Academy book spot in cup semi

Wallace High School 2

Banbridge Academy 4

BANBRIDGE Academy’s Senior Boys’ First XI overcame Wallace in the Ulster Bank Burney Cup quarter final 4-2 at Hillsborough on Thursday.

The game, played a fantastic level, saw the Academy take a seventh minute lead through Ciaran Kelly after the initial drag flick from Dowds hit off the post, but moments later a well-taken Hunter drag flick levelled the score at 1-1.

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The restart started sharply and a superb reverse stick stunner from Owen Magee made it 2-1 and the travelling side began to dominate large parts of play.

Nevertheless the quality run from McDonnell set up Murphy for a sweet deflected second on the stroke of half time to square the cup tie at 2-2.

The second half saw yellow for Niall Kelly and with the Academy reduced to ten the work rate from Brown, Bell and Dowds helped thwart the tentative forward attacks from Wallace.

In goal Mooney did well from two set plays before a fine run from Hugh McShane earned a short corner in the 58th minute. The call from coach Dawson was the switch and Philip Doyle was on hand to sweep home superbly to the delight of the travelling parents and staff from Banbridge.

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Then again the lion’s share went to the Academy and with six minutes remaining the ball dropped to Owen Magee once more and his match ball was duly tucked away on the trademark reverse. The final whistle saw an eerie silence from the Lisburn crowd.

The Academy, sponsored by the Belmont Hotel, now progress to the showpiece semi-final and face a resolute and talented Cookstown High side in a repeat of last year’s final. The semi will pass back at 1.15pm and all support is very much appreciated.