The championship forms the third-tier of Hurling for senior county teams in the province of Ulster (the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship is the first-tier trophy).

It is contested by the six county teams ranked 18–23 in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.

Each year, the champions are promoted to the Ulster Intermediate Hurling Championship.

The winners of the Ulster final, like their counterparts in the other provinces, are rewarded by advancing to the semi-final stage of the All-Ireland series of games.

The all-time record-holders are Antrim, who have won the championship on 15 occasions.