No minor matter: Ulster Minor Championship history books

Tyrone begin the defence of their Ulster Minor Championship title this weekend against Armagh. Michael McMullan takes a look at the roll of honour ahead of the start of another provincial series

Tyrone 26

THE Red Hands are the reigning champions and will again be in the shake up after reaching the minor league final.

They won three successive titles in the 40s and 70s. Indeed, there was a staggering run of six out of eight years, 1971 to 1978. Their back-to-back winning teams of 1997 and ’98 under Mickey Harte will always be remembered as the golden crop that backboned their All-Ireland senior success of 2003.

DERRY 17

DERRY went 13 years without lifting the Murray Cup before Conor Glass led the 2015 team as the county began to turn their fortunes around. Another four titles have since followed with the county going on
to win three All-Irelands at this grade. Damian McErlain was manager for two separate stints before moving on to take charge of the u-20s.

Seán McVeigh and the growth of Donegal hurling

ARMAGH 12

THE last of Armagh’s titles came back in 2009 when they went on to win the All-Ireland. The Orchard County lost the final two years ago before also coming up short against Derry in the All-Ireland decider in their run through the back door. Andrew Murnin and Rory Grugan starred in the 2009 before going to help the county take Sam Maguire home in 2024.

DOWN 10

DOWN were last Ulster champions in 1999 but a group that included Martin Clarke and James Colgan won the All-Ireland in 2005 having lost to Armagh in the Ulster final. The ’99 winning team included former senior stars Michael Walsh, Benny Coulter and Liam Doyle. Current Antrim manager Mark Doran was on the team who went all the way to win the All-Ireland.

ANTRIM 8

THE Saffrons have not won the Ulster Minor Championship since their winning team of 1982. After wins over Cavan and Donegal, they beat Down in the final before losing out to Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final. More recently Antrim lost out to Tyrone in both the 1997 and ’98 Ulster finals. Their last appearance in the decider came in 2006 in Croke Park when a Michael Murphy led Donegal brought home the bacon.

DONEGAL 7

DONEGAL have won the title twice more since that victory over Antrim at Croke Park. Declan Bonner was manager that saw them win Ulster in 2014, going to the All-Ireland final. Both minor and senior teams were in the final but lost out to a Kerry double. Their last Ulster final came in 2016, a group that has formed the core of the current senior team with players like Gavin Mulreaney, Jason McGee and Peadar Mogan.

NO WAY THROUGH…Down goalkeeper John Sloan closes Colm McFadden’s path to goal in the 1999 Ulster minor final

CAVAN 6

ONLY Armagh (17) have lost more Ulster finals than Cavan. The Breffni County have won six of the 21 finals they have reached. They lost to Tyrone last season.

Before that, Derry beat them in the 2015 and 2017 final. Cavan’s last Ulster success came back in 2011 when they beat Armagh in the final after being hit by a goal following a fast start.

MONAGHAN 6

THE Oriel County have also been winners on six occasions. They ended a 68-year wait in 2013 on a magical day on Clones when the senior also lifted the Anglo Celt Cup. Monaghan were back-to-back winners in 2018 and ’19, a group that has pushed players into the senior ranks. The last Ulster final was three years ago when they lost to Derry on penalties. The sides then met in the All-Ireland final with the Oak Leafers also coming through.

FERMANAGH 0

IT’S 23 years since Fermanagh were in the final and they’ve yet to put their names on the list of winners. Pat Cadden is in as manager and they’ll need to navigate the ‘back door’ after last weekend’s defeat at the hands of Down.

Looking back to the 2003 final, Fermanagh beat Down in the semi-final before losing to Tyrone in the decider.