters from Donegal.

List of finals edit

List of Ulster Minor Club Football Championship finals
Year Winners Score Runners-up Winning captain Man of the match Ref
Club County Club County
1982   St Paul's Antrim 2–9 – 2–4   Scotstown Monaghan Fergus Donnelly
1983   Saul Down 1–15 – 0–9   Lisnaskea Emmetts Fermanagh Eddie Harney
1984   Killybegs Donegal 4–9 – 3–5   St Paul's Antrim
1985   Killybegs Donegal 2–5 – 0–8   Patrick Sarsfields Antrim
1986   St Paul's Antrim 5–9 – 0–8   Enniskillen Gaels Fermanagh Gerard Kelly
1987   Killeavy Armagh 2–9 – 0–6   Enniskillen Gaels Fermanagh Shane O'Neill
1988   Enniskillen Gaels Fermanagh 1–9 – 1–9 (aet)   Maghery Armagh Simon Bradley
2–6 – 1–5 (R)
1989   Dungannon Tyrone 1–08 – 1–07   St Paul's Antrim
1990   Dungiven Derry 1–10 – 1–09   Aodh Ruadh Donegal
1991   Bellaghy Derry 2–06 – 1–07   Cavan Gaels Cavan Karl Diamond
1992   Aodh Ruadh Donegal 4–08 – 1–06   Clan na Gael Armagh
1993   Loup Derry 1–11 – 1–06   St Eunan's Donegal
1994   Bellaghy Derry 7–05 – 2–05   Dungannon Tyrone
1995   Loup Derry   Clontibret O'Neills Monaghan Johnny McBride
1996   Ballinderry Derry 0–14 – 0–07   Killeavy Armagh Gerard Cassidy
1997   Ballinderry Derry 2–07 – 1–04   Eglish Tyrone [4]
1998   Slaughtneil Derry 1–09 – 1–08   Ardboe Tyrone Niall Convery Kevin O'Neill [5]
1999   Cavan Gaels Cavan 3–09 – 2–07   Slaughtneil Derry Dominic Reilly Richard Graham
2000   Pearse Óg Armagh 1–12 – 0–14   Cavan Gaels Cavan
2001   Ballinderry Derry 3–07 – 1–09   Clontibret O'Neills Monaghan Thomas Maynes Thomas Maynes [6]
2002   Clontibret O'Neills Monaghan 2–14 – 0–4   Armagh Harps Armagh Jonathan McGuigan Paul McGuigan [7]
2003   Armagh Harps Armagh 1–11 – 0–7   Carrickmacross Emmets Monaghan
2004   Rostrevor Down 2–7 – 1–8   Kilrea Derry
2005   Errigal Ciarán Tyrone 1–13 – 1–11   Killybegs Donegal Barry Canavan Ronan McRory [8]
2006   Coalisland Tyrone 1–14 – 2–10   Cavan Gaels Cavan Brian Toner
Stephen McNally 		Brian Toner
2007   Kilrea Derry 2–9 – 0–9   Errigal Ciarán Tyrone James Kielt [9]
2008   Ballinderry Derry 2–8 – 2–7   Scotstown Monaghan Gavin McGeehan Ryan Scullion [10]
2009   Omagh St Enda's Tyrone 0–12 – 0–11   Kilcoo Down Barry Tierney Conan Grugan [11]
2010   Lámh Dhearg Antrim 0–9 – 0–8   Magherafelt Derry Declan Stranney Declan Stranney [12]
2011   Glen Derry 4–12 – 0–6   Armagh Harps Armagh Emmett Bradley Emmett Bradley [13]
2012   Glen Derry 4–7 – 1–7   Killeavy Armagh Ciaran McFaul Ryan Dougan [14]
2013   Glen Derry 0–10 – 1–2   Silverbridge Armagh Stevie O'Hara Paul Gunning [15]
2014   Glen Derry 1–17 – 2–8 (aet)   Southern Gaels Cavan Cathal Mulholland Danny Tallon [16]
2015   Crossmaglen Rangers Armagh 4–12 – 1–6   St Eunan's Donegal Michael McCabe Oisín O'Neill [17]
2016   Burren Down 4–8 – 3–5   Kilrea Derry Conor Cox
Darragh Murdock 		Conor Cox [18]
2017   Enniskillen Gaels Fermanagh 1–6 – 0–6   Ballinascreen Derry Eoin Beacom Eoin Beacom [19]
2018   Bellaghy Derry 6–11 – 0–8   Crossmaglen Rangers Armagh Paul Cassidy Kealan Friel [20]
2019   Lavey Derry 0–9 – 0–8   Termon Donegal Cormac Collins Enda Downey [21]
2020 Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021
2022   Dungiven Derry 2–7 – 1–8   Four Masters Donegal Eoin Higgins
Odhran Murphy 		Dara McGonigle [22]
2023   Four Masters Donegal 1–10 – 2–4   Cavan Gaels Cavan Callum McCrea Conor McCahill [23]

Performances by county edit

Performances in the Ulster Minor Club Football Championship by county
County Titles Runners-up Years won Years runners-up
Derry 18 5 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2022 1999, 2004, 2010, 2016, 2017
Armagh 4 8 1987, 2000, 2003, 2015 1988, 1992, 1996, 2002, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018
Donegal 4 6 1984, 1985, 1992, 2023 1990, 1993, 2005, 2015, 2019, 2022
Tyrone 4 4 1989, 2005, 2006, 2009 1994, 1997, 1998, 2007
Antrim 3 3 1982, 1986, 2010 1984, 1985, 1989
Down 3 1 1983, 2004, 2016 2009
Fermanagh 2 3 1988, 2017 1983, 1986, 1987
Cavan 1 5 1999 1991, 2000, 2006, 2014, 2023
Monaghan 1 5 2002 1982, 1995, 2001, 2003, 2008

Performances by club edit

Performances in the Ulster Minor Club Football Championship by club
Club Titles Runners-up Years won Years runners-up
  Ballinderry 4 0 1996, 1997, 2001, 2008 —
  Glen 4 0 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 —
  Bellaghy 3 0 1991, 1994, 2018 —
  St Paul's 2 2 1982, 1986 1984, 1989
  Enniskillen Gaels 2 2 1988, 2017 1986, 1987
  Killybegs 2 1 1984, 1985 2005
  Dungiven 2 0 1990, 2022 —
  Loup 2 0 1993, 1995 —
  Cavan Gaels 1 4 1999 1991, 2000, 2006, 2023
  Killeavy 1 2 1987 1996, 2012
  Clontibret O'Neills 1 2 2002 1995, 2001
  Armagh Harps 1 2 2003 2002, 2011
  Kilrea 1 2 2007 2004, 2016
  Dungannon 1 1 1989 1994
  Aodh Ruadh 1 1 1992 1990
  Slaughtneil 1 1 1998 1999
  Errigal Ciarán 1 1 2005 2007
  Crossmaglen Rangers 1 1 2015 2018
  Four Masters 1 1 2023 2022
  Saul 1 0 1983 —
  Pearse Óg 1 0 2000 —
  Rostrevor 1 0 2004 —
  Coalisland 1 0 2006 —
  Omagh St Enda's 1 0 2009 —
  Lámh Dhearg 1 0 2010 —
  Burren 1 0 2016 —
  Lavey 1 0 2019 —
  Scotstown 0 2 — 1982, 2008
  St Eunan's 0 2 — 1993, 2015
  Lisnaskea Emmetts 0 1 — 1983
  Patrick Sarsfields 0 1 — 1985
  Maghery 0 1 — 1988
  Clan na Gael 0 1 — 1992
  Eglish 0 1 — 1997
  Ardboe 0 1 — 1998
  Carrickmacross Emmets 0 1 — 2003
  Kilcoo 0 1 — 2009
  Magherafelt 0 1 — 2010
  Silverbridge 0 1 — 2013
  Southern Gaels 0 1 — 2014
  Ballinascreen 0 1 — 2017
  Termon 0 1 — 2019

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ 2008 Northern Bank Ulster Minor Club Football Tournament Final Programme. 1 January 2009. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ^ a b Rodgers, Alan (31 October 2008). "St Paul's minor tournament set to get underway". Gaelic Life. p. 3.
  3. ^ "Stair / History (St. Paul's)". Official St. Paul's website. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  4. ^ Hawkins, Thomas (2 January 2018). "In The Irish News Jan 2 1998: Ballinderry Shamrocks still minor football kings of Ulster". The Irish News. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Irish News Past Papers - Jan 2 1999: Slaughtneil score a slender victory over battling Ardboe". The Irish News. 2 January 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  6. ^ McAuley, Mark (13 January 2002). "Three steps to heaven". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  7. ^ Campbell, John (2 January 2003). "GAA: Clontibret knock Harps out of tune". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Errigal Ciaran win minor decider". BBC Sport. 1 January 2006. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Kilrea are Ulster minor club champions". Hogan Stand. 4 January 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Scullion seals it for battling Ballinderry". Irish Independent. 2 January 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Ulster glory for Omagh minors". Hogan Stand. 28 January 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Matt finish gets the party started for Lamh Dhearg". Belfast Telegraph. 24 January 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  13. ^ Campbell, John (2 January 2012). "Poor Harps hammered as Watty claim minor crown". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  14. ^ "Watty Graham's justify odds as they see off Killeavy". Belfast Telegraph. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  15. ^ Martin, John (2 January 2014). "Golden Grahams: Watty Grahams 0-10 - 1-2 Silverbridge". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  16. ^ McGee, Tony (2 January 2015). "Golden teens from Watty Graham's savour final success". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  17. ^ McGee, Tony (2 January 2016). "Crossmaglen reign supreme in Ulster minor tournament". The Irish News. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  18. ^ Campbell, John (2 January 2017). "The future looks bright for Burren after classy Ulster Minor success". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  19. ^ Campbell, John (2 January 2018). "Enniskillen Gaels make up for past disappointments with long-awaited Ulster title". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  20. ^ Martin, John (2 January 2019). "Brilliant Bellaghy are crowned Ulster minor club champions". The Irish News. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  21. ^ O'Kane, Cahair (2 January 2020). "Lavey's bloodline suggests first Ulster minor title is only the start". The Irish News. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  22. ^ O'Kane, Cahair (2 January 2023). "Dungiven back among the big dogs". The Irish News. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  23. ^ Loughran, Neil (1 January 2024). "Four Masters start new year on front foot after burying memories of 2023 heartache with final victory over Cavan Gaels". The Irish News. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
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