The "Beattie" Shield was originally donated to the GDCA by inaugural President, John Aitken Beattie.  John Beattie was recognised as one of the GDCA's inagural Hall of Famers in 2020.
 

The shield was originally used as the perpetual trophy for the competition's Premier team.

As of season 2023/24, the GDCA Board of Management decided to re-institute the awarding of the Beattie Shield, to the club that scored the most collective points across all grades, via a weighted points system.

The original shield is planned to be refurbished into a new perpetual trophy soon.  Each year the winning club will take home a plaque confirming their successful claim to that year's "Beattie Shield".