Academy girls aim for Schools’ Cup final place on Wednesday

Ballymena Academy First XI hockey team has reached the semi-final of the Belfast Telegraph Senior Schoolgirls’ Cup to be played at Lisnagarvey Hockey Club this Wednesday, February 5 (1.30pm).
Alan Weir of Fitness Elite presents a new set of jerseys to his daughter and Ballymena Academy 1st XI hockey team captain Gillian Weir and members of the team who will wear the kit in tomorrow's (Wednesday) Belfast Telegraph Schools Cup semi-final against Rainey Endowed at Lisnagarvey Hockey Club. INBT 06-170CSAlan Weir of Fitness Elite presents a new set of jerseys to his daughter and Ballymena Academy 1st XI hockey team captain Gillian Weir and members of the team who will wear the kit in tomorrow's (Wednesday) Belfast Telegraph Schools Cup semi-final against Rainey Endowed at Lisnagarvey Hockey Club. INBT 06-170CS
Alan Weir of Fitness Elite presents a new set of jerseys to his daughter and Ballymena Academy 1st XI hockey team captain Gillian Weir and members of the team who will wear the kit in tomorrow's (Wednesday) Belfast Telegraph Schools Cup semi-final against Rainey Endowed at Lisnagarvey Hockey Club. INBT 06-170CS

They will face Mid-Ulster rivals, Rainey Endowed School in what will be a closely contested match, if recent results are anything to go by.

The two teams met early this year in the Derry and Antrim League where they played out a 0-0 draw.

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The journey to the Semi-Final started in the second round with a convincing 8-1 home win over Kilkeel High School.

This was followed by a much tougher contest, away, against BRA in the third round, where the girls had to dig deep and come back from a 1-0 deficit at half time to win the match 2-1.

This game was a true test of character as the girls had two goals disallowed, but, sheer determination and a tremendous sense of team spirit carried them through to a thoroughly deserved win.

Strathearn School were the opponents in the quarter-final, played on Saturday 25th January in horrendous weather conditions at the Belfast venue.

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From the first whistle, both teams were fighting the elements, as well as each other, and it is a credit to both sets of players that the quality of hockey remained so high throughout.

The Academy team pressurised from the first minute of the game, but, some dogged defending and outstanding goalkeeping from Strathearn kept them at bay until Emma Kernohan broke the deadlock in the 25th minute.

Despite the horizontal rain, force 8 gales and plummeting temperatures in the second half, the Academy girls turned up the heat on Strathearn and were rewarded for their efforts mid-way through the half when Leah Paul scored with a clever deflection from Emma Kernohan’s cross.

Strathearn, however, continued to fight, but, the Academy defence was outstanding and limited them to just one incursion into the Ballymena circle, throughout the entire match.

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This 2-0 victory has set-up, what will surely be, a highly competitive and pulsating semi-final against League rivals Rainey Endowed.

The girls would like to thank their Team Sponsor, Fitness Elite (Sports nutrition and equipment), Ballymena; G-Force at Wallace’s, Ballymena and all the supporters who have braved the elements and nerve-wracking moments of previous games to cheer them on. They would really appreciate all support again this Wednesday.

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