# 2017 Ulster Senior Hurling Championship

The 2017 Ulster Senior Hurling Championship is the sixty-ninth edition of the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Ulster Council in 1901 is the highest-tier of Hurling for senior county teams in Ulster. It is contested by four Ulster GAA county teams ranked 1–4 from the 2016 Ulster Senior Hurling Championship. The championship was moved to April, instead of the usual June/July dates, in order to accommodate the various tiers of the 2017 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.
Antrim won a sixteenth consecutive title.

## Team changes
### To championship

Promoted from the Ulster Senior Hurling Shield
* Donegal

### From championship

Relegated to the Ulster Senior Hurling Shield
* Derry

## Format

The two-tier format introduced in 2016 continued.
Ulster Senior Hurling Championship
In the first tier, the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship, Antrim, Armagh, Donegal and Down compete in a knock-out format. The winners receive the Liam Harvey cup. The two teams beaten in the semi-finals of the Championship play-off with the losing team relegated to the Shield for 2018.
Ulster Senior Hurling Shield
In the second tier, the Ulster Senior Hurling Shield, Derry, Fermanagh, Monaghan and Tyrone compete in a knock-out format, with the winner gaining promotion to the top tier for 2018. Cavan do not participate.
Promotion/Relegation
The Shield winners are promoted to the top tier and the loser of the top tier relegation play-off are relegated.
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
There is no direct path for the Ulster Champions in the 2017 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. The Counties competed in the Christy Ring Cup, Nicky Rackard Cup and Lory Meagher Cup.

## Teams
### General Information

Four counties will compete in the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship:
| County | Last Provincial Title | Last All-Ireland Title | Position in 2016 Championship |
| Antrim | 2016 | — | Champions |
| Armagh | — | — | Runners-up |
| Down | 1997 | — | Semi-finals |
| Donegal | 1932 | — | Champions (Ulster shield) |

### Team statistics

| Antrim | Armagh | Donegal | Down |
| Titles ||||
| 56 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Last title ||||
| 2016 | n/a | 1932 | 1997 |

### Championship Teams

| County | Location | Championship | Division | Championship Titles | Last Championship Title |
| Antrim | Casement Park | Christy Ring Cup | 2A | 56 | 2016 |
| Armagh | Athletic Grounds | Nicky Rackard Cup | 2A | 0 | - |
| Donegal | MacCumhaill Park | Nicky Rackard Cup | 3A | 3 | 1932 |
| Down | Páirc Esler | Christy Ring | 2B | 4 | 1997 |

### Shield Teams

| County | Location | Championship | Division | Championship Titles | Last Championship Title |
| Derry | Celtic Park | Nicky Rackard Cup | 2B | 4 | 2001 |
| Fermanagh | Brewster Park | Lory Meagher Cup | 3B | 0 | - |
| Monaghan | St Tiernach's Park | Nicky Rackard Cup | 3A | 2 | 1915 |
| Tyrone | Healy Park | Nicky Rackard Cup | 3A | 0 | - |

## Bracket
### Bracket

| Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Final | Final | Final |
| Armagh | Armagh | 1-17 | | | |
| Down | Down | 2-12 | | | |
| Down | Down | 2-12 | Armagh | Armagh | 1-12 |
| | | | Antrim | Antrim | 5-22 |
| Antrim | Antrim | 3-24 | Antrim | Antrim | 5-22 |
| Donegal | Donegal | 1-10 | Relegation Playoff | Relegation Playoff | Relegation Playoff |
| | | | Down | Down | w/o |
| | | | Donegal | Donegal | scr. |

## Relegation Playoff
### Relegation playoff match

* Donegal withdrew ahead of the match, and were relegated to the 2018 Ulster Hurling Shield. Down retained their place for the 2018 Ulster Hurling Championship.

## Ulster Senior Hurling Shield
### Bracket

| Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Final | Final | Final |
| Tyrone | Tyrone | 4-18 | | | |
| Fermanagh | Fermanagh | 1-10 | | | |
| Fermanagh | Fermanagh | 1-10 | Tyrone | Tyrone | 1-12 |
| | | | Derry | Derry | 1-17 |
| Monaghan | Monaghan | 0-09 | Derry | Derry | 1-17 |
| Derry | Derry | 6-28 | | | |

### Ulster Shield Final

* Derry won the 2017 Ulster Hurling shield and promotion to the 2018 Ulster Senior Hurling Championship.

## Championship statistics
### Scoring events

* Widest winning margin: 22 points
** Armagh 1-12 - 5-22 Antrim (Final)
* Most goals in a match: 6
** Armagh 1-12 - 5-22 Antrim (Final)
* Most points in a match: 34
** Antrim 3-24 - 1-10 Donegal (Semi-finals)
** Armagh 1-12 - 5-22 Antrim (Final)
* Most goals by one team in a match: 5
** Armagh 1-12 - 5-22 Antrim (Final)
* Most points by one team in a match: 24
** Antrim 3-24 - 1-10 Donegal (Semi-finals)
* Highest aggregate score: 52 points
** Armagh 1-12 - 5-22 Antrim (Final)
* Lowest aggregate score: 38 points
** Armagh 1-17 - 2-12 Down (Semi-finals)

## Miscellaneous

* Antrim won their 16th Ulster title in a row.
* Armagh reached their fourth ever ulster final.