Football tournament in Northern Ireland
Football tournament
The County Antrim & District Football Association Senior Shield (more commonly known as the County Antrim Shield ) is a football competition in Northern Ireland . The competition is open to senior teams who are members of the North East Ulster Football Association (also known as the County Antrim & District Football Association ) (membership of which extends geographically beyond County Antrim itself), often plus intermediate teams who qualify via the Steel & Sons Cup , depending on the numbers required.[ 1] For the 2010–11 and 2011-12 seasons, only the winners took part.
The current Shield champions are Larne , who beat Glentoran 2–1 in the 2023–24 final , winning the trophy for a fourth successive year.
The County Antrim & District Football Association was founded on April 23, 1888 by the clubs Ballyclare, Beechmount, Belfast Athletic, Clarence , Cliftonville , Distillery , Linfield , Mountcollyer, Oldpark , Whiteabbey and YMCA . The County Antrim FA has organised the competition for the County Antrim Shield annually ever since. Originally only clubs from County Antrim (to which most but not all of Belfast belonged) could enter; in 1896 it was extended to incorporate clubs from south east Belfast (in particular Glentoran and Ulster ), which belonged to County Down (other clubs from County Down to have entered later on include Ards , Bangor and Newry City ). Glenavon from Lurgan (County Armagh ) first entered in 1912. In 1971/72 and 1972/73, the final was played over 2 legs.
During the later 1980s and early 1990s, the North East Ulster F.A. invited senior clubs from outside its jurisdiction to participate. Hence the Shield has been won by Newry Town (later Newry City) and Glenavon , neither of which are members of the North East Ulster Football Association.[ 3]
The Shield has been regularly sponsored since the late 1980s. The 2014–15 competition was sponsored by Toals Bookmakers.
Key:
Scores level after 90 minutes. A replay was required.
(a.e.t. )
Scores level after extra time . A replay was required.
(a.e.t. )
Scores level after 90 minutes. Winner was decided in extra time with no penalty shootout required.
(a.e.t. ) (g.g. )
Scores level after 90 minutes. Winner was decided in extra time by golden goal .
(a.e.t. ) pens.
Scores level after extra time. A penalty shootout was required to determine the winner.
pens.
Scores level after 90 minutes. A penalty shootout was required to determine the winner.
Two-legged final. Aggregate score across two legs determined the winner with a penalty shootout required if score was level.
#
Season
Winner (number of titles)
Score
Runner-up
Venue
1
1888–89
Distillery (1)
8 – 4
YMCA
Ulster Cricket Ground , Belfast
1889–90
Shield not awarded [ n 1]
2
1890–91
Black Watch (1)
4 – 2
Oldpark
Solitude , Belfast
3
1891–92
Cliftonville (1)
2 – 1
Lancashire Fusiliers
Solitude , Belfast
4
1892–93
Distillery (2)
2 – 1
Celtic
Grosvenor Park , Belfast
5
1893–94
Cliftonville (2)
2 – 1
Celtic
Grosvenor Park , Belfast
6
1894–95
Celtic (1)
3 – 1
Distillery
Solitude , Belfast
7
1895–96
Distillery (3)
5 – 0
Linfield
Solitude , Belfast
8
1896–97
Distillery (4)
2 – 2
Linfield
Solitude , Belfast
Replay
3 – 1
Solitude , Belfast
9
1897–98
Cliftonville (3)
2 – 0
Linfield
Grosvenor Park , Belfast
10
1898–99
Linfield (1)
1 – 1
Linfield Swifts
Solitude , Belfast
Replay
4 – 0
Solitude , Belfast
11
1899–1900
Distillery (5)
0 – 0
Linfield
Solitude , Belfast
Replay
2 – 0
Solitude , Belfast
12
1900–01
Glentoran (1)
2 – 1
Cliftonville
Myrtlefield, Belfast
13
1901–02
Glentoran (2)
2 – 1
Distillery
Solitude , Belfast
14
1902–03
Distillery (6)
1 – 1
Linfield
Solitude , Belfast
Replay
4 – 1
Solitude , Belfast
15
1903–04
Linfield (2)
4 – 1
Belfast Celtic
Solitude , Belfast
16
1904–05
Distillery (7)
2 – 0
Linfield
Solitude , Belfast
17
1905–06
Linfield (3)
1 – 1
Distillery
Solitude , Belfast
Replay
2 – 0
Windsor Park , Belfast
18
1906–07
Linfield (4)
2 – 0
Glentoran
Solitude , Belfast
19
1907–08
Linfield (5)
3 – 0
Distillery
Solitude , Belfast
20
1908–09
Glentoran II (1)
3 – 0
Cliftonville
Celtic Park , Belfast
21
1909–10
Belfast Celtic (2)
3 – 1
Glentoran
Solitude , Belfast
22
1910–11
Glentoran (3)
2 – 0
Cliftonville
Celtic Park , Belfast
1911–12
Tournament not held [ n 2]
23
1912–13
Linfield (6)
0 – 0
Cliftonville
Celtic Park , Belfast
Replay
0 – 0
Grosvenor Park , Belfast
2nd replay
1 – 0 (a.e.t. )
The Oval , Belfast
24
1913–14
Linfield (7)
3 – 2
Glentoran
Grosvenor Park , Belfast
25
1914–15
Distillery (8)
1 – 0
Glentoran
Windsor Park , Belfast
26
1915–16
Glentoran (4)
1 – 0
Distillery
Solitude , Belfast
27
1916–17
Linfield (8)
3 – 0
Glentoran
Celtic Park , Belfast
28
1917–18
Glentoran (5)
2 – 0
Linfield
Grosvenor Park , Belfast
29
1918–19
Distillery (9)
0 – 0
Belfast Celtic
The Oval , Belfast
Replay
1 – 0
Windsor Park , Belfast
30
1919–20
Distillery (10)
0 – 0
Belfast Celtic
Windsor Park , Belfast
Replay
2 – 0
Solitude , Belfast
31
1920–21
Glentoran (6)
1 – 1
Distillery
Solitude , Belfast
Replay
0 – 0
Windsor Park , Belfast
2nd replay
0 – 0
Solitude , Belfast
3rd replay
2 – 0
Windsor Park , Belfast
32
1921–22
Linfield (9)
1 – 1
Distillery
The Oval , Belfast
Replay
4 – 1
Solitude , Belfast
33
1922–23
Linfield (10)
4 – 1
Glentoran
Solitude , Belfast
34
1923–24
Queen's Island (1)
3 – 0
Distillery
Windsor Park , Belfast
35
1924–25
Glentoran (7)
2 – 1
Belfast Celtic
Solitude , Belfast
36
1925–26
Cliftonville (4)
5 – 1
Glentoran
Windsor Park , Belfast
37
1926–27
Belfast Celtic (3)
3 – 2
Dunmurry
Solitude , Belfast
38
1927–28
Linfield (11)
1 – 1
Ards
Solitude , Belfast
Replay
4 – 1
Solitude , Belfast
39
1928–29
Linfield (12)
2 – 1
Broadway United
Grosvenor Park , Belfast
40
1929–30
Linfield (13)
3 – 1
Glentoran
Solitude , Belfast
41
1930–31
Glentoran (8)
2 – 1
Cliftonville
Grosvenor Park , Belfast
42
1931–32
Linfield (14)
5 – 1
Belfast Celtic
The Oval , Belfast
43
1932–33
Linfield (15)
1 – 1
Belfast Celtic
Solitude , Belfast
Replay
1 – 1
Solitude , Belfast
2nd replay
3 – 1
Solitude , Belfast
44
1933–34
Linfield (16)
7 – 1
Ards
Grosvenor Park , Belfast
45
1934–35
Linfield (17)
4 – 2
Belfast Celtic II
Solitude , Belfast
46
1935–36
Belfast Celtic (4)
1 – 0
Belfast Celtic II
Windsor Park , Belfast
47
1936–37
Belfast Celtic (5)
2 – 2
Glentoran
Grosvenor Park , Belfast
Replay
1 – 0
Grosvenor Park , Belfast
48
1937–38
Linfield (18)
3 – 2
Ballymena United
Grosvenor Park , Belfast
49
1938–39
Belfast Celtic (6)
2 – 1
Glentoran
Grosvenor Park , Belfast
50
1939–40
Glentoran (9)
4 – 0
Linfield
Solitude , Belfast
51
1940–41
Glentoran (10)
1 – 0
Distillery
Windsor Park , Belfast
52
1941–42
Linfield (19)
2 – 0
Larne
Grosvenor Park , Belfast
53
1942–43
Belfast Celtic (7)
0 – 0
Linfield
Solitude , Belfast
Replay
2 – 2
Solitude , Belfast
2nd replay
2 – 1
Solitude , Belfast
54
1943–44
Glentoran (11)
3 – 0
Belfast Celtic
Solitude , Belfast
55
1944–45
Belfast Celtic (8)
0 – 0
Linfield
Grosvenor Park , Belfast
Replay
1 – 0
Solitude , Belfast
56
1945–46
Distillery (11)
1 – 1
Bangor Reserves
Windsor Park , Belfast
Replay
3 – 0
Windsor Park , Belfast
1946–47
Linfield (20)
Walkover [ n 3]
Belfast Celtic
57
1947–48
Ballymena United (1)
2 – 1
Linfield
Celtic Park , Belfast
58
1948–49
Linfield Swifts (1)
2 – 2
Bangor
Grosvenor Park , Belfast
Replay
3 – 3
Grosvenor Park , Belfast
2nd replay
4 – 1
Grosvenor Park , Belfast
59
1949–50
Glentoran (12)
2 – 0
Linfield
Solitude , Belfast
60
1950–51
Ballymena United (2)
2 – 2
Cliftonville
Windsor Park , Belfast
Replay
3 – 0
Windsor Park , Belfast
61
1951–52
Glentoran (13)
3 – 0
Brantwood
Solitude , Belfast
62
1952–53
Linfield (21)
2 – 2
Distillery
Solitude , Belfast
Replay
4 – 4 (a.e.t )
Solitude , Belfast
2nd replay
2 – 1
Solitude , Belfast
63
1953–54
Distillery (12)
1 – 0
Ballymena United
Solitude , Belfast
64
1954–55
Linfield (22)
3 – 0
Crusaders
Solitude , Belfast
65
1955–56
Ards (1)
4 – 1
Linfield
The Oval , Belfast
66
1956–57
Glentoran (14)
0 – 0
Distillery
Solitude , Belfast
Replay
4 – 0
Solitude , Belfast
67
1957–58
Linfield (23)
3 – 1
Distillery
Solitude , Belfast
68
1958–59
Linfield (24)
3 – 1
Bangor
Solitude , Belfast
69
1959–60
Crusaders (1)
2 – 2
Linfield
Solitude , Belfast
Replay
2 – 0
Solitude , Belfast
70
1960–61
Linfield (25)
2 – 1
Glentoran
Solitude , Belfast
71
1961–62
Linfield (26)
5 – 0
Glentoran
Solitude , Belfast
72
1962–63
Linfield (27)
4 – 0
Bangor
Solitude , Belfast
73
1963–64
Distillery (13)
2 – 1
Glentoran
Solitude , Belfast
74
1964–65
Crusaders (2)
6 – 0
Larne
The Oval , Belfast
75
1965–66
Linfield (28)
4 – 0
Ballymena United
Solitude , Belfast
76
1966–67
Linfield (29)
5 – 3
Crusaders
The Oval , Belfast
77
1967–68
Glentoran (15)
3 – 3
Linfield
Solitude , Belfast
Replay
3 – 0
Solitude , Belfast
78
1968–69
Crusaders (3)
2 – 1
Linfield
Solitude , Belfast
79
1969–70
Bangor (1)
1 – 1
Ards
Solitude , Belfast
Replay
1 – 1
Solitude , Belfast
2nd replay
1 – 1 (a.e.t. )
Solitude , Belfast
3rd replay
3 – 2
Solitude , Belfast
80
1970–71
Glentoran (16)
2 – 1
Crusaders
Solitude , Belfast
81
1971–72
Ards (2)
3 – 0
Crusaders
Castlereagh Park , Newtownards
0 – 3 (3 – 3 agg. ) (5 – 4 pens. )
Seaview , Belfast
82
1972–73
Linfield (30)
4 – 1
Bangor
Windsor Park , Belfast
5 – 0 (9 – 1 agg. )
Clandeboye Park , Bangor
83
1973–74
Crusaders (4)
2 – 1
Larne
Inver Park , Larne
84
1974–75
Bangor (2)
2 – 1
Glentoran
The Oval , Belfast
85
1975–76
Ballymena United (3)
4 – 0
Distillery
Inver Park , Larne
86
1976–77
Linfield (31)
3 – 1
Glentoran
Windsor Park , Belfast
87
1977–78
Glentoran (17)
1 – 0
Crusaders
Windsor Park , Belfast
88
1978–79
Cliftonville (5)
0 – 0 (a.e.t. ) (3 – 1 pens. )
Crusaders
Seaview , Belfast
89
1979–80
Ballymena United (4)
0 – 0 (a.e.t. ) (3 – 1 pens. )
Crusaders
The Oval , Belfast
90
1980–81
Linfield (32)
4 – 1
Glentoran
Windsor Park , Belfast
91
1981–82
Linfield (33)
1 – 0
Distillery
Seaview , Belfast
92
1982–83
Linfield (34)
4 – 1
Glentoran
Windsor Park , Belfast
93
1983–84
Linfield (35)
3 – 1
Crusaders
Seaview , Belfast
94
1984–85
Glentoran (18)
2 – 1
Crusaders
The Oval , Belfast
95
1985–86
Distillery (14)
3 – 1
Ballymena United
The Oval , Belfast
96
1986–87
Glentoran (19)
3 – 0
Glenavon
The Oval , Belfast
97
1987–88
Newry Town (1)
2 – 1
Ballymena United
The Oval , Belfast
98
1988–89
Bangor (3)
2 – 1 (a.e.t. )
Glentoran
Seaview , Belfast
99
1989–90
Glentoran (20)
0 – 0 (a.e.t. ) (6 – 5 pens. )
Linfield
The Oval , Belfast
100
1990–91
Glenavon (1)
4 – 3
Newry Town
New Grosvenor Stadium , Ballyskeagh
101
1991–92
Crusaders (5)
2 – 1
Glenavon
The Oval , Belfast
102
1992–93
Carrick Rangers (1)
1 – 1 (a.e.t. )
Glentoran
Windsor Park , Belfast
Replay
2 – 1
Windsor Park , Belfast
103
1993–94
Ards (3)
4 – 2
Crusaders
The Oval , Belfast
104
1994–95
Linfield (36)
4 – 0
Glenavon
The Oval , Belfast
105
1995–96
Glenavon (2)
3 – 0
Crusaders
The Oval , Belfast
106
1996–97
Cliftonville (6)
0 – 0 [ n 4]
Ballymena United
Windsor Park , Belfast
0 – 0 (a.e.t. ) (5 – 4 pens. )
Windsor Park , Belfast
107
1997–98
Linfield (37)
1 – 0 (a.e.t. ) (g.g. )
Crusaders
The Oval , Belfast
108
1998–99
Glentoran (21)
2 – 0
Cliftonville
Windsor Park , Belfast
109
1999–2000
Glentoran (22)
2 – 1
Bangor
Castlereagh Park , Newtownards
110
2000–01
Linfield (38)
2 – 1
Glentoran
Windsor Park , Belfast
111
2001–02
Glentoran (23)
2 – 0
Linfield
The Oval , Belfast
112
2002–03
Glentoran (24)
3 – 0
Ballymena United
The Oval , Belfast
113
2003–04
Linfield (39)
2 – 0
Ards
The Oval , Belfast
114
2004–05
Linfield (40)
2 – 1 (a.e.t. )
Crusaders
The Oval , Belfast
115
2005–06
Linfield (41)
2 – 1
Ballymena United
Seaview , Belfast
116
2006–07
Cliftonville (7)
2 – 1
Lisburn Distillery
The Oval , Belfast
117
2007–08
Glentoran (25)
2 – 1
Crusaders
Windsor Park , Belfast
118
2008–09
Cliftonville (8)
2 – 1
Linfield
Windsor Park , Belfast
119
2009–10
Crusaders (6)
3 – 2 (a.e.t. )
Linfield
Windsor Park , Belfast
120
2010–11
Glentoran (26)
3 – 1
Linfield
Windsor Park , Belfast
121
2011–12
Cliftonville (9)
2 – 1
Glentoran
The Oval , Belfast
122
2012–13
Ballymena United (5)
1 – 1 (a.e.t. ) (4 – 3 pens. )
Linfield
The Oval , Belfast
123
2013–14
Linfield (42)
0 – 0 (a.e.t. ) (4 – 1 pens. )
Crusaders
The Showgrounds , Ballymena
124
2014–15
Cliftonville (10)
1 – 0
Bangor
Solitude , Belfast
125
2015–16
Ballymena United (6)
3 – 2
Linfield
Windsor Park , Belfast
126
2016–17
Linfield (43)
3 – 1
Crusaders
The Showgrounds , Ballymena
127
2017–18
Crusaders (7)
4 – 2
Ballymena United
The Showgrounds , Ballymena
128
2018–19
Crusaders (8)
4 – 3
Linfield
Seaview , Belfast
129
2019–20
Cliftonville (11)
2 – 1
Ballymena United
Windsor Park , Belfast
130
2020–21
Larne (1)
0 – 0 (4 – 3 pens. )
Glentoran
Seaview , Belfast
131
2021–22
Larne (2)
1 – 0
Linfield
Seaview , Belfast
132
2022–23
Larne (3)
0 – 0 (4 – 3 pens. )
Linfield
Seaview , Belfast
133
2023–24
Larne (4)
2 – 1
Glentoran
Seaview , Belfast
Club
Winners
Runners-up
Winning Years
Runners-up Years
Linfield
43
26
1898–99 , 1903–04 , 1905–06 , 1906–07 , 1907–08 , 1912–13 , 1913–14 , 1916–17 , 1921–22 , 1922–23 , 1927–28 , 1928–29 , 1929–30 , 1931–32 , 1932–33 , 1933–34 , 1934–35 , 1937–38 , 1941–42 , 1946–47 , 1952–53 , 1954–55 , 1957–58 , 1958–59 , 1960–61 , 1961–62 , 1962–63 , 1965–66 , 1966–67 , 1972–73 , 1976–77 , 1980–81 , 1981–82 , 1982–83 , 1983–84 , 1994–95 , 1997–98 , 2000–01 , 2003–04 , 2004–05 , 2005–06 , 2013–14 , 2016–17
1895–96 , 1896–97 , 1897–98 , 1899–1900 , 1902–03 , 1904–05 , 1917–18 , 1939–40 , 1942–43 , 1944–45 , 1947–48 , 1949–50 , 1955–56 , 1959–60 , 1967–68 , 1968–69 , 1989–90 , 2001–02 , 2008–09 , 2009–10 , 2010–11 , 2012–13 , 2015–16 , 2018–19 , 2021–22 , 2022–23
Glentoran
26
23
1900–01 , 1901–02 , 1910–11 , 1915–16 , 1917–18 , 1920–21 , 1924–25 , 1930–31 , 1939–40 , 1940–41 , 1943–44 , 1949–50 , 1951–52 , 1956–57 , 1967–68 , 1970–71 , 1977–78 , 1984–85 , 1986–87 , 1989–90 , 1998–99 , 1999–2000 , 2001–02 , 2002–03 , 2007–08 , 2010–11
1906–07 , 1909–10 , 1913–14 , 1914–15 , 1916–17 , 1922–23 , 1925–26 , 1929–30 , 1936–37 , 1938–39 , 1960–61 , 1961–62 , 1963–64 , 1974–75 , 1976–77 , 1980–81 , 1982–83 , 1988–89 , 1992–93 , 2000–01 , 2011–12 , 2020–21 , 2023–24
Lisburn Distillery
14
16
1888–89 , 1892–93 , 1895–96 , 1896–97 , 1899–1900 , 1902–03 , 1904–05 , 1914–15 , 1918–19 , 1919–20 , 1945–46 , 1953–54 , 1963–64 , 1985–86
1889–90 , 1894–95 , 1901–02 , 1905–06 , 1907–08 , 1915–16 , 1920–21 , 1921–22 , 1923–24 , 1940–41 , 1952–53 , 1956–57 , 1957–58 , 1975–76 , 1981–82 , 2006–07
Cliftonville
11
7
1891–92 , 1893–94 , 1897–98 , 1925–26 , 1978–79 , 1996–97 , 2006–07 , 2008–09 , 2011–12 , 2014–15 , 2019–20
1900–01 , 1908–09 , 1910–11 , 1912–13 , 1930–31 , 1950–51 , 1998–99
Crusaders
8
16
1959–60 , 1964–65 , 1968–69 , 1973–74 , 1991–92 , 2009–10 , 2017–18 , 2018–19
1954–55 , 1966–67 , 1970–71 , 1971–72 , 1977–78 , 1978–79 , 1979–80 , 1983–84 , 1984–85 , 1993–94 , 1995–96 , 1997–98 , 2004–05 , 2007–08 , 2013–14 , 2016–17
Belfast Celtic
8
10
1894–95 , 1909–10 , 1926–27 , 1935–36 , 1936–37 , 1938–39 , 1942–43 , 1944–45
1892–93 , 1893–94 , 1903–04 , 1918–19 , 1919–20 , 1924–25 , 1931–32 , 1932–33 , 1943–44 , 1946–47
Ballymena United
6
10
1947–48 , 1950–51 , 1975–76 , 1979–80 , 2012–13 , 2015–16
1937–38 , 1953–54 , 1965–66 , 1985–86 , 1987–88 , 1996–97 , 2002–03 , 2005–06 , 2017–18 , 2019–20
Larne
4
3
2020–21 , 2021–22 , 2022–23 , 2023–24
1941–42 , 1964–65 , 1973–74
Bangor
3
6
1969–70 , 1974–75 , 1988–89
1948–49 , 1958–59 , 1962–63 , 1972–73 , 1999–2000 , 2014–15
Ards
3
4
1955–56 , 1971–72 , 1993–94
1927–28 , 1933–34 , 1969–70 , 2003–04
Glenavon
2
3
1990–91 , 1995–96
1986–87 , 1991–92 , 1994–95
Linfield Swifts
1
1
1948–49
1898–99
Newry Town
1
1
1987–88
1990–91
Black Watch
1
0
1890–91
–
Glentoran II
1
0
1908–09
–
Queen's Island
1
0
1923–24
–
Carrick Rangers
1
0
1992–93
–
Belfast Celtic II
0
2
–
1934–35 , 1935–36
YMCA
0
1
–
1888–89
Oldpark
0
1
–
1890–91
Lancashire Fusiliers
0
1
–
1891–92
Linfield Swifts
0
1
–
1898–99
Dunmurry
0
1
–
1926–27
Broadway United
0
1
–
1928–29
Bangor Reserves
0
1
–
1945–46
Brantwood
0
1
–
1951–52
To mark the centenary of the County Antrim F.A., a Centenary Chalice was played for in 1987–88 . Glentoran won it, defeating Ballymena United 4–2 in the final.[ 4]
^ Linfield were leading the final 5–3 when the match was abandoned due to crowd trouble and awarding of the Shield was withheld. Linfield resigned from the County Antrim FA in protest.
^ The senior clubs refused to compete for the competition due to a dispute with the Irish Football Association.
^ Linfield were awarded the Shield after Belfast Celtic would not agree on a date for the final.
^ The final was replayed after the first match was abandoned due to crowd disorder.
^ Dawson Simpson (2004). The Whites: A History of Distillery FC 1880-2004 . p. 20.
^ Graham Hamilton (1988). 100 Years of Football: The History of the Co. Antrim FA . p. 109.
^ Brodie, M. (ed.), Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook 1988-89
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