At a Central Council meeting in Dublin on April 30th the first Ulster football final between Cavan and Monaghan was fixed for Dundalk. Cavan (Maghera) objected to the venue as it was felt it was too close to Inniskeen and the game was then transferred to Drogheda and played on August 19th, 1888. The game ended in a draw 0-2 each but Inniskeen refused to play extra time. The replay was fixed and took place in Drogheda on September 9th.. In a report on the match it was admitted that "while the MacFinns had plenty of strength the Grattans were the more scientific side" and this was attributed to the fact of them "having often watched the Dundalk Young Irelands one of the then leading exponents of the game". Thus Monaghan (Inniskeen) are the recognised winners of the first Ulster Senior Football Championship. Its a record which the club is very proud of and is the result of the deeds of men who have long gone to their eternal reward but who still give inspiration to those who still carry the flag of the association in south Monaghan. The same too can be said of the Cavan champions whose names are synonymous with all that is best in Cavan football and it is a fitting thing that the two clubs who were involved in that historic final are coming together to foster and develop the relationship that began all those years ago. The Inniskeen team in the 1888 Ulster final was follows; Peter Finnegan (goals), Pat Finnegan (captain), Terry Kieran, Mickey Carroll, Mickey Louth, James Meegan, Owen Meegan, Paddy Daly, Larry Tuite, Michael Tuite, James Hopskins McGahon, Michael Martin, Pat Martin, John Rafferty, Pat Moore, Peter Kelly, John Kieran, Pat Quigley, Bill Agnew and the 2 McBride's.
Maghera MacFinns: Tom Carroll, Tom McCabe, John Duffy, Paddy Boylan, Tom Clarke, James E Mulvaney, Peter Cahill, James Brady, Tim McCann, George Yore, Michael Fitzsimons, Pat Kane, Phil Daly, Patrick Fitzsimons, Paddy Neary, Matt Fitzsimons, Andy Cumiskey and the Mulvaney brothers, Matt, Pat and William (captain).
As champions of Ulster Monaghan, Inniskeen, were drawn against Tipperary, the Munster champions, in the All Ireland semi-final but because of the hurling and athletics "Invasion of America" in September 1888 the final stages of the All Ireland series in both football and hurling for that year were abandoned, thereby denying Monaghan the chance to build on their new-found success. Tweet

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