The 2018 Ulster Senior Football Championship was the 130th edition of Ulster GAA's premier inter‑county Gaelic football competition. It formed part of the 2018 All‑Ireland Senior Football Championship series.
Format and participants
- The championship featured the nine county teams of Ulster: Antrim, Armagh, Cavan, Derry, Donegal, Down, Fermanagh, Monaghan, and Tyrone.
- The competition was organised in a single‑elimination knockout format, beginning with a preliminary round, followed by quarter‑finals, semi‑finals and a final.
Schedule
- Commencement: 19 May 2018 (preliminary round)
- Conclusion: 22 July 2018 (final)
Key results
| Stage | Match | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary round | Antrim vs Down | Down 3‑12 (21) – Antrim 0‑14 (14) |
| Quarter‑finals | Donegal vs Armagh | Donegal 2‑12 (18) – Armagh 0‑12 (12) |
| Quarter‑finals | Fermanagh vs Monaghan | Fermanagh 1‑14 (17) – Monaghan 1‑13 (16) |
| Quarter‑finals | Derry vs Tyrone | Derry 1‑17 (20) – Tyrone 2‑14 (20) (replay required; Derry won replay) |
| Semi‑finals | Donegal vs Derry | Donegal 2‑11 (17) – Derry 1‑10 (13) |
| Semi‑finals | Fermanagh vs Cavan | Fermanagh 0‑16 (16) – Cavan 0‑13 (13) |
| Final | Donegal vs Fermanagh | Donegal 2‑12 (18) – Fermanagh 0‑13 (13) |
Final
- Date: 22 July 2018
- Venue: Athletic Grounds, Armagh (neutral venue)
- Winner: Donegal (captained by Michael Murphy) claimed the Anglo‑Celt Cup, adding a further provincial title to their record.
- Manager: Declan Bonner (Donegal) and John Maughan (Fermanagh).
Significance
- By securing the Ulster title, Donegal advanced directly to the All‑Ireland quarter‑final stage of the 2018 championship.
- The championship retained its traditional knockout structure and continued to serve as a pathway to the national competition, while also providing the provincial Anglo‑Celt Cup to the winners.
References
- Official Ulster GAA archives, 2018 competition fixtures and results.
- Irish Independent, “Donegal triumph in Ulster final”, 23 July 2018.
- The Irish Times, “Ulster championship: Donegal v Fermanagh”, 22 July 2018.
