Academy seal All

Ireland Championship

BANBRIDGE Academy returned triumphant from the All Ireland Schools Championship in Dublin.

After winning the semi-final against the reigning champions, Wesley, the Academy beat St. Andrews 4-2 in the final. The local side opened the tournament with a comprehensive 7-0 victory against Sutton, coached by Scott Beattie. Goals from Niall Kelly, Ciaran Kelly, Owen Magee, Joshua Moffett, Philip Doyle and Tarak Chouari secured the victory. This result gave the Academy a solid foundation going into the second day of the tournament with matches against RBAI and Ashton.

Inst proved a tough test for the Banbridge team with a tight match ending in a 2-1 win with Niall and Ciaran Kelly both on the score sheet again.

Going into the final group game of the tournament, the Academy knew that only a win would put them into the semi-final. An impressive performance resulted in a 6-0 win over Ashton and put Banbridge in the hat for the semi final.

A semi final against Wesley proved a strong challenge, with the Dublin side going in front with their first short corner of the game; a quality drag flick into the top corner of Andrew Mooney's goal.

Banbridge continued to hold on, and at halftime it was still Wesley 1-0 Banbridge. The second half was dominated by the Academy side but struggled to find a goal.

However this change with 10 minutes to go when Ben Cosgrove hit home a shot into the bottom corner after a long period of pressure on the Wesley goal, leaving the final score Wesley 1-1 Banbridge.

With a draw at full time the game went to penalty strokes. After five successful strokes by both teams, it went to sudden death. With Philip Doyle scoring his second stroke it was up to Andrew Mooney in goal. Having guessed the right direction, he was fortunate in that the ball hit his helmet and onto the crossbar sending the Academy team into celebration.

The final also produced a competitive contest however Banbridge's strength and depth gave them the edge scoring two goals, one from Joshua Moffett and the other from Ciaran Kelly, before St. Andrews grabbed a goal just before half time.

The second half continued as the first with the Academy pressing for further goals but leaving themselves open at the back. A goal for each side meant a nervous end to the game with Banbridge surviving attempts at their goal, before Joshua Moffet sealed his hat trick.

Robbing the centre back of possession he raced half the length of the pitch then rounding the goalkeeper.

This sent the Banbridge crowd into raptures, and the local side held on to the final whistle. Final score 4-2 to the Academy.

Special thanks has to go to Head Coach Mr. Dawson for his exceptional leadership and attention to detail, with the latter proving vital in the semi final and final against the Dublin teams.

Also thanks to Mr. Cordner, Simon Jess and Aaron Appleton.

Squad: Andrew Mooney (GK), Michael Anderson (GK), Ben Cosgrove, Michael Duggan, Matthew Bell, Robin Smyrl, Hector de Courcy Wheeler, Thomas Sturgeon, Ciaran Kelly, Hugh McShane (Captain), Philip Doyle, Peter Brown, Niall Kelly, Owen Magee, Joshua Moffett, Tarak Chouari, Matthew Knox, Johnny McKee.