GLIST: Ruling the roost on the Ulster Senior Hurling scene

Niall Gartland takes a look at the clubs who have fared best in the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship

Cushendall – 12 titles

ANTRIM teams have traditionally excelled in the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship, winning a combined 42 titles compared to nearest challengers Down, who are far behind with seven. Faring best of all is the Ruairí Ógs, who have won 12 provincial titles in their proud history. They won their first in 1981 (11 years after the competition was founded), and clinched their most recent in 2023 with a 0-20 to 2-10 victory over Derry titans Sleacht Néill.

Dunloy – 11 titles

NIPPING at Cushendall’s heels is their Antrim rivals Dunloy, who have 11 Ulster titles to their name. They won their first in 1991 in what turned out to be a hugely successful decade, and most recently emerged top of the pile in 2022, going on to represent Ulster on All-Ireland final day against Ballyhale Shamrocks. They take on Portaferry this weekend for a place in this year’s provincial final against Sleacht Néill.

Loughgiel Shamrocks – 8 titles

THE only team on this list to have gone all the way to All-Ireland glory – and they’ve done so twice. The Shamrocks have also won eight Ulster titles, though it’s been 13 years since they’ve reigned supreme on the provincial stage. They can also boast of having won the first ever Ulster title back in 1970, a comfortable victory over Ballygalget. They also retained their title the following season.

McQuillan’s Ballycastle – 6 titles

BALLYCASTLE had an incredible team spanning the seventies and eighties, winning six titles in a nine-year period between 1978 and 1986. They made history when they became the first-ever team from the province to reach the All-Ireland Senior Club final back in 1980. Their main contenders in Ulster at the time were Ballycran, Portaferry and Ballygalget, but Ballycastle’s record on Ulster final day during that magical era speaks for itself.

Sleacht Néill – 6 titles

SLEACHT Néill won their first Ulster title in 2016 and they never looked back, winning further provincial crowns in 2017, 2019, 2021, 2024 and 2025. Many of their players were also involved as they landed the football title in 2014, 2016 and 2017. And it’s fair to say they’re still going strong – they’re bidding for the three in-a-row in the Ulster Hurling championship and will take on either Dunloy or Portaferry in this year’s final.

O’Donovan Rossa – 4 titles

Belfast club O’Donovan Rossa have won four Ulster Senior Hurling titles in their history, namely in 1972, 1977, 1988 and 2004. In their most recent success, they overcame Ballygalget in a tight contest by 0-16 to 0-14.

Ballycran – 3 titles

BALLYCRAN are one of three teams from Down to have got their hands on the provincial prize, winning their three titles in 1974, 1976 and 1993.

Ballygalget – 3 titles

ANOTHER team from the Ards Peninsula, Ballygalget, have three titles to their name, which were won in 1975, 1998 and 2005.

St John’s – 1 title

BELFAST club have won the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship once, all the way back in 1973.

Portaferry – 1 title

PORTAFERRY won the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship for the one and only time in 2014 with a strong win over Cushendall, though they’re pushing hard for another success.