First-timers

Antrim: Aghagallon (2021)

IT wasn’t to be for Aghagallon in their first-ever senior championship appearance in 2021, losing out to Creggan on a scoreline of 1-12 to 0-7. They made it back to county final day in 2022 as well, but it was a repeat result, a vastly experienced Cargin team claiming the spoils of victory by 1-18 to 3-9. They haven’t made it back to the final since, and recently fell to a heavy defeat to Cargin at the last eight, marking the end of Pete McGrath’s tenure in charge.

Armagh: Granemore (2022)

OKAY, it ended in defeat to a rampant Crossmaglen, but Granemore can still reflect with a great deal of pride on their run to a historic Armagh SFC appearance in 2022. It was the culmination of years of determined effort, having suffered five semi-final near misses, though ultimately Crossmaglen were much too strong when it came to the crunch.

Cavan: Denn (2008)

DENN drew the plaudits in 2021 when they became only the third Cavan club to win an Ulster title with victory over Donegal’s Downings on the mouth of Christmas. That was at Junior level, and they have two senior championship final appearances to their name with successive appearances in 2008 and 2009. In those games they faced a Cavan Gaels juggernaut, losing by eight points in their inaugural appearance before falling short by six in 2009. Still, it was a memorable period for the club.

Derry: Glen (2019)

THE start of a beautiful story. Glen appeared In their first-ever Derry Senior final in 2019, losing out by a single point to Magherafelt. Back-boned by incredible success at underage level, it turned out to be only the start of their journey. They won their maiden title in 2021 before marching all the way to provincial honours in 2022. While their All-Ireland final against Kilmacud Crokes ended in gut-wrenching defeat, they made amends in early 2024 with a dramatic victory over Roscommon club St Brigid’s.

Donegal: St Michael’s (2011)

THE last team to reach a Donegal SFC final for the first time was St Michael’s back in 2011. Located in CreesloughDunfanaghy, the club was founded 1952 and a golden crop of players reached the 2011 showdown, where they lost out by two points to Glenswilly (winning their first-ever title). It’s also worth noting that the club contributed six players to the Donegal team that won the 2012 All-Ireland title, including Colm McFadden, who scored a goal in the final against Mayo.

Down: Carryduff (2020)

LAST Sunday was a difficult one for Carryduff, losing out to Down titans Kilcoo on county final day on a scoreline of 1-17 to 1-11.

It was only their second-ever appearance in the Down showpiece occasion and there must have been a sense of deja vu about the whole thing – they fell seven points
short against the Magpies on
their maiden appearance in
2020.

Fermanagh: A different story

FERMANAGH has the fewest clubs in Ulster so perhaps it’s no surprise that it’s been so long since a team has won their senior championship title for the first
time. All the recent winners – Erne Gaels, Derrygonnelly, Enniskillen Gaels, Ederney (and others) have a history of participating on the big day. For instance, Ederney won their first title 52 years in 2000 while Erne Gaels bridged a gap of 43 years when they got their hands on last year’s title.

Monaghan: Magheracloone (2002)

A STRONG batch of talented players all came together to create history for the club and put Magheracloone on the map in 2004. They’d lost the county final after a replay in 2002, their first appearance in the showpiece, but more than made up for it two years later. After that though, there was a series of near misses – they lost the 2005, 2006, 2010 and 2017 deciders, but while we’re here, let’s not forget their memorable run to Ulster Intermediate honours either, overcoming Tyrone side Galbally in the 2019 decider.

Tyrone: Killyclogher (1999)

KILLYCLOGHER reached the O’Neill Cup showdown for the first time in 1999, losing by four points to Carrickmore. Then a second defeat on the big day, falling short against a Peter Canavan-inspired Érrigal in 2002. They stuck at it and reached the Promised Land in 2003 though, avenging that defeat of Érrigal Ciaran on a scoreline of 2-6 to 1-7. The Ballinamullan-based side added a second title in 2016, overcoming Coalisland after a replay.