Ulster Minor Club Football Championship
IrishComórtas Pheil Mhionúr Chumann Uladh[1]
CodeGaelic football
Founded1982 (age 44)
RegionUlster, Ireland
TrophyJim McConville Cup
Title holdersFour Masters
Currentordinal2
Most titlesBallinderry & Glen
Mostordinal4
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
YearWinnersScoreRunners-upWinning captainMan of the matchRef
ClubCountyClubCounty
1982St Paul'sAntrim2–9 – 2–4ScotstownMonaghanFergus Donnelly
1983SaulDown1–15 – 0–9Lisnaskea EmmettsFermanaghEddie Harney
1984KillybegsDonegal4–9 – 3–5St Paul'sAntrim
1985KillybegsDonegal2–5 – 0–8Patrick SarsfieldsAntrim
1986St Paul'sAntrim5–9 – 0–8Enniskillen GaelsFermanaghGerard Kelly
1987KilleavyArmagh2–9 – 0–6Enniskillen GaelsFermanaghShane O'Neill
1988Enniskillen GaelsFermanagh1–9 – 1–9 (aet)MagheryArmaghSimon Bradley
2–6 – 1–5 (R)
1989DungannonTyrone1–08 – 1–07St Paul'sAntrim
1990DungivenDerry1–10 – 1–09Aodh RuadhDonegal
1991BellaghyDerry2–06 – 1–07Cavan GaelsCavanKarl Diamond
1992Aodh RuadhDonegal4–08 – 1–06Clan na GaelArmagh
1993LoupDerry1–11 – 1–06St Eunan'sDonegal
1994BellaghyDerry7–05 – 2–05DungannonTyrone
1995LoupDerryClontibret O'NeillsMonaghanJohnny McBride
1996BallinderryDerry0–14 – 0–07KilleavyArmaghDarrell McKeeGerard Cassidy
1997BallinderryDerry2–07 – 1–04EglishTyroneDarren McGeehan[4]
1998SlaughtneilDerry1–09 – 1–08ArdboeTyroneNiall ConveryKevin O'Neill[5]
1999Cavan GaelsCavan3–09 – 2–07SlaughtneilDerryDominic ReillyRichard Graham
2000Pearse ÓgArmagh1–12 – 0–14Cavan GaelsCavanPauric DuffyPauric Duffy
2001BallinderryDerry3–07 – 1–09Clontibret O'NeillsMonaghanThomas MaynesThomas Maynes[6]
2002Clontibret O'NeillsMonaghan2–14 – 0–4Armagh HarpsArmaghJonathan McGuiganPaul McGuigan[7]
2003Armagh HarpsArmagh1–11 – 0–7Carrickmacross EmmetsMonaghanJoe QuigleyCiaran Clifford
2004RostrevorDown2–7 – 1–8KilreaDerryShaun ParrColm Clerkin
2005Errigal CiaránTyrone1–13 – 1–11KillybegsDonegalBarry CanavanRonan McRory[8]
2006CoalislandTyrone1–14 – 2–10Cavan GaelsCavanBrian Toner
Stephen McNally		Brian Toner
2007KilreaDerry2–9 – 0–9Errigal CiaránTyroneJames Kielt[9]
2008BallinderryDerry2–8 – 2–7ScotstownMonaghanGavin McGeehanRyan Scullion[10]
2009Omagh St Enda'sTyrone0–12 – 0–11KilcooDownBarry TierneyConan Grugan[11]
2010Lámh DheargAntrim0–9 – 0–8MagherafeltDerryDeclan StranneyDeclan Stranney[12]
2011GlenDerry4–12 – 0–6Armagh HarpsArmaghEmmett BradleyEmmett Bradley[13]
2012GlenDerry4–7 – 1–7KilleavyArmaghCiaran McFaulRyan Dougan[14]
2013GlenDerry0–10 – 1–2SilverbridgeArmaghStevie O'HaraPaul Gunning[15]
2014GlenDerry1–17 – 2–8 (aet)Southern GaelsCavanCathal MulhollandDanny Tallon[16]
2015Crossmaglen RangersArmagh4–12 – 1–6St Eunan'sDonegalMichael McCabeOisín O'Neill[17]
2016BurrenDown4–8 – 3–5KilreaDerryConor Cox
Darragh Murdock		Conor Cox[18]
2017Enniskillen GaelsFermanagh1–6 – 0–6BallinascreenDerryEoin BeacomEoin Beacom[19]
2018BellaghyDerry6–11 – 0–8Crossmaglen RangersArmaghPaul CassidyKealan Friel[20]
2019LaveyDerry0–9 – 0–8TermonDonegalCormac CollinsEnda Downey[21]
2020Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021
2022DungivenDerry2–7 – 1–8Four MastersDonegalEoin Higgins
Odhran Murphy		Dara McGonigle[22]
2023Four MastersDonegal1–10 – 2–4Cavan GaelsCavanCallum McCreaConor McCahill[23]
2024Four MastersDonegal1–8 – 0–9MagherafeltDerryCallum McCreaKevin Muldoon[24]

Performances by county

Performances in the Ulster Minor Club Football Championship by county
CountyTitlesRunners-upYears wonYears runners-up
Derry1861990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019, 20221999, 2004, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2024
Donegal561984, 1985, 1992, 2023, 20241990, 1993, 2005, 2015, 2019, 2022
Armagh481987, 2000, 2003, 20151988, 1992, 1996, 2002, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018
Tyrone441989, 2005, 2006, 20091994, 1997, 1998, 2007
Antrim331982, 1986, 20101984, 1985, 1989
Down311983, 2004, 20162009
Fermanagh231988, 20171983, 1986, 1987
Cavan1519991991, 2000, 2006, 2014, 2023
Monaghan1520021982, 1995, 2001, 2003, 2008

Performances by club

Performances in the Ulster Minor Club Football Championship by club
ClubTitlesRunners-upYears wonYears runners-up
Ballinderry401996, 1997, 2001, 2008—
Glen402011, 2012, 2013, 2014—
Bellaghy301991, 1994, 2018—
St Paul's221982, 19861984, 1989
Enniskillen Gaels221988, 20171986, 1987
Killybegs211984, 19852005
Four Masters212023, 20242022
Dungiven201990, 2022—
Loup201993, 1995—
Cavan Gaels1419991991, 2000, 2006, 2023
Killeavy1219871996, 2012
Clontibret O'Neills1220021995, 2001
Armagh Harps1220032002, 2011
Kilrea1220072004, 2016
Dungannon1119891994
Aodh Ruadh1119921990
Slaughtneil1119981999
Errigal Ciarán1120052007
Crossmaglen Rangers1120152018
Saul101983—
Pearse Óg102000—
Rostrevor102004—
Coalisland102006—
Omagh St Enda's102009—
Lámh Dhearg102010—
Burren102016—
Lavey102019—
Scotstown02—1982, 2008
St Eunan's02—1993, 2015
Magherafelt02—2010, 2024
Lisnaskea Emmetts01—1983
Patrick Sarsfields01—1985
Maghery01—1988
Clan na Gael01—1992
Eglish01—1997
Ardboe01—1998
Carrickmacross Emmets01—2003
Kilcoo01—2009
Silverbridge01—2013
Southern Gaels01—2014
Ballinascreen01—2017
Termon01—2019

See also

References

  1. ^ 2008 Northern Bank Ulster Minor Club Football Tournament Final Programme. 1 January 2009.
  2. ^ 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. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  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. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. 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 30 December 2022 at the Wayback Machine. 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.
  24. ^ McMullan, Michael (2 January 2025). "Four Masters win back-to-back Ulster Minor titles after dramatic finale leaves Magherafelt wondering". The Irish News. Retrieved 2 January 2025.