Beginning in 1949, it was held on fifty-one occasions until being suspended after the 1998/99 season and discontinued after a one-off re-appearance in 2002/03. The last three editions were only open to First Division sides. From the mid-1980s to the early-1990s the competition was known as the
Lombard Ulster Cup due to a sponsorship deal with the
Lombard & Ulster Bank. It had previously been sponsored by Morans. ==Format==