# Ulster Senior League (men's hockey)

The Ulster Senior League is a league competition for the first teams of men's hockey clubs affiliated to the Ulster Hockey Union of Hockey Ireland.

## Formation

At a Special General Meeting of the Union held on 15 October 1897 in the Royal Avenue Hotel, Belfast, the clubs present resolved to form the Ulster Senior League. Eight teams participated in the first season: Antrim, Ards, Cliftonville, King's (Liverpool) Regiment, Lisburn, North Down, North Staffordshire Regiment and Ulster

## Current composition of the Senior League

In 2024–25, there are 10 clubs in the Ulster Senior League season.
* Premier League
* Belfast Harlequins
* Bangor
* Cookstown
* Kilkeel
* Kilkeel
* North Down
* PSNI
* Portadown
* Queen's University
* South Antrim

## Early format

From its formation until 1953 entry to the Ulster Senior League could only be obtained by application to the Ulster Hockey Union. The applicant club would then have to be successful in a vote amongst the Senior Clubs. The size of the Senior League varied between seven competing clubs in the 1900s to as many as eighteen in the late 1920s. With eighteen teams it was necessary to play the league in two pools with the winners of the pools playing a Test Match to decide that year's league champions.

## 1953 reorganisation

In 1953 the eight team Senior League amalgamated with the eight team Qualifying League. There was no realignment of teams at this time, the only difference was the renaming of the two leagues as Senior League Section A (the old Senior League) and Senior League Section B (the old Qualifying League). Teams did not change Sections during this period and no teams were promoted or relegated to or from the Senior League.
At the end of each league season the winner of Section A played the winner of Section B in a Test Match to decide the winner of the Keightley Cup. The loser of the Test Match was awarded the Ireland's Saturday Night Cup. During this period the trophy was always won by the Section A winner.
Senior League 1953–54 to 1956–57 :
| Section A | Section B |
| Antrim | Albert Foundry |
| Banbridge | Down |
| Belfast YMCA | East Antrim |
| Cliftonville | Holywood |
| Lisnagarvey | Mossley |
| North Down | Newry Olympic |
| Portrush | Parkview |
| Queen's University | South Antrim |

## 1958 reorganisation

Prior to the start of the 1957–58 season, the Council of the Ulster Branch made a controversial decision. Portrush, who had finished bottom of Section A in 1956–57 were demoted to Section B. Parkview, the winners of Section B in 1956–57, were moved to Section A. This signalled the intention of the League to move to Promotion and Relegation. A report was commissioned by the Council of the Ulster Branch to establish new league structures.
The report and debate lead to the league reorganising to allow for promotion and relegation prior to the start of the 1958–59 season. There were eight teams in each league section. A Qualifying League in two sections provided two lower rungs for the league, with a further Intermediate section below that. The formation of the sections again proved controversial, as some clubs were not placed in the section that their previous seasons standing would merit. In particular, it was reported that Saintfield (Intermediate A) had finished above four clubs in 1957–58 that were placed in Qualifying B.
Ulster Leagues after re-alignment in 1958–59 :
| Senior League | Qualifying A | Qualifying B | Intermediate A |
| Antrim | Albert Foundry | Ballymena | Cookstown |
| Banbridge | Down | Bangor | Courtalds |
| Belfast YMCA | East Antrim | King's Scholars | Dunmurry |
| Cliftonville | Holywood | Lisburn OB | Hollerith |
| Lisnagarvey | Mossley | NICS | Lisnafillin |
| Parkview | Newry Olympic | Old Bleach | Montalto |
| Portrush | North Down | RUC | Portadown |
| Queen's University | South Antrim | Shorts & Harland | Saintfield |

## 1969 reorganisation

At the end of the 1968–69 season the Senior League expanded from eight to ten teams and was renamed as Senior League Section 1. The remaining six Qualifying League 'A' were joined by the top four teams from Qualifying 'B' to form a ten team league known as Senior League Section 2. All remaining club first teams were entered in the Intermediate League. In season 1975–76 Section 2 was increased to 12 teams.
Membership of the two Senior League Sections at the start of the 1969–70 season was as follows
Senior League prior to 1969–70 :
| Section 1 | Section 2 |
| Antrim | Bangor |
| Banbridge | Cookstown |
| Belfast YMCA | Crossgar |
| Cliftonville | East Antrim |
| Friends School OB | Newry |
| Instonians | North Down |
| Lisnagarvey | N.I.C.S. |
| Mossley | Parkview |
| Portrush | R.U.C. |
| Queen's University | Saintfield |

## 2001 reorganisation

In 2001 Section 1 was reduced to eight teams, and was renamed as the Premier League. Section 2 remained with twelve teams and was renamed as Senior 1. The Intermediate League was renamed as Senior 2, with all remaining teams placed in this section.
The top three teams in the Premier League at the end of the season qualify for the All-Ireland Club Championship.

## 2015 reorganisation

The top four teams departed for the new Irish Hockey League (IHL) and the league reduced from three divisions to two. The League champions now qualify for the Provincial play-offs where they compete for promotion to the IHL.

## 2017 reorganisation

Four teams dropped into junior hockey and the two divisions were amalgamated into a single Premier League of fourteen teams.

## 2018 reorganisation

The Intermediate League was revived.

## Trophies

* Winners of the Premier League are awarded the Keightley Cup.
* Winners of Senior 1 were awarded the Ireland's Saturday Night Cup.
* Winners of Senior 2 were awarded the Cliftonville Cup.

## League winners and relegated clubs
### 2018–19 on

| Year | Relegated from Irish Hockey League | Premier League winner | Promoted to Irish Hockey League $^1$ | Premier League relegated | Intermediate League promoted |
| 2023–24 | Instonians | Cookstown | n/a | NICS Raphoe | PSNI |
| 2022–23 | Cookstown | Queen's University | n/a | Mossley Newry | Raphoe |
| 2021–22 | n/a | Instonians | Cookstown Instonians | Raphoe | Bangor |
| 2019–20 | n/a$^2$ | Cookstown $^2$ | n/a$^2$ | Bangor Ballynahinch$^2$ | Belfast Harlequins NICS$^2$ |
| 2018–19 | Cookstown | Instonians | n/a | Antrim Belfast Harlequins NICS | Ballynahinch |
Key:
* 1 – Irish Hockey League Second Division formed in 2018–19 with teams competing in addition to the Ulster Premier League. Promotion to the Irish Premier League is via the IHL Second Division.
* 2 – 2019–20 Season abandoned due to coronavirus pandemic. Cookstown declared Premier League champions using percentage equalisation method. No promotion to or relegation from Irish Hockey League. Relegation to and promotion from Intermediate League based on percentage equalisation method.

### 2017–18

| Year | Relegated from Irish Hockey League | Premier League winner | Also promoted from Premier League | Premier League relegated |
| 2017–18 | n/a | Kilkeel | n/a | Cliftonville$^1$ |
Key:
* 1 – 2017–18 Cliftonville relegated to revived Intermediate League (and changed name to CIYMS). Other teams joining Intermediate League were Armagh, Ballymena, Ballynahinch, Down, Parkview, PSNI, Portrush and Saintfield.

### 2015–16 to 2016–17

| Year | Relegated from Irish Hockey League | Premier League winner | Also promoted from Premier League | Premier League relegated | Senior One winner |
| 2016–17 | Instonians | Cookstown$^1$ | Annadale$^2$ | Campbellians$^3$ | South Antrim$^4$ |
| 2015–16 | Annadale & Cookstown | Instonians$^5$ | n/a | South Antrim | Campbellians |
Key:
* 1 – 2016–17 Cookstown promoted to Irish Hockey League after winning the promotion/relegation play-off.
* 2 – 2016–17 Annadale promoted to Irish Hockey League after winning the Provincial play-offs.
* 3 – 2016–17 Campbellians dropped into junior hockey.
* 4 – 2016–17 Antrim, Bangor, Cliftonville and Queen's University promoted alongside South Antrim. Armagh, Ballynahinch and Portrush dropped into junior hockey.
* 5 – 2015–16 Instonians promoted to Irish Hockey League after winning the Provincial play-offs.

### 2010–11 to 2014–15

| Year | Premier League Winner | Premier League Relegated | Senior One Winner | Senior One Relegated | Senior Two Winner |
| 2014–15 | Banbridge$^1$ | Antrim | unknown$^2$ | PSNI(?) | Cliftonville$^3$ |
| 2013–14 | Lisnagarvey | Raphoe | Newry | Cliftonville | Portrush |
| 2012–13 | Banbridge | Mossley | Raphoe | Armagh Ballynahinch | PSNI$^4$ |
| 2011–12 | Cookstown | North Down | Antrim | Cliftonville | Ballynahinch |
| 2010–11 | Lisnagarvey | Bangor | Belfast Harlequins | Ballynahinch | Campbellians |
| 2009–10 | Cookstown | Raphoe | N.I.C.S. | Down | Ballynahinch |
| 2008–09 | Cookstown | Raphoe$^5$ | Kilkeel$^6$ | Ballynahinch | Down |
| 2007–08 | Cookstown | Kilkeel | Raphoe | Down | Armagh |
| 2006–07 | Annadale | N.I.C.S. | Mossley | PSNI | Down |
| 2005–06 | Annadale | North Down | Kilkeel | Armagh | South Antrim |
| 2004–05 | Annadale | Raphoe | North Down | South Antrim | Armagh |
| 2003–04 | Annadale | Kilkeel | Raphoe | Armagh | Ballynahinch |
| 2002–03 | Annadale | Mossley | Bangor | Parkview | Portadown |
| 2001–02 | Lisnagarvey | Newry | Kilkeel | Portadown | Parkview |
Key:
* 1 – 2014–15 Banbridge along with Annadale, Cookstown and Lisnagarvey joined the Irish Hockey League for the 2015–16 season.
* 2 – 2014–15 Mossley, North Down, Portadown, Raphoe and South Antrim promoted.
* 3 – 2014–15 Armagh, Ballynahinch and Cliftonville promoted. (Ballymena, Down, Larne, Newcastle, Parkview and Saintfield were relegated to the Junior League.)
* 4 – 2012–13 Cliftonville were also promoted.
* 5 – 2008–09 Raphoe were not relegated due to increase in number of teams in premier league to ten.
* 6 – 2008–09 North Down were also promoted to enable increase of premier league to ten teams.

### 2000–01 to 1969–70

| Year | Section 1 Winner | Section 1 Relegated | Section 2 Winner | Section 2 Relegated | Intermediate Winner |
| 2000–01 | Lisnagarvey | North Down & Raphoe | Bangor$^1$ | Larne, Parkview & Portrush | Armagh |
| 1999-2000 | Lisnagarvey | Cliftonville | N.I.C.S. | Down | R.U.C. |
| 1998–99 | Lisnagarvey | Bangor | North Down | R.U.C. | Portrush |
| 1997–98 | Instonians | Holywood '87 | Bangor | Ballynahinch | Larne & South Antrim$^2$ |
| 1996–97 | Lisnagarvey | Cliftonville$^3$ | Bangor$^3$ | R.U.C.$^3$ | Larne$^3$ |
| 1995–96 | Instonians | Bangor | Cliftonville | Portrush | North Down |
| 1994–95 | Lisnagarvey | Cliftonville | Bangor | East Antrim | R.U.C. |
| 1993–94 | Lisnagarvey | Bangor | Raphoe | South Antrim | Parkview |
| 1992–93 | Holywood '87 | Queen's University | Bangor | R.U.C. | Portrush |
| 1991–92 | Lisnagarvey | Bangor | Cliftonville | Wanderers | Portadown |
| 1990–91 | Lisnagarvey | R.U.C. | Bangor | North Down | Ballynahinch |
| 1989–90 | Lisnagarvey | Bangor | Newry | Friends School Old Boys | North Down |
| 1988–89 | Banbridge | Collegians | Queen's University | North Down | Wanderers |
| 1987–88 | Banbridge | Antrim | Collegians | Portrush | N.I.C.S. |
| 1986–87 | Banbridge | Raphoe | R.U.C. | Corinthians | Kilkeel |
| 1985–86 | Banbridge | R.U.C. | Raphoe | N.I.C.S. | Collegians |
| 1984–85 | Belfast Y.M.C.A. | Cliftonville | Annadale | Collegians | Down |
| 1983–84 | Belfast Y.M.C.A. | Annadale | R.U.C. | Parkview | Collegians |
| 1982–83 | Cookstown | Queen's University | Annadale | Portadown | East Antrim |
| 1981–82 | Belfast Y.M.C.A. | Portadown | Bangor | Down & East Antrim | Newry & Parkview |
| 1980–81 | Lisnagarvey | Annadale | Portadown | Newry & Parkview | Corinthians & Down |
| 1979–80 | Belfast Y.M.C.A. | Raphoe | Queen's University | Collegians & Down | North Down & Parkview |
| 1978–79 | Belfast Y.M.C.A.$^4$ | Bangor | Raphoe | North Down & Parkview | Down & South Antrim |
| 1977–78 | Lisnagarvey | Mossley$^5$ | N.I.C.S.$^5$ | Crossgar & Stranmillis | Collegians & Newry |
| 1976–77 | Lisnagarvey | Portrush | Bangor | Collegians & Newry | Raphoe & Stranmillis |
| 1975–76 | Cliftonville | Friends School Old Boys | Annadale | Stranmillis | Portadown |
| 1974–75 | Instonians | Parkview | Cookstown | No relegation | N.I.C.S. & Newry |
| 1973–74 | Cliftonville | Queen's University | Belfast Y.M.C.A. | Newry | East Antrim |
| 1972–73 | Cliftonville | Collegians | Banbridge | East Antrim | Newry |
| 1971–72 | Lisnagarvey | Banbridge | Collegians | Newry | Stranmillis |
| 1970–71 | | Belfast Y.M.C.A. | Parkview | N.I.C.S. | Annadale |
| 1969–70 | Lisnagarvey | Banbridge & Mossley$^6$ | Parkview$^6$ | Saintfield | Collegians |
Key:
* 1 – 2000–01 Bangor won Section 2 but lost a Promotion Playoff
* 2 – 1997–98 South Antrim were runners-up and gained promotion when Holywood '87 folded.
* 3 – 1996–97 Promotion and relegation suspended.
* 4 – 1978–79 Belfast YMCA won League after 3–1 victory in Test Match against Instonians.
* 5 – 1977–78 Promotion and relegation between Section 1 and 2 suspended because of Ireland's participation in the Hockey World Cup in Argentina.
* 6 – 1969–70 Promotion and relegation between Section 1 and 2 suspended.

### 1968–69 to 1957–58

| Year | Senior Winner | Senior Relegated | Qual. 'A' Winner | Qual. 'A' Relegated | Qual. 'B' Winner | Qual. 'B' Relegated | Inter. 'A' Winner |
| 1968–69 | Cliftonville | | F.S.O.B. | | North Down | | Collegians |
| 1967–68 | Cliftonville | R.U.C. | Mossley | East Antrim$^1$ | Cookstown | | Short & Harland |
| 1966–67 | Cliftonville | Banbridge | R.U.C. | Portadown | East Antrim | Ballymena | Cookstown |
| 1965–66 | Lisnagarvey | Mossley | Instonians | Lissara$^2$ | F.S.O.B. | Holywood | East Antrim |
| 1964–65 | Lisnagarvey$^3$ | Parkview | Mossley | North Down | Lissara | Albert Foundry | Lisburn OB$^4$ |
| 1963–64 | Y.M.C.A. | Bangor | Parkview | Montalto$^5$ | Portadown | None$^5$ | Lissara |
| 1962–63 | Lisnagarvey | Parkview | Portrush | Holywood | Instonians | South Antrim | King's Scholars |
| 1961–62 | Banbridge | Portrush | Bangor | Down | Old Bleach | East Antrim | Instonians |
| 1960–61 | Lisnagarvey | Mossley | Parkview | Albert Foundry | Bangor | Short & Harland | Portadown |
| 1959–60 | Lisnagarvey | Parkview | Cliftonville | South Antrim | Montalto | King's Scholars | Saintfield |
| 1958–59 | | Cliftonville | Mossley | East Antrim | RUC | Lisburn OB | Montalto |
| 1957–58 | | North Down | Portrush |
KEY
* 1 – 1967–68 Old Bleach(Qual. A) folded after this season. As a result, East Antrim were not relegated. In addition Holywood(Int. A) folded.
* 2 – 1965–66 Lissara renamed as Crossgar at the end of this season.
* 3 – 1964–65 Lisnagarvey won League after Test Match with Cliftonville
* 4 – 1964–65 Lisburn Old Boys renamed as Friends School Old Boys at the end of this season.
* 5 – 1963–64 Montalto withdrew from League during season. No relegation from Qualifying B.

### 1956–57 to formation

* 1956–57
* 1955–56 Belfast YMCA (Won Test Match against Parkview)
* 1954–55 Lisnagarvey (Won Test Match against Parkview)
* 1953–54 Lisnagarvey (Won Test Match against Down)
* 1952–53 Lisnagarvey
* 1951–52 Lisnagarvey
* 1950–51 Lisnagarvey
* 1949–50 Lisnagarvey (Won Test Match 1–0 v Parkview)
* 1948–49 Parkview (Won Test Match 2–1 after extra time v Antrim)
* 1947–48
* 1946–47
* 1945–46
* 1944–45 Lisnagarvey
* 1943–44
* 1942–43
* 1941–42
* 1940–41
* 1939–40
* 1938–39 Lisnagarvey
* 1937–38 Lisnagarvey
* 1936–37 North Down
* 1935–36 North Down
* 1934–35 North Down
* 1933–34 Lisnagarvey (Won Test Match 3–1 v North Down) (2 section Senior League)
* 1932–33 North Down
* 1931–32 North Down
* 1930–31 Cliftonville
* 1929–30 Antrim
* 1928–29 Cliftonville
* 1927–28 Antrim
* 1926–27 Antrim
* 1925–26 Banbridge (Won Test Match 3–2 v Lisnagarvey)
* 1924–25 Lisnagarvey
* 1923–24 East Antrim (Won Test Match 4–3 v Banbridge)
* 1922–23
* 1921–22
* 1920–21 Antrim (Won Test Match 3–1 v Banbridge)
* 1919–20
* 1918–19 Not Played
* 1917–18 Not Played
* 1916–17 Not Played
* 1915–16 Not Played
* 1914–15 Not Played
* 1913–14 Banbridge
* 1912–13 Banbridge
* 1911–12 Queen's University
* 1910–11 Banbridge
* 1909–10 Banbridge (after a Test Match)
* 1908–09 Banbridge (after a Test Match)
* 1907–08 Antrim
* 1906–07 Cliftonville (after a Test Match)
* 1905–06 Malone
* 1904–05 Antrim (after a Test Match)
* 1903–04 Banbridge
* 1902–03 Antrim
* 1901–02 Banbridge
* 1900–01 Antrim
* 1899-1900 North Down
* 1898–99
* 1897–98 Antrim

## Sources

* ↑ Belfast Newsletter 16/10/1897 Page 3
* ↑ Ireland's Saturday Night 4 December 1897
* ↑ Ulster Hockey
* ↑ Belfast Telegraph
* ↑ "Ulster Branch Rule Book Page 14/15" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 9, 2008. Retrieved 2007-07-01.
* ↑ Ulster Hockey
* ↑ Ulster Hockey Facebook page (15 March 2024)
* ↑ Ulster Hockey
* ↑ https://websites.mygameday.app/comp_info.cgi?a=LADDER&compID=594510&c=0-12669-0-594590-0 Ulster Hockey
* ↑ Hockey Ireland
* ↑ Ulster Hockey
* ↑ Ulster Hockey
* ↑ Belfast Telegraph
* ↑ BBC
* ↑ Ulster Hockey
* ↑ Ulster Hockey
* ↑ Ulster Hockey
* ↑ Belfast Telegraph
* ↑ Ulster Hockey
* ↑ "One Down, Two to Go for Bann". 21 March 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
* ↑ "American Chronicle (from Belfast Telegraph) report on Cookstown 2009–10 league win". Retrieved 2010-04-28.
* ↑ "Belfast Telegraph report on Cookstown 2008–09 league win". Retrieved 2009-03-13.
* ↑ "Belfast Newsletter report on Cookstown 2007–08 league win". Retrieved 2008-04-15.
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 12 April 1996. p. 36. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 6 March 1995. p. 22. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 10 March 1994. p. 34. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 17 April 1981. p. 16. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 11 May 1979. p. 18. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 1 May 1976. p. 9. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 16 April 1975. p. 17. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 30 April 1963. p. 8. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 19 April 1961. p. 11. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 12 May 1960. p. 9. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Northern Whig & Belfast Post. 24 April 1950. p. 5. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Northern Whig & Belfast Post. 21 April 1949. p. 2. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 25 April 1939. p. 3. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Northern Whig & Belfast Post. 21 April 1938. p. 10. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 29 March 1937. p. 9. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 13 April 1936. p. 4. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 9 April 1935. p. 2. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 30 April 1934. p. 3. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 21 April 1933. p. 13. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 18 April 1932. p. 10. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Northern Whig & Belfast Post. 8 April 1931. p. 3. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 24 April 1930. p. 12. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 23 April 1929. p. 12. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 23 April 1928. p. 2. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 29 April 1927. p. 5. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 12 May 1926. p. 2. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 2 May 1924. p. 2. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 14 May 1921. p. 2. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 28 April 1903. p. 3. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 28 April 1902. p. 5. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 19 April 1901. p. 3. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
* ↑ Belfast Newsletter. 30 March 1898. p. 3. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
Information gathered from Belfast Newsletter and Ireland Saturday Night