A decade of domestic silver

With the club championships now underway across Ulster, Michael McMullan looks at the number of different winners of the senior titles over the last decade

Tyrone (7)

IT’S hardly surprising that the Red Hand County tops the list. Champions Trillick have three titles to their name in the last decade with Omagh having won it twice. The O’Neill Cup has not been retained since Carrickmore’s winning team of 2005 although Errigal Ciaran did lose last year’s final after extra time. Dromore, Killyclogher, Coalisland and Dungannon – when they need a penalty shoot-out in 2020 – were the other winners. Omagh were the closest to winner Ulster only to be pipped by Christopher Bradley’s late winner for Sleacht Néill in 2014.

Cavan (6)

THE Breffni County has had six different winners over the last decade with the title well spread out. Champions Gowna, Ramor United, Castlerahan and Cavan Gaels have two each with Crosserlough and Kingscourt also taking home the bacon. There has never been a Cavan winner of the Ulster Championship but the Gaels reached the 2017 where they lost to Sleacht Néill. Gowna are in search of a third successive title, something that hasn’t been done since the Gaels in 2009.

Donegal (5)

THE Dr Maguire Cup has spent five winters in Glenties as Naomh Conaill lead the way in Donegal. They are again going for three-in-a-row, something that hasn’t been done since St Eunan’s in 2009. They asked Glen one of their toughest set of questions in last year’s Ulster semi-final. St Eunan’s have won the title twice with Ulster champions Gaoth Dobhair taking the silver in 2018. The other winners were Kilcar and Glenswilly. There is a long way to go but St Eunan’s have put their hands up as contenders to the Glenties’ men’s crown.

Antrim (4)

WITH seven titles, Cargin lead the way with the club’s golden era having a dozen to their name in total. The other winners in the last decade have been Lámh Dhearg, Creggan and former All-Ireland champions St Gall’s with the last of their 19 titles in 2014. Cargin have pushed Glen in the last two seasons and had a memorable win over Naomh Conaill. They’ll be hot favourite to make it eight titles in 10 years this season.

Derry (4)

IT has been the Glen and Sleacht Néill show in Derry over the last decade after Ballinderry’s awesome record came to an end in the dying embers of the 2014 final with the Emmet’s controversial winning goal. Mickey Moran guided Sleacht Néill to four in a row with Coleraine, Magherafelt and Sleacht Néill lifting the John McLaughlin Cup before Glen’s time. Glen have two Ulster and an All-Ireland title, with Sleacht Néill winning Ulster three times before losing two All-Ireland finals. Magherafelt will push both of them hard this season.

Fermanagh (4)

DERRYGONNELLY have seven of the last Fermanagh championships to their name and reached and Ulster final where they ran into the force that was Kilcoo on their to All-Ireland glory. Recent league champions Enniskillen Gaels, Roslea and Ederney are the other winners in Fermanagh. The Gaels will he favourites this year, especially give the Jones brothers – Ryan, Conall and Garvan – have opted out of the Derrygonnelly squad.

Armagh (4)

IN a different decade, this could been a very short entry with Crossmaglen having done 19-in-a-row at one point. The Rangers have still hosted the Fagan Cup six times in the last decade with their 2015 title leading to their last Ulster success. They’ve the last two to their name. The other winners have been Maghery (twice), Clann Éireann and Armagh Harps.

Monaghan (3)

THE Farney County has been dominated by Scotstown who have won the Mick Duffy Cup seven times. In that time, they’ve lost two Ulster finals to Crossmaglen – after extra-time- and last season to eventual All-Ireland champions Glen. Ballybay and two titles for Clontibret completes the decade with Scotstown focusing on retaining title.

Down (2)

THIS is the Kilcoo show. While they have had many tough days along the way, they’ve shown what winners do – they always find a way to win. They’ve translated their form to the Ulster championship. After losing two finals, they won back-to-back Ulster titles. Nationally, after losing to Corofin in a final, they bounced back to win the All-Ireland. The only other winner in the last decade was former All-Ireland champions Burren in 2018. Before that, Kilcoo won six-in-a-row, something they bidding to do again this year.

Body

Tyrone (7)

IT’S hardly surprising that the Red Hand County tops the list. Champions Trillick have three titles to their name in the last decade with Omagh having won it twice. The O’Neill Cup has not been retained since Carrickmore’s winning team of 2005 although Errigal Ciaran did lose last year’s final after extra-time. Dromore, Killyclogher, Coalisland and Dungannon – when they need a penalty shoot-out in 2020 – were the other winners. Omagh were the closest to winner Ulster only to be pipped by Christopher Bradley’s late winner for Sleacht Néill in 2014.

Cavan (6)

THE Breffni County has had six different winners over the last decade with the title well spread out. Champions Gowna, Ramor United, Castlerahan and Cavan Gaels have two each with Crosserlough and Kingscourt also taking home the bacon. There has never been a Cavan winner of the Ulster Championship but the Gaels reached the 2017 where they lost to Sleacht Néill. Gowna are in search of a third successive title, something that hasn’t been done since the Gaels in 2009.

Donegal (5)

THE Dr Maguire Cup has spent five winters in Glenties as Naomh Conaill lead the way in Donegal. They are again going for three-in-a-row, something that hasn’t been done since St Eunan’s in 2009. They asked Glen one of their toughest set of questions in last year’s Ulster semi-final. St Eunan’s have won the title twice with Ulster champions Gaoth Dobhair taking the silver in 2018. The other winners were Kilcar and Glenswilly. There is a long way to go but St Eunan’s have put their hands up as contenders to the Glenties’ men’s crown.

Antrim (4)

WITH seven titles, Cargin lead the way with the club’s golden era having a dozen to their name in total. The other winners in the last decade have been Lámh Dhearg, Creggan and former All-Ireland champions St Gall’s with the last of their 19 titles in 2014. Cargin have pushed Glen in the last two seasons and had a memorable win over Naomh Conaill. They’ll be hot favourites to make it eight titles in 10 years this season.

Derry (4)

IT has been the Glen and Sleacht Néill show in Derry over the last decade after Ballinderry’s awesome record came to an end in the dying embers of the 2014 final with the Emmet’s controversial winning goal. Mickey Moran guided Sleacht Néill to four in a row with Coleraine, Magherafelt and Sleacht Néill lifting the John McLaughlin Cup before Glen’s time. Glen have two Ulster and an All-Ireland titles, with Sleacht Néill winning Ulster three times before losing two All-Ireland finals. Magherafelt will push both of them hard this season.

Fermanagh (4)

DERRYGONNELLY have seven of the last Fermanagh championships to their name and reached and Ulster final where they ran into the force that was Kilcoo on their to All-Ireland glory. Recent league champions Enniskillen Gaels, Roslea and Ederney are the other winners in Fermanagh. The Gaels will he favourites this year, especially give the Jones brothers – Ryan, Conall and Garvan – have opted out of the Derrygonnelly squad.

Armagh (4)

IN a different decade, this could been a very short entry with Crossmaglen having done 19-in-a-row at one point. The Rangers have still hosted the Fagan Cup six times in the last decade with their 2015 title leading to their last Ulster success. They’ve the last two to their name. The other winners have been Maghery (twice), Clann Éireann and Armagh Harps.

Monaghan (3)

THE Farney County has been dominated by Scotstown who have won the Mick Duffy Cup seven times. In that time, they’ve lost two Ulster finals to Crossmaglen – after extra-time – and last season to eventual All-Ireland champions Glen. Ballybay and two titles for Clontibret completes the decade with Scotstown focusing on retaining the title.

Down (2)

THIS is the Kilcoo show. While they have had many tough days along the way, they’ve shown what winners do – they always find a way to win. They’ve translated their form to the Ulster Championship. After losing two finals, they won back-to-back Ulster titles. Nationally, after losing to Corofin in a final, they bounced back to win the All-Ireland. The other winner in the last decade was Burren in 2018. Before that, Kilcoo won six-in-a-row, something they bidding to do again this year.