From its formation in 1928, it is apparent that the activities of theUlster Colleges Council reflected the fact that football had an appeal throughout the province of Ulster while interest in hurling had a narrower geographical focus.
In the 1930s Abbey CBS represented Down in inter-county hurling at minor level, winning a couple of provincial titles and appearing in All-Ireland semi-finals.
After the war, the establishment of a second boarding school in Down and Connor at Garron Tower (St MacNissi's College) in 1951 illustrated the dilemma facing the development of hurling.
However, a lack of boys in Sixth Form restricted them to a 2 Mageean Cup successes (1977/78 & 1978–79) – teams which featured Olcan McFetridge and Brian Donnelly.
Maghera also won the Mageean – MacRory Cup double on three occasions during the 1980s, a quite exceptional feat given that many players featured on both teams.
St Louis Ballymena completed a decade of change in Mageean Cup hurling by winning their first title in 1988/89, under coach Alex Connolly.
De La Salle College Belfast reached the Mageean Cup final in 1993-4 and again in 1999-200 but has so far failed to collect the trophy.