Hockey schools finals week… report and pictures from a feast of Cup action

BY ANDREW MORRISON

ULSTER Hockey’s School’s Finals Week is well underway with eight teams having been crowned champions so far.

The action began on Monday when Belfast Royal Academy edged out Royal School, Dungannon on penalty run-ins following a tight 1-1 draw in normal time.

After a tense first half, it was the eventual champions who took the lead in the 42nd minute through their captain Sophie Burns.

The forward brilliantly beat her opposite number at the top of the circle before getting a reverse strike on goal which flew in at the near post.

Her side looked destined to seal the 1-0 victory, even going close to doubling their advantage from several short corners in the later stages of the game.

But it was their opponents Royal School, Dungannon who got a dramatic late equalising goal with just two minutes remaining on the clock.

With the scores level at full-time, it was BRA who ran out eventual winners on penalty run-ins and crowned champions of the Senior Shield.

Later in the day, Grosvenor Grammar School took on Friends’ School, Lisburn in the Senior Plate Final with the Lisburn side running out eventual champions.

Again, the sides went into the half-time break with the deadlock yet to be broken, but it was Friends’ who went closest with a short corner being brilliantly cleared off the line in the first quarter.

Nine minutes into the second half, Ella Latuske put FSL ahead with an effort from the top of the circle before Chrissy Hopkins made it 3-0 with two goals within a minute in the third quarter.

Despite their best efforts, Grosvenor were unable to find a route back into the game, with Friends’ being crowned the 2024 Senior Plate champions.

The action continued on Tuesday with Rainey Endowed pipping Royal School, Armagh to the McDowell Cup.

It took just 12 minutes for Rainey to get the game’s only goal when Imogen Scott converted from a penalty corner.

The goal saw the youngster play a give-and-go with her team mate at the top of the circle before firing in from close range on the brink of the first stoppage.

However, the Magherafelt side were put under considerable pressure throughout the game with Royal School, Armagh winning a number of penalty corners of their own, but no to avail.

Ultimately it proved to be Rainey Endowed’s day as they held out for a 1-0 win and secured their second McDowell Cup in a row.

Banbridge Academy also managed to retain their title as they won the 80^th edition of the Junior Cup against Strathearn School.

The two sides played out a thrilling final with Bann striking first through Evie Hobson with 24 minutes on the clock.

But the lead wouldn’t last as their opponents were awarded a penalty stroke for a foot on the line less than 10 minutes later.

In front of a bumper crowd, it was Nyla Mallon who confidently stepped up to send the goalkeeper the wrong way and get her side back into the tie.

However, with neither side able to find a winner in normal time, penalty run-ins were required to separate the two sides with Banbridge Academy coming out on top as 2-1 winners.

There were a further four fixtures as part of Finals Week with Methodist College Belfast, Royal School Armagh, Friends’ School, Lisburn and Dromore High School all seeing sides achieve cup success.