More pictures and report from hockey schools finals week as Wallace High get the ball rolling

BY ANDREW MORRISON

ULSTER Hockey Schools’ Finals Week continued on Wednesday and Thursday with five different schools seeing sides win silverware.

The first game on Wednesday saw Wallace High School take on Strathearn School in the McDowell Plate Final and it was the Lisburn side who took the lead with three minutes on the clock.

Strathearn School had a positive response to going behind, winning a short corner just moments after going behind but having their effort cleared off the line to keep the score 1-0.

But as the game went on it was Wallace High School who looked favourites to get the game’s next goal. First, they were denied by a great save from goalkeeper Katie Allen in the 28th minute before having a short corner of their own was cleared off the line in the 33rd.

Despite a late flurry of pressure from Strathearn, the Belfast side were unable to find an equalising goal with their Lisburn opponents being crowned champions of the McDowell Plate with a 1-0 victory.

Later in the day, Clounagh Junior High School, from Portadown, came back from a goal behind to beat Victoria College, Belfast to lift the Junior Shield.

Alex Poole gave VCB the lead in the 18th minute when she scored from a penalty corner at the second attempt and gave her side a 1-0 lead.

Having trailed for almost 20 minutes, Clounagh JHS drew level just moments into the second half when they scored from a penalty corner of their own.

Lucy Megaw’s straight strike from the top of the circle flew into the bottom left corner to draw her side level before she replicated the same effort ten minutes later.

Having gone 2-1 ahead with just moments remaining there was no time for their opponents to find their way back into the game as Clounagh JHS were crowned Junior Shield winners.

On Thurday Kilkeel High School were crowned champions of the U18 Intermediate Cup after beating Cookstown High School 2-0.

Having absorbed substantial pressure throughout the game, Kilkeel broke the deadlock in the 35^th minute.

Having broken down the right flank and Alexandra Annett finished off the move as she fired past the goalkeeper at the near post.

The eventual champions then doubled their lead when Isabella Coulter was quickest to a reabound from a short corner to tap into an empty net.

Despite Cookstown’s best efforts to find a way back into the game, they were unable to find the scoresheet as it finished 2-0 and Kilkeel were crowned champions.

Meanwhile, their U14 side won the U14 High Schools’ Cup as they beat Newtownhamilton High School on penalty run-ins following a 1-1 draw.

Elsewhere, Rainey Endowed won the Junior Plate with a 5-0 win over Antrim Grammar and Royal School, Armagh won their second trophy of the week with victory over Banbridge Academy in the 4th XI Cup.