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

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]

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

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

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

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

References

  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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