Mid-Ulster Cup
Organising bodyMid-Ulster Football Association
Founded1887
RegionNorthern Ireland Northern Ireland
Current championsPortadown (19th title)
Most successful club(s)Glenavon (22 titles)

The Mid-Ulster Cup is a senior football competition in Northern Ireland run by the Mid-Ulster Football Association (founded 2 April 1887[1]). The competition has historically featured teams based in County Armagh, east County Tyrone, and west County Down, though teams from outside the Mid-Ulster FA's jurisdiction have also competed on occasion, with Bangor (affiliated to the County Antrim & District F.A.) winning the cup in 1995/96.

History

First held in 1887–88, the inaugural edition was won by Milford. For 30 seasons, from 1947–48 to 1977–78, while remaining a senior competition, senior clubs declined to take part, instead fielding their reserve teams. Senior clubs returned, however, for the 1978–79 season, when the Bob Radcliffe Cup was introduced as an intermediate competition.[2]

The competition is currently sponsored by EuroElectrix, and has been sponsored in the past by Golden Cow Dairies, Dukes Transport, Tennent's Lager, Bass, Ted Clarke, McEwan's Lager, Silverwood Hotel, Rushmere Shopping Centre and Belfast Telegraph.

List of finals

[3]

Season Winner Score Runner-Up Venue Notes
1887–88 Milford 3–1 Loughgall (1887) Milford [4]
1888–89 Milford 4–0 Loughgall (1887) Caledon [5][6]
1889–90 East Lancashire Regiment 2–0 Milford Brownlow [7]
1890–91 Donacloney 3–2 Milford Banford [8]
1891–92 Banford Details of final unknown.
1892–93 Donacloney 13–0 Portadown
1893–94 15th King's Hussars 2–1 Royal Irish Rifles Donacloney Replay after original match finished in a 3–3 draw.[9]
1894–95 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry 5–0 Glenavon Gilford [10]
1895–96 Donacloney 3–2 Cookstown Lurgan [11]
1896–97 Milltown Wanderers 2–0 Portadown Mourneview Park Replay after original match, which ended in a 1-0 victory to Milltown, was ordered to be replayed after a Portadown protest.[12]
1897–98 Glenavon 5–3 Portadown Gilford [13]
1898–99 Portadown 5–3 Lurgan Star Gilford Replay after original match finished in a 5–5 draw.[14]
1899–1900 Portadown 3–2 Cookstown Mourneview Park Replay after original match finished 1-0 to Portadown but Cookstown protested an ineligible player was used.[15]
1900–01 Donacloney w/o Glenavon
1901–02 Glenavon — Cookstown — Cup was played on league basis.[16]
1902–03 Portadown 2–1 Glenavon Drumcairn, Armagh
1903–04 Portadown 2–1 Monaghan Monaghan
1904–05 Glenavon 3–1 Portadown
1905–06 Portadown 3–0 Glenavon
1906–07 Glenavon 3–0 Portadown Celtic Park Replay after original fixture ended 2-2.
1907–08 Portadown 2–1 Glenavon Grosvenor Park
1908–09 Glenavon 2–1 Portadown
1909–10 Portadown 3–2 Lurgan Celtic (1903)
1910–11 Glenavon w/o Portadown Celtic Original game ended 2-1 to Portadown Celtic, but they played ineligible player and were ordered to replay the match which they refused to do.
1911–12 Lurgan Celtic (1903) 1–0 Portadown Windsor Park Replay after original fixture ended 1-1.
1912–13 Lurgan Celtic (1903) 2–0 Bessbrook Grosvenor Park
1913–14 Lurgan Rangers 2–1 Glenavon Reserves
1914–15 Lurgan Celtic (1903) 3–1 Portadown Grosvenor Park
1915–24 not played
1924–25 Glenavon 2–1 Lurgan B-Specials Mourneview Park
1925–26 Glenavon 3–1 Portadown
1926–27 not awarded Banbridge United defeated Newry Town 3–2 in the final at Shamrock Park, however the cup was withheld as Banbridge fielded ineligible players.
1927–30 not played
1930–31 Glenavon 2–1 Gilford Crusaders Shamrock Park
1931–32 Portadown 2–1 Gilford Crusaders Mourneview Park
1932–33 Glenavon 2–1 Sunnyside
1933–34 Portadown 6–1 Glenavon 2nd replay after two previous matches finished 0-0.
1934–35 Gilford Crusaders 7–2 Portadown Mourneview Park
1935–36 Sunnyside 3–1 Portadown Shamrock Park
1936–37 Newry Town 2–1 Glenavon Shamrock Park
1937–38 Glenavon 2–1 Newry Town Shamrock Park
1938–39 Newry Town 3–1 Portadown Reserves The Marshes, Newry Final was played in September of the 1939–40 season.
1939–46 not played
1946–47 Portadown Reserves 3–2 Sunnyside Mourneview Park
1947–48 Glenavon Reserves 2–1 Newry Town Shamrock Park
1948–49 Banbridge Town 3–2 Gilford Crusaders Shamrock Park
1949–50 Banbridge Town and Dromore Athletic (shared) Trophy was shared after final finished in a 2–2 draw.
1950–51 Seapatrick 4–1 Warrenpoint United Banbridge
1951–52 Seapatrick 4–3 Bessbrook Shamrock Park
1952–53 Tandragee Rovers 3–2 Portadown Reserves Mourneview Park
1953–54 Tandragee Rovers 2–1 Seapatrick Shamrock Park [17]
1954–55 Seapatrick 1–0 Holm Factory
1955–56 Tandragee Rovers 4–0 Bessbrook Newry Showgrounds
1956–57 Newry Town 2–1 Tandragee Rovers Banbridge
1957–58 Glenavon Reserves 2–1 Newry Town Mourneview Park After replay
1958–59 Banbridge Town 3–1 Tandragee Rovers Shamrock Park
1959–60 Tandragee Rovers 4–0 Woodvale Recreation
1960–61 Portadown Reserves Banbridge Town Shamrock Park
1961–62 Tandragee Rovers 2–0 Glenavon Reserves Shamrock Park [18]
1962–63 Portadown Reserves 2–1 Glenavon Reserves Shamrock Park [19]
1963–64 Newry Town 2–0 Portadown Reserves Mourneview Park
1964–65 Portadown Reserves 3–2 Banbridge Town Mourneview Park After extra time (2-2 full time).
1965–66 Glenavon Reserves 3–2 Tandragee Rovers Mourneview Park [20]
1966–67 Newry Town 4–3 Tandragee Rovers Shamrock Park
1967–68 Blane's 1–0 Tandragee Rovers
1968–69 Newry Town 3–1 Damolly Textiles After extra time (1-1 full time).
1969–70 Portadown Reserves 2–1 Tandragee Rovers
1970–71 Dungannon Swifts 3–1 Lurgan Celtic Banbridge Replay after original match finished 2–2.[21]
1971–72 Glenavon Reserves 5–2 Hanover Mourneview Park [22]
1972–73 New Century 3–2 Newry Town
1973–74 Banbridge Town 2–1 Newry Town
1974–75 Newry Town 5–2 New Century Banbridge
1975–76 Dungannon Swifts 2–0 Milford Everton
1976–77 Glenavon Reserves 4–3 Banbridge Town Newry Showgrounds After extra time.
1977–78 Newry Town 3–1 Banbridge Town Shamrock Park
1978–79 Newry Town 2–1 Portadown Shamrock Park
1979–80 Banbridge Town 1–0 Newry Town Shamrock Park
1980–81 Portadown 1–0 Glenavon Shamrock Park
1981–82 Portadown 1–1 Glenavon Mourneview Park Portadown won 4–3 on penalties.
1982–83 Portadown 2–1 Glenavon Mourneview Park
1983–84 Glenavon 2–0 Newry Town Stangmore Park
1984–85 Newry Town 4–1 Portadown Newry Showgrounds
1985–86 Glenavon 1–0 Oxford United Mourneview Park
1986–87 Newry Town 4–1 Glenavon Newry Showgrounds
1987–88 Dungannon Swifts 2–1 Glenavon Shamrock Park First final played under floodlights.
1988–89 Glenavon 1–0 Newry Town Shamrock Park
1989–90 Newry Town 4–0 Banbridge Town Shamrock Park
1990–91 Glenavon 3–1 Portadown Mourneview Park
1991–92 not awarded Glenavon defeated Portadown 2–1 after extra time in the final at Mourneview Park, however the trophy was withheld as Glenavon fielded an ineligible player.
1992–93 Portadown 2–1 Newry Town Stangmore Park
1993–94 Portadown 3–0 Dungannon Swifts Shamrock Park
1994–95 Portadown 4–1 Newry Town Stangmore Park
1995–96 Bangor 3–1 Dungannon Swifts Shamrock Park
1996–97 Dungannon Swifts 2–1 Distillery Lakeview Park
1997–98 Portadown 0–0 Dungannon Swifts Mourneview Park Portadown won 6–5 on penalties.
1998–99 Glenavon 3–1 Ards Mourneview Park
1999–2000 Newry Town 1–0 Banbridge Town Lakeview Park
2000–01 Armagh City 3–1 Newry Town Newry Showgrounds
2001–02 Portadown 5–1 Lurgan Celtic Stangmore Park 2nd replay (held over to following season). Game 1: 2-2; Game 2: 1-1 (abandoned due to waterlogged pitch).
2002–03 Portadown 3–1 Dungannon Swifts Stangmore Park [23]
2003–04 Loughgall 2–2 Newry Town Lakeview Park Loughgall won 3–1 on penalties.
2004–05 Glenavon 1–0 Loughgall Lakeview Park [24]
2005–06 Dungannon Swifts 3–1 Glenavon Mourneview Park
2006–07 Newry City 2–1 Annagh United Holm Park [25]
2007–08 Loughgall 2–0 Banbridge Town Holm Park After extra time.[26]
2008–09 Dungannon Swifts 2–1 Loughgall Stangmore Park [27]
2009–10 Glenavon 3–2 Loughgall Mourneview Park [28]
2010–11 Glenavon 2–0 Dungannon Swifts Stangmore Park [29]
2011–12 Newry City 1–0 Glenavon Mourneview Park [30]
2012–13 Dungannon Swifts 2–1 Banbridge Town Stangmore Park After extra time.[31]
2013–14 Dungannon Swifts 3–1 Annagh United Holm Park After extra time.[32]
2014–15 Dungannon Swifts 3–2 Armagh City Stangmore Park After extra time.
2015–16 Dungannon Swifts 2–1 Armagh City Holm Park [33]
2016–17 Warrenpoint Town 3–2 Armagh City Stangmore Park After extra time.
2017–18 Glenavon 3–1 Newry City AFC Newry Showgrounds [34]
2018–19 Glenavon 4–3 Warrenpoint Town Stangmore Park [35]
2019–20 Loughgall 3–2 Glenavon Lakeview Park [36]
2020–21 Glenavon 1–0 Loughgall Mourneview Park [37]
2021–22 Warrenpoint Town 4–2 Annagh United Holm Park [38]
2022–23 Newry City AFC 2–0 Dungannon Swifts Stangmore Park
2023–24 Portadown 5–2 Dungannon Swifts Shamrock Park [39]

Performance by club

Club Winners Runners-up Winning Years Runners-up Years
Glenavon 22 15 1897–98, 1901–02, 1904–05, 1906–07, 1908–09, 1910–11, 1924–25, 1925–26, 1930–31, 1932–33, 1937–38, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1998–99, 2004–05, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21 1894–95, 1900–01, 1902–03, 1905–06, 1907–08, 1933–34, 1936–37, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1986–87, 1987–88, 2005–06, 2011–12, 2019–20
Portadown 19 14 1898–99, 1899–1900, 1902–03, 1903–04, 1905–06, 1907–08, 1909–10, 1931–32, 1933–34, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2023–24 1892–93, 1896–97, 1897–98, 1904–05, 1906–07, 1908–09, 1911–12, 1914–15, 1925–26, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1978–79, 1984–85, 1990–91
Newry City AFC‡ 16 13 1936–37, 1938–39, 1956–57, 1963–64, 1966–67, 1968–69, 1974–75, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1989–90, 1999–2000, 2006–07, 2011–12, 2022–23 1937–38, 1947–48, 1957–58, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1979–80, 1983–84, 1988–89, 1992–93, 1994–95, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2017–18
Dungannon Swifts 10 7 1970–71, 1975–76, 1987–88, 1996–97, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16 1993–94, 1995–96, 1997–98, 2002–03, 2010–11, 2022–23, 2023–24
Tandragee Rovers 5 6 1952–53, 1953–54, 1955–56, 1959–60, 1961–62 1956–57, 1958–59, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1969–70
Glenavon Reserves 5 3 1947–48, 1957–58, 1965–66, 1971–72, 1976–77 1913–14, 1961–62, 1962–63
Portadown Reserves 5 3 1946–47, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1964–65, 1969–70 1938–39, 1952–53, 1963–64
Banbridge Town 5 (1 shared) 8 1948–49, 1949–50 (shared), 1958–59, 1973–74, 1979–80 1960–61, 1964–65, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1989–90, 1999–2000, 2007–08, 2012–13
Donacloney 4 0 1890–91, 1892–93, 1895–96, 1900–01 —
Loughgall 3 4 2003–04, 2007–08, 2019–20 2004–05, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2020–21
Lurgan Celtic (1903) 3 1 1911–12, 1912–13, 1914–15 1909–10
Seapatrick 3 1 1950–51, 1951–52, 1954–55 1953–54
Milford 2 2 1887–88, 1888–89 1889–90, 1890–91
Warrenpoint Town 2 1 2016–17, 2021–22 2018–19
Armagh City 1 4 2000–01 1975–76, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17
Gilford Crusaders 1 3 1934–35 1930–31, 1931–32, 1948–49
Sunnyside 1 2 1935–36 1932–33, 1946–47
New Century 1 1 1972–73 1974–75
East Lancashire Regiment 1 0 1889–90 —
Banford 1 0 1891–92 —
15th King's Hussars 1 0 1893–94 —
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry 1 0 1894–95 —
Milltown Wanderers 1 0 1896–97 —
Lurgan Rangers 1 0 1913–14 —
Blane's 1 0 1967–68 —
Bangor 1 0 1995–96 —
Dromore Athletic 1 (shared) 0 1949–50 —
Cookstown 0 3 — 1895–96, 1899–1900, 1901–02
Bessbrook 0 3 — 1912–13, 1951–52, 1955–56
Annagh United 0 3 — 2006–07, 2013–14, 2021–22
Loughgall (1887) 0 2 — 1887–88, 1888–89
Lurgan Celtic 0 2 — 1970–71, 2001–02
Royal Irish Rifles 0 1 — 1893–94
Lurgan Star 0 1 — 1898–99
Monaghan 0 1 — 1903–04
Portadown Celtic 0 1 — 1910–11
Lurgan B-Specials 0 1 — 1924–25
Warrenpoint United 0 1 — 1950–51
Holm Factory 0 1 — 1954–55
Woodvale Recreation 0 1 — 1959–60
Damolly Textiles 0 1 — 1968–69
Hanover 0 1 — 1971–72
Oxford United 0 1 — 1985–86
Distillery 0 1 — 1996–97
Ards 0 1 — 1998–99

‡ Although Newry City A.F.C. were formed in 2013, they are widely recognised as being the spiritual successor to Newry City F.C. and their 2022–23 Mid-Ulster Cup win has been recognised as the club's 16th title, despite it being the first time they have won the competition since their formation.[40]

See also

County Antrim Shield

North West Senior Cup

Bob Radcliffe Cup

References

  1. ^ Belfast News-Letter, 9 April 1887
  2. ^ Mid-Ulster Cup 1887-1987 Centenary Souvenir Programme
  3. ^ Belfast Telegraph Soccer Yearbook 2006-07 (Malcolm Brodie MBE) Page 72
  4. ^ "Football. Milford v Loughgall. Cup Tie". Armagh Standard. 4 May 1888. p. 3.
  5. ^ "Mid-Ulster Notes". Ulster Football and Cycling News. 29 March 1889. p. 13.
  6. ^ "Pickings". Ulster Football and Cycling News. 5 April 1889. p. 9.
  7. ^ "Mid-Ulster Notes". Ulster Football and Cycling News. 18 April 1890. p. 9.
  8. ^ "Mid-Ulster Notes". Ulster Football and Cycling News. 3 April 1891. p. 7.
  9. ^ "Football. XV Hussars v. R. I. Rifles". Dundalk Herald. 21 April 1894. p. 5.
  10. ^ "Final of the Mid-Ulster Cup". Newry Telegraph. 30 April 1895. p. 3.
  11. ^ "Mid-Ulster Cup - Final Tie". Mid-Ulster Mail. 16 May 1896. p. 5.
  12. ^ "Football. Mid-Ulster Challenge Cup". Mid-Ulster Mail. 5 June 1897. p. 5.
  13. ^ "Mid-Ulster Cup Final Tie. Glenavon v Portadown". Ireland's Saturday Night. 30 April 1898. p. 3.
  14. ^ "Mid-Ulster Cup - Final Tie. Portadown v Lurgan Star". Lurgan Mail. 10 June 1899. p. 3.
  15. ^ "Northern Notes". Sport (Dublin). 12 May 1900. p. 2.
  16. ^ "Mid-Ulster Cup League". Tyrone Courier. 20 February 1902. p. 5.
  17. ^ "Mid-Ulster Cup Back To Tandragee". Portadown News. 22 May 1954. p. 2.
  18. ^ "Reserves were "Shocking"". Lurgan Mail. 18 May 1962. p. 32.
  19. ^ "Reserves lose in cup final". Lurgan Mail. 7 June 1963. p. 23.
  20. ^ "Good Season for Reserves". Lurgan Mail. 3 June 1966. p. 20.
  21. ^ "Football Match Clash". Belfast News Letter. 28 May 1971. p. 1.
  22. ^ "Mid-Ulster Cup Goes To Lurgan". Portadown News. 2 June 1972. p. 45.
  23. ^ BBC SPORT | Football | Irish | Ports retain Mid Ulster Cup
  24. ^ Mid-Ulster Cup Final
  25. ^ BBC SPORT | Football | Irish | Newry win Mid-Ulster Cup decider
  26. ^ Loughgall Football Club Archived 2 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  27. ^ Swifts lift Mid-Ulster Cup
  28. ^ Mid-Ulster Cup Final: Glenavon 3-2 Loughgall
  29. ^ Belfast Telegraph, 12 April 2011
  30. ^ Newry City beat Glenavon in Mid-Ulster Cup final, BBC, 7 March 2012
  31. ^ Dungannon Swifts Claim Mid Ulster Cup, Belfast Newsletter, 4 May 2013
  32. ^ Portadown Times
  33. ^ ‘Swifts connect four’ Tyrone Courier, 2 March 2016
  34. ^ News Letter
  35. ^ News Letter
  36. ^ BBC
  37. ^ "Watch: Glenavon beat Loughgall to win Mid-Ulster Cup". BBC Sport.
  38. ^ Belfast Telegraph
  39. ^ News Letter
  40. ^ "Newry City beat Dungannon Swifts to win first Mid-Ulster Cup since 2012". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
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