County Antrim Shield
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 beyond County Antrim itself), often plus intermediate teams who qualify via the Steel & Sons Cup, depending on the numbers required. For the 2010–11 and 2011-12 seasons, only the winners took part.
Organising body | County Antrim & District F.A. |
---|---|
Founded | 1888 |
Region | Northern Ireland |
Current champions | Larne (2020–21) |
Most successful club(s) | Linfield (43 titles) |
Website | County Antrim F.A. |
The current Shield champions are Larne, who beat Glentoran 4-3 on penalties following a 0-0 draw in the 2020–21 final.
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 F.A.
The Shield has been regularly sponsored since the late 1980s. The 2014–15 competition was sponsored by Toals Bookmakers.
Finals
Season | Winner | Score | Runner-Up | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1888–89 | Distillery | 8–4 | YMCA | [1] |
1889–90 | Linfield | 5–3 | Distillery | Match abandoned due to crowd trouble and Shield withheld.
Linfield resigned from the Co. Antrim FA in protest.[2] |
1890–91 | Black Watch | 4–2 | Oldpark | |
1891–92 | Cliftonville | 2–1 | Lancashire Fusiliers | |
1892–93 | Distillery | 2–1 | Celtic | |
1893–94 | Cliftonville | 2–1 | Celtic | |
1894–95 | Celtic | 3–1 | Distillery | |
1895–96 | Distillery | 5–0 | Linfield | |
1896–97 | Distillery | 3–1 | Linfield | Replay. The first game ended 2-2. |
1897–98 | Cliftonville | 2–0 | Linfield | |
1898–99 | Linfield | 4–0 | Linfield Swifts | Replay |
1899–00 | Distillery | 2–0 | Linfield | Replay |
1900–01 | Glentoran | 2–1 | Distillery | |
1901–02 | Glentoran | 2–1 | Distillery | |
1902–03 | Distillery | 4–1 | Linfield | Replay. Game 1: 1-1 |
1903–04 | Linfield | 4–1 | Belfast Celtic | |
1904–05 | Distillery | 2–0 | Linfield | |
1905–06 | Linfield | 2–0 | Distillery | Replay. Game 1: 1-1 |
1906–07 | Linfield | 2–0 | Glentoran | |
1907–08 | Linfield | 3–0 | Distillery | |
1908–09 | Glentoran II | 3–0 | Cliftonville | Glentoran II defeated Glentoran's senior team in the semi-final[3] |
1909–10 | Belfast Celtic | 3–1 | Glentoran | |
1910–11 | Glentoran | 2–0 | Cliftonville | |
1911–12 | Final not played. | |||
1912–13 | Linfield | 1–0 | Cliftonville | 2nd Replay. |
1913–14 | Linfield | 3–2 | Glentoran | |
1914–15 | Distillery | 1–0 | Glentoran | |
1915–16 | Glentoran | 1–0 | Distillery | |
1916–17 | Linfield | 3–0 | Glentoran | |
1917–18 | Glentoran | 2–0 | Linfield | |
1918–19 | Distillery | 1–0 | Belfast Celtic | Replay. Game 1: 1-0 |
1919–20 | Distillery | 2–0 | Belfast Celtic | Replay. Game 1: 0-0 |
1920–21 | Glentoran | 1–0 | Distillery | 3rd Replay. Game 1: 1-1; Game 2: 0-0; Game 3: 0-0 |
1921–22 | Linfield | 4–1 | Distillery | Replay. Game 1: 1-1. |
1922–23 | Linfield | 4–1 | Glentoran | |
1923–24 | Queen's Island | 3–0 | Distillery | |
1924–25 | Glentoran | 2–1 | Belfast Celtic | |
1925–26 | Cliftonville | 5–1 | Glentoran | |
1926–27 | Belfast Celtic | 3–2 | Dunmurry Rec. | |
1927–28 | Linfield | 4–2 | Ards | Replay. Game 1: 1-1 |
1928–29 | Linfield | 2–1 | Broadway United | |
1929–30 | Linfield | 3–1 | Glentoran | |
1930–31 | Glentoran | 2–1 | Cliftonville | |
1931–32 | Linfield | 5–1 | Belfast Celtic | |
1932–33 | Linfield | 3–1 | Belfast Celtic | 2nd Replay. |
1933–34 | Linfield | 7–1 | Ards | |
1934–35 | Linfield | 4–2 | Belfast Celtic II | |
1935–36 | Belfast Celtic | 1–0 | Belfast Celtic II | |
1936–37 | Belfast Celtic | 1–0 | Glentoran | Replay. Game 1: 2-2 |
1937–38 | Linfield | 3–2 | Ballymena United | |
1938–39 | Belfast Celtic | 2–1 | Glentoran | |
1939–40 | Glentoran | 4–0 | Linfield | |
1940–41 | Glentoran | 1–0 | Distillery | |
1941–42 | Linfield | 2–0 | Larne | |
1942–43 | Belfast Celtic | 2–1 | Linfield | 2nd Replay. |
1943–44 | Glentoran | 3–0 | Belfast Celtic | |
1944–45 | Belfast Celtic | 1–0 | Linfield | Replay. |
1945–46 | Distillery | 3–0 | Bangor Reserves | Replay. Game 1: 1-1 |
1946–47 | Linfield | w/o | Belfast Celtic | Linfield won by walkover after Belfast Celtic withdrew. |
1947–48 | Ballymena United | 2–1 | Linfield | |
1948–49 | Linfield Swifts | 4–1 | Bangor | 2nd Replay |
1949–50 | Glentoran | 2–0 | Linfield | |
1950–51 | Ballymena United | 3–0 | Cliftonville | Replay |
1951–52 | Glentoran | 3–0 | Brantwood | |
1952–53 | Linfield | 2–1 | Distillery | 2nd Replay. Game 1: 2-2; Game 2: 4-4 |
1953–54 | Distillery | 1–0 | Ballymena United | |
1954–55 | Linfield | 3–0 | Crusaders | |
1955–56 | Ards | 4–1 | Linfield | |
1956–57 | Glentoran | 4–0 | Distillery | Replay. Game 1: 0-0 |
1957–58 | Linfield | 3–1 | Distillery | |
1958–59 | Linfield | 3–1 | Bangor | |
1959–60 | Crusaders | 2–0 | Linfield | Replay |
1960–61 | Linfield | 2–1 | Glentoran | |
1961–62 | Linfield | 5–0 | Glentoran | |
1962–63 | Linfield | 4–0 | Bangor | |
1963–64 | Distillery | 2–1 | Glentoran | |
1964–65 | Crusaders | 6–0 | Larne | |
1965–66 | Linfield | 4–0 | Ballymena United | |
1966–67 | Linfield | 5–3 | Crusaders | |
1967–68 | Glentoran | 3–0 | Linfield | Replay. Game 1: 3-3 |
1968–69 | Crusaders | 2–1 | Linfield | |
1969–70 | Bangor | 3–2 | Ards | 3rd Replay. Game 1: 1-1; Game 2: 1-1; Game 3: 1-1. |
1970–71 | Glentoran | 2–1 | Crusaders | |
1971–72 | Ards | 3–3 (5–4 pens) |
Crusaders | Played over two legs. Tie ended 3–3 on aggregate. |
1972–73 | Linfield | 9–1 | Bangor | Over two legs (4-1, 5-0) |
1973–74 | Crusaders | 2–1 | Larne | |
1974–75 | Bangor | 2–1 | Glentoran | |
1975–76 | Ballymena United | 4–0 | Distillery | |
1976–77 | Linfield | 3–1 | Glentoran | |
1977–78 | Glentoran | 1–0 | Crusaders | |
1978–79 | Cliftonville | 0–0 (3–1 pens) |
Crusaders | |
1979–80 | Ballymena United | 0–0 (3–1 pens) |
Crusaders | |
1980–81 | Linfield | 4–1 | Glentoran | |
1981–82 | Linfield | 1–0 | Distillery | |
1982–83 | Linfield | 4–1 | Glentoran | |
1983–84 | Linfield | 3–1 | Crusaders | |
1984–85 | Glentoran | 2–1 | Crusaders | |
1985–86 | Distillery | 3–1 | Ballymena United | |
1986–87 | Glentoran | 3–0 | Glenavon | |
1987–88 | Newry Town | 2–1 | Ballymena United | |
1988–89 | Bangor | 2–1 | Glentoran | |
1989–90 | Glentoran | 0–0 (6–5 pens) |
Linfield | |
1990–91 | Glenavon | 4–3 | Newry Town | |
1991–92 | Crusaders | 2–1 | Glenavon | |
1992–93 | Carrick Rangers | 2–1 | Glentoran | Replay: Game 1: 1-1[4] |
1993–94 | Ards | 4–2 | Crusaders | |
1994–95 | Linfield | 4–0 | Glenavon | |
1995–96 | Glenavon | 3–0 | Crusaders | |
1996–97 | Cliftonville | 0–0 (5–4 pens) |
Ballymena United | Replayed after first match abandoned.[5] |
1997–98 | Linfield | 1–0 | Crusaders | |
1998–99 | Glentoran | 2–0 | Cliftonville | |
1999–00 | Glentoran | 2–1 | Bangor | |
2000–01 | Linfield | 2–1 | Glentoran | |
2001–02 | Glentoran | 2–0 | Linfield | |
2002–03 | Glentoran | 3–0 | Ballymena United | |
2003–04 | Linfield | 2–0 | Ards | |
2004–05 | Linfield | 2–1 | Crusaders | |
2005–06 | Linfield | 2–1 | Ballymena United | |
2006–07 | Cliftonville | 2–1 | Distillery | |
2007–08 | Glentoran | 2–1 | Crusaders | |
2008–09 | Cliftonville | 2–1 | Linfield | |
2009–10 | Crusaders | 3–2 (aet) | Linfield | [6] |
2010–11 | Glentoran | 3–1 | Linfield | |
2011–12 | Cliftonville | 2–1 | Glentoran | |
2012–13 | Ballymena United | 1–1 (aet) 4–3 (pens) |
Linfield | [7] |
2013–14 | Linfield | 0–0 (aet) 4–1 (pens) |
Crusaders | [8] |
2014–15 | Cliftonville | 1–0 | Bangor | [9] |
2015–16 | Ballymena United | 3–2 | Linfield | [10] |
2016–17 | Linfield | 3–1 | Crusaders | [11] |
2017–18 | Crusaders | 4–2 | Ballymena United | [12] |
2018–19 | Crusaders | 4–3 | Linfield | [13] |
2019–20 | Cliftonville | 2–1 | Ballymena United | |
2020–21 | Larne | 0–0 | Glentoran | Larne won 4-3 on penalties |
Performance by club
Club | Winners | Winning Years |
---|---|---|
Linfield | 43 | 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 |
Glentoran | 26 | 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, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2007–08, 2010–11 |
Distillery | 14 | 1888–89, 1892–93, 1895–96, 1896–97, 1899–00, 1902–03, 1904–05, 1914–15, 1918–19, 1919–20, 1945–46, 1953–54, 1963–64, 1985–86 |
Cliftonville | 11 | 1891–92, 1893–94, 1897–98, 1925–26, 1978–79, 1996–97, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2019–20 |
Crusaders | 8 | 1959–60, 1964–65, 1968–69, 1973–74, 1991–92, 2009–10, 2017–18, 2018–19 |
Belfast Celtic | 7 | 1909–10, 1926–27, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1938–39, 1942–43, 1944–45 |
Ballymena United | 6 | 1947–48, 1950–51, 1975–76, 1979–80, 2012–13, 2015–16 |
Ards | 3 | 1955–56, 1971–72, 1993–94 |
Bangor | 3 | 1969–70, 1974–75, 1988–89 |
Glenavon | 2 | 1990–91, 1995–96 |
Black Watch | 1 | 1890–91 |
Carrick Rangers | 1 | 1992–93 |
Glentoran II | 1 | 1908–09 |
Larne | 1 | 2020–21 |
Linfield Swifts | 1 | 1948–49 |
Newry Town | 1 | 1987–88 |
Queen's Island | 1 | 1923–24 |
Centenary Chalice
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.[14]
References
- 100 Years of Football: The History of the Co. Antrim FA (Graham Hamilton, 1988) Page 109
- The Whites: A History of Distillery FC 1880-2004 (Dawson Simpson) Page 20
- Glentoran: A Complete Record (Roy France, 2001) Page 74
- "Northern Ireland - List of County Antrim Shield Winners". www.rsssf.com.
- Belfast Telegraph Soccer Yearbook 1997–98 Page 58
- "Crusaders 3-2 Linfield". BBC News. 31 May 2018.
- "Ballymena beat Linfield on penalties in Co Antrim Shield final". BBC. 27 November 2012.
- Belfast Telegraph, 5 March 2014
- "County Antrim Shield Final: Bangor 0-1 Cliftonville". BBC. 31 May 2018.
- "Ballymena United beat Linfield in dramatic Co Antrim Shield Final". BBC. 31 May 2018.
- "County Antrim Shield final: Crusaders 1-3 Linfield". BBC. 7 February 2017.
- "County Antrim Shield final: Ballymena United 2-4 Crusaders". BBC. 31 May 2018.
- "County Antrim Shield final: Late double sees Crusaders beat Linfield 4-3 in thriller". BBC. 12 March 2019.
- Brodie, M. (ed.), Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook 1988-89