Glist: County lines

Niall Gartland takes a look at the counties who have produced the most winning teams in the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship

Derry (17)

DERRY has long been acclaimed for the quality of its club scene and they head up our list. Bellaghy have won four Ulster titles (1968, 1971, 1994 and 2000) as well as losing three finals. Ballinderry and Sleacht Néill won on three separate occasions, while Lavey and Glen have won twice. Then there’s Loup, Dungiven and Ballerin completing a commendable list of clubs from around the Oak Leaf County who have got their hands on the Seamus McFerrn Cup.

Armagh (15)

Next in the list is the Orchard County – no big surprise when you consider the Crossmaglen influence. Cross’ have won more Ulster titles than any other club and it’s not even close (they’ve won 11 while their nearest challenges Burren and Scotstown have reached the provincial summit on five occasions). Lurgan-based Clann na Gael won a historic three in-a-row between 1972 and 1974, while Mullaghbawn landed the big prize in 1995.

Down (nine titles)

THERE’S a bit of a drop to the next county with Down producing the Ulster champions on nine different occasions. Burren ruled the roost five times in a six-year spell in the 1980s, while Kilcoo defeated all-comers in 2019 and 2021. Bryansford won back-to-backs, meanwhile, in 1969 and 1970.

Monaghan (seven titles)

THE Farney County are fourth in our list with seven titles to its name. There’s Scotstown with five titles (they bridged a 26-year gap in the 2025 season), while Castleblayney came out on top in 1986 and 1991. Scotstown are a familiar presence in the Ulster Championship these days and have been backed by the bookies to retain their title – though a strong Magherafelt team stand in their way of a place in the semi-finals.

Antrim (four titles)

THE Saffron County have produced two clubs that have won the Ulster Senior Football championship. St Gall’s excelled on the provincial stage in 1982, 2005 and 2009 (in total they have played in six Ulster SFC finals) while another Belfast club, St John’s, won the competition in 1977.

Tyrone (three titles)

PERHAPS surprisingly, the O’Neill County ranks near the bottom of this list. Only one club – Errigal Ciaran – has won the Ulster Championship and they’ve done so on three occasions – 1993, 2002 and 2024. In their last triumph, a late point from Peter Og McCartan sealed a dramatic win over Kilcoo and they marched all the way to the All-Ireland final where they fell short against Cuala.

Donegal (two titles)

THE last time a Donegal club won the provincial crown, Gaoth Dobhair blazed a trail inspired by the likes of Kevin Cassidy, Odhran Mac Niallais and the McGee brothers, Eamon and Neil. That was in 2018. The now-defunct St Joseph’s club, which was formed from a merger of Aodh Ruadh, Ballyshannon, and Réalt na Mara, Bundoran, landed the title in 1975. They also won an unofficial title in 1966.

*Cavan clubs have appeared in six finals, losing them all, while Fermanagh clubs lost on the four occasions they made it to Ulster final day.