Kirk Cup

The Kirk Cup is the oldest hockey tournament in Ulster and the oldest provincial hockey trophy in Ireland.[1] It has become a tradition since the 1966-67 season for the final to be played on Boxing Day, a date previously reserved for the Anderson Cup Final. The final attracts the largest crowd of the Ulster hockey season. The cup is named after its donor, Mr. John Kirk, J.P, who was a member of the Antrim club.

In the early years of the competition it was also known as the Ulster Senior Challenge Cup.

Contents

Historical format

From the introduction of the Cup in the 1897-98 season until the major re-organisation of the Ulster Senior League for the 1969-70 season, the format was that of a knockout competition. The Cup was competed for towards the end of the season.

From the 1969-70 all the teams in Senior League Section One and Two were split into four groups. The winner of each group would go forward to an open draw for semi-final matches.

From the 2000-01 until the 2008-09 season, the format of the competition was altered slightly. The eight teams in the Ulster Premier Hockey League were drawn into four groups. The top eight teams from Section One were drawn into these groups to create four groups of four teams each. The eight Section One teams were the relegated Premier League team from the previous season and the teams finishing in second to eighth places in the final league standings of the previous season.

Each club played the other teams in their Group once. The winners of each Group proceed to semi-final matches, with the ties decided via an open draw.

The Premier League reverted to ten teams for the 2009-10 season and these teams together with the top six teams in Section One were drawn into four groups of four teams. Each team played the other teams in their group once. The group winners contested the semi-final with the ties decided by an open draw. The two semi-final winners contested the final which is scheduled for Boxing Day. This format was used in 2010-11 too.

Current format

For the start of the 2011-12 season the entry was restricted to the Premier League teams. The ten Premier League teams were drawn in two pools of five teams, with each team playing the other teams in their pool once. The semi-finals saw the winner of one pool playing the runner-up of the other pool, with the winners of the semi-finals going on to contest the final.

2011-12 season

The final was played on 26 December 2011 at Lisnagarvey.

Finals

(records incomplete)

1890s

Year Winner Runner-up Notes
1897-98 North Staffordshire Regiment 3 2 Antrim [3]
1898-99 Antrim 3 1 King's Own Liverpool Regiment [4]

1900s

Year Winner Runner-up Notes
1899-00 North Down 4 2 Cliftonville [5]
1900-01 Antrim 3 1 Banbridge [6]
1901-02 North Down 2 1 Cliftonville [7]
1902-03 Strabane 1 0 North Down [8]
1903-04 Cliftonville 1 0 Banbridge
1904-05 Antrim 2 1 Banbridge after extra time
1905-06 Banbridge 1 0 Malone
1906-07 Antrim 3 1 Downpatrick
1907-08 Malone &
North Down		 SHARED
1908-09 Banbridge 5 2 Malone

1910s

Year Winner Runner-up Notes
1909-10 Banbridge 3 0 Malone
1910-11 Banbridge 3 2 Queen's University
1911-12 Cliftonville 2 1 North Down
1912-13 Banbridge 3 1 Queen's University
1913-14 Banbridge 2 0 Queen's University
1914-05 Not played due to World War I
1915-16 Not played due to World War I
1916-17 Not played due to World War I
1917-18 Not played due to World War I
1918-19 Not played due to World War I

1920s

Year Winner Runner-up Notes
1919-20 Banbridge 4 1 Queen's University
1920-21 North Down 1 0 Banbridge [9]
1921-22 South Antrim 2 1 Banbridge [10]
1922-23 Lisnagarvey 3 0 North Down [11]
1923-24 Lisnagarvey 2 0 Cliftonville [12]
1924-25 Lisnagarvey 1 0 East Antrim [13]
1925-26 Banbridge 2 1 Antrim [14]
1926-27 Banbridge 3 0 East Antrim [15]
1927-28 Antrim 1 0 East Antrim [16]
1928-29 North Down 2 1 South Antrim after extra time[17]

1930s

Year Winner Runner-up Notes
1929-30 Cliftonville 3 0 Derry YMCA [18]
1930-31 Cliftonville 4 1 Derry YMCA [19]
1931-32 South Antrim 2 0 East Antrim [20]
1932-33 East Antrim 2 0 Banbridge [21]
1933-34 Lisnagarvey 5 4 Cliftonville [22]
1934-35 Banbridge 1 0 North Down [23]
1935-36 North Down 2 0 Wanderers after extra time[24]
1936-37 North Down 3 1 Lisnagarvey after extra time[25]
1937-38 Banbridge 3 1 North Down after extra time[26]
1938-39 Lisnagarvey 2 1 Antrim [27]

1940s

Year Winner Runner-up Notes
1939-40 Not Played due to World War II
1940-41 Not Played due to World War II
1941-42 Lisnagarvey 2 1 North Down
1942-43 Lisnagarvey 2 0 Banbridge
1943-44 North Down 3 1 Banbridge after two periods of extra time[28]
1944-45 Lisnagarvey 2 1 Short & Harland
1945-46 Lisnagarvey 2 1 Wanderers
1946-47 Portrush 1 0 Banbridge [29]
1947-48 Lisnagarvey 2 1 Belfast YMCA [30]
1948-49 Portrush 3 1 Lisnagarvey [31]

1950s

Year Winner Runner-up Notes
1949-50 Banbridge 2 0 Antrim [32]
1950-51 Banbridge Parkview
1951-52
1952-53 Lisnagarvey
1953-54 Lisnagarvey 2 1 Mossley after extra time[33]
1954-55
1955-56 Parkview &
Lisnagarvey		 SHARED
1956-57 Banbridge
1957-58 Belfast YMCA Banbridge
1958-59 Belfast YMCA Antrim

1960s

Year Winner Runner-up Notes
1959-60 Belfast YMCA 1 0 Portrush [34]
1960-61 Lisnagarvey 2 1 Banbridge [35]
1961-62 Lisnagarvey 2 0 Banbridge [36]
1962-63 Competition abandoned
due to severe winter weather
1963-64 Lisnagarvey 2 0 Antrim [37]
1964-65 Portrush 4 2 Banbridge AET - Replay - Game 1: 2-2[38]
1965-66 Antrim 1 0 Lisnagarvey [39]
1966-67 Parkview 2 1 Banbridge [40]
1967-68 Cliftonville 3 0 Antrim [41]
1968-69 Cliftonville 1 0 Instonians [42]

1970s

Year Winner Runner-up Notes
1969-70 Portrush 3 1 Instonians [43]
1970-71 Lisnagarvey Cliftonville Replay - Game 1: 1-1[44]
1971-72 Antrim &
Instonians		 SHARED 2nd replay - Game 1: 2-2, Game 2:[45]
1972-73 Lisnagarvey 1 0 Friends School Old Boys [46]
1973-74 Lisnagarvey 3 0 Mossley Replay - Game 1: 1-1[47]
1974-75 Instonians 2 1 Lisnagarvey [48]
1975-76 Instonians 2 1 Cliftonville [49]
1976-77 Belfast YMCA 2 0 Instonians [50]
1977-78 Lisnagarvey 2 0 Belfast YMCA [51]
1978-79 Belfast YMCA 3 0 Antrim [52]

1980s

Year Winner Runner-up Notes
1979-80 Lisnagarvey Instonians Replay - Game 1: 1-1[53]
1980-81 Instonians 3 1 Banbridge [54]
1981-82 Lisnagarvey 1 1 Banbridge Replay - Lisnagarvey won 4-2 on
penalty strokes - Game 1: 2-2[55]
1982-83 Banbridge 2 1 Belfast YMCA [56]
1983-84 Mossley 2 0 Lisnagarvey [57]
1984-85 Belfast YMCA 3 0 Lisnagarvey [58]
1985-86 Banbridge 2 1 RUC [59]
1986-87 Banbridge 2 0 Cookstown Replay - Game 1: 1-1[60]
1987-88 Banbridge 2 1 Mossley Replay - Game 1: 1-1[61]
1988-89 Cookstown 1 0 Mossley [62]

1990s

Year Winner Runner-up Notes
1989-90 Lisnagarvey 2 0 Banbridge [63]
1990-91 Holywood 87 2 1 Lisnagarvey Replay - Game 1: 2-2[64]
1991-92 Holywood 87 1 0 Lisnagarvey [65]
1992-93 Holywood 87 2 0 Instonians [66]
1993-94 Instonians 3 1 Banbridge
1994-95 Lisnagarvey 2 1 Instonians [67]
1995-96 Lisnagarvey 2 0 Newry [68]
1996-97 Lisnagarvey 3 2 Instonians [69]
1997-98 Lisnagarvey 2 0 Annadale [70]
1998-99 Lisnagarvey 2 1 Cookstown [71]

2000s

Year Winner Runner-up Notes
1999-00 Annadale 1 1 Lisnagarvey after extra time - Annadale
won 3-1 on penalty strokes[72]
2000-01 Lisnagarvey 2 1 Annadale
2001-02 Lisnagarvey 2 1 Instonians
2002-03 Cookstown 2 1 Instonians
2003-04 Annadale 2 1 Banbridge Annadale won with "Golden Goal"
in 7th minute of extra time
2004-05 Instonians 2 2 Lisnagarvey Instonians won 5-4 on
penalty strokes
2005-06 Banbridge 2 1 Annadale [73]
2006-07 Cookstown 2 1 Lisnagarvey [74]
2007-08 Annadale 3 2 Lisnagarvey [75][76]
2008-09 Cookstown 4 3 Lisnagarvey after extra time[77]

2010s

Year Winner Runner-up Notes
2009-10 Cookstown 2 0 Banbridge [78]
2010-11 Banbridge 4 2 Cookstown [79]
2011-12 Lisnagarvey 2 1 Cookstown [2]

Source

  1. ^ Belfast Newsletter 18/04/1928 Page 5
  2. ^ a b "Lisnagarvey defeat Cookstown in Kirk Cup final". BBC Sport. 26 December 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/hockey/16335756.stm. Retrieved 27 December 2011. 
  3. ^ Belfast Newsletter 25/04/1898 Page 3
  4. ^ Belfast Newsletter 24/04/1899 Page 3
  5. ^ Belfast Newsletter 23/04/1900 Page 3
  6. ^ Belfast Newsletter 22/04/1901 Page 8
  7. ^ Belfast Newsletter 28/04/1902 Page 5
  8. ^ Belfast Newsletter 07/04/1903 Page 3
  9. ^ Belfast Newsletter 11/04/1921 Page 2
  10. ^ Belfast Newsletter 24/04/1922 Page 3
  11. ^ Belfast Newsletter 23/04/1923 Page 2
  12. ^ Belfast Newsletter 21/04/1924 Page 3
  13. ^ Belfast Newsletter 27/04/1925 Page 10
  14. ^ Belfast Newsletter 19/04/1926 Page 3
  15. ^ Belfast Newsletter 20/04/1927 Page 11
  16. ^ Belfast Newsletter 16/04/1928 Page 6
  17. ^ Belfast Newsletter 22/04/1929 Page 2
  18. ^ Belfast Newsletter 22/04/1930 Page 3
  19. ^ Northern Whig 20/04/1931 Page 5
  20. ^ Belfast Newsletter 29/03/1932 Page 3
  21. ^ Belfast Newsletter 24/04/1933 Page 10
  22. ^ Belfast Newsletter 09/04/1934 Page 3
  23. ^ Belfast Newsletter 23/04/1935 Page 4
  24. ^ Belfast Newsletter 14/04/1936 Page 3
  25. ^ Belfast Newsletter 30/03/1937 Page 4
  26. ^ Northern Whig 19/04/1938 Page 8
  27. ^ Belfast Newsletter 27/04/1939 Page 2
  28. ^ Northern Whig 28/04/1944 Page 4
  29. ^ "Portrush win Kirk Cup". Northern Whig: p. 3. 24 April 1947. 
  30. ^ Northern Whig 19/04/1948 Page 3
  31. ^ Northern Whig 25/04/1949 Page 2
  32. ^ Northern Whig 17/04/1950 Page 6
  33. ^ Ireland's Saturday Night 08/05/1954 Page 6
  34. ^ Belfast Newsletter 19/05/1960 Page 7
  35. ^ Belfast Newsletter 25/05/1961 Page 10
  36. ^ Ireland's Saturday Night 12/05/1962 Page 9
  37. ^ Ulster Star 09/05/1964 Page 19
  38. ^ Belfast Newsletter 15/05/1965 Page 8 & Northern Constitution 29/05/1965 Page 15
  39. ^ Ulster Star 28/05/1966 Page 19
  40. ^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1966 Page 8
  41. ^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1967 Page 8
  42. ^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1968 Page 8
  43. ^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1969 Page 10
  44. ^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1970 Page 10
  45. ^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1971 Page 9,
  46. ^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1972 Page 7
  47. ^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1973 Page 9 &
  48. ^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1974 Page 12
  49. ^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1975 Page 9
  50. ^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1976 Page 10
  51. ^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1977 Page 8
  52. ^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1978 Page 10
  53. ^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1979 Page 10
  54. ^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1980 Page 9
  55. ^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1981 Page 8 & 02/01/1982 Page 10
  56. ^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1982 Page 9
  57. ^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1983 Page 8
  58. ^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1984 Page 22
  59. ^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1985 Page 22
  60. ^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1986 Page 22 &
  61. ^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1987 Page 22 & 02/01/1988 Page 22
  62. ^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1988 Page 24
  63. ^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1989 Page 20
  64. ^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1990 Page 20 &
  65. ^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1991 Page 22
  66. ^ Belfast Newsletter 28/12/1992 Page 21
  67. ^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1994 Page 13
  68. ^ Belfast Newsletter 02/01/1996 Page 22
  69. ^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1996 Page 34
  70. ^ Belfast Newsletter 27/12/1997 Page 36
  71. ^ Belfast Newsletter 29/12/1998 Page 27
  72. ^ Belfast Telegraph 28/12/1999 Page 19
  73. ^ "Banbridge earn Kirk Cup triumph". BBC Sport. 26 December 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/hockey/4560922.stm. Retrieved 23 April 2007. 
  74. ^ "Cookstown triumph in Kirk final". BBC Sport. 26 December 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/hockey/6210653.stm. Retrieved 23 April 2007. 
  75. ^ "Annadale claim Kirk Cup triumph". BBC Sport. 26 December 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/hockey/7160645.stm. Retrieved 27 December 2007. 
  76. ^ "Annadale hold off Garvey's late show". Belfast Telegraph. 27 December 2007. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/hockey/article3287233.ece. Retrieved 27 December 2007. 
  77. ^ "Red Army provide that little bit extra in hockey final". Belfast Telegraph. 27 December 2008. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/other-sports/red-army-provide-that-little-bit-extra-in-hockey-final-14121472.html. Retrieved 27 December 2008. 
  78. ^ "Cookstown beat Banbridge in Kirk Cup final". BBC Sport. 26 April 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/hockey/8643698.stm. Retrieved 28 April 2010. 
  79. ^ "Harsh words do trick". Belfast Newsletter. 11 April 2011. http://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/other-local-sport/harsh_words_do_trick_1_2586058. Retrieved 11 April 2011. 

External links

Field hockey in Ulster
Federation:
Regional federations:
Ulster Hockey Union • Ulster Women's Hockey Union 
Senior club competitions:
Junior club competitions:
McConnell Shield 
Schools competitions:
Premier League clubs:
Annadale • Banbridge • Bangor • Cookstown • Instonians • Kilkeel • Lisnagarvey • Mossley • North Down • Raphoe 
Senior League One clubs:
Antrim • Armagh • Belfast Harlequins • Cliftonville • Down • Newry Olympic • NICS • Portadown • Queen's University • South Antrim 
Senior League Two clubs:
Ballymena • Ballynahinch • Campbellians • Foyle • Larne • Omagh • Parkview • Portrush • PSNI • Saintfield