Today we take a look at another championship season from the past. This time it’s a provincial championship in the form of the 2006 Ulster Seinor Hurling Championship.
Overview
The Ulster hurling championship rarely made headlines as it had during the 90’s by the time of the 2006 championship. In fact it was no longer even part of the All-Ireland series and had become a stand alone championship in 2005.
Championship
Antrim, Derry, Down, London and New York took part in the championship. The championship was planned to be played off before the start of the Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard Cups later in the summer.
Antrim faced London in the Quarter-Final in Ruislip. As expected the holders had little issuse overcoming the exiles to book a semi-final spot. In the semi-final they over came Down to book another spot in the final again with little fuss.
It was the second semi-final however that would cause some headaces. New York hosted Derry, in a game that the Oak Leaf men were expected to win without issue. However at full time scored a famous 1-18 to 1-12 win.
The win seen New York qualify for the Ulster final, however this rased issues with New York players having trouble traveling as the game was fixed for Casement Park Belfast.
The Ulster Council turned down New Yorks request for a two-week postponement insisting that the match had go ahead in Belfast on the date it was fixed. The New York GAA Board had even offered to play the game in August of that year and to fly the Antrim squad to New York.
It was looking likely that the game would never be played, but in the end something was agreed to suit both sides.
Pic via Sportsfile
On the 22nd of October 2006 for the first and only time in the history of the championships, the Ulster final was played at Canton Field in Boston. A tally of 1–07 for Johnny McIntosh helped Antrim to a fifth successive championship after a 2-20 to 1-14 win.
Aftermath
Having been playing in the championship since 2000 after all that happened New York pulled out of the championship and haven’t to date returned.
Antrim won that seasons Christy Ring Cup and have won every Ulster title since it was last played in 2017. While Derry, who New York beat in the semi-final, went on to win that years Nicky Rackard Cup.
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