Academy sides make McCullough Cup history

Banbridge Academy Seconds 0

AS the McCullough Cup make its mark for the 50th year the Academy made their own slice of history by fielding both their Firsts and Seconds in the competition.

The move, a brave one by the school, shows the real depth of talent at the disposal of the Lurgan Road school.

The Firsts may have come out with what looks a comfortable win but the hockey on display would definitely suggest otherwise. In the first half both teams started at a high tempo with there being no nerves on display.

The Seconds began by coping well with the Firsts attack, giving few forward options to the Firsts. The Firsts played a patient game looking to keep possession and not afraid to keep the ball at the back.

The Seconds thwarted the Firsts' attacks in the first half and when they won the ball the Seconds showed great composure on the ball, stringing together passes well and creating chances of their own in the Firsts' goal mouth.

Both Owen Magee and Johnny McKee proved themselves as the best of the Firsts forward line, causing the Seconds trouble with their tight ball control and lifted dribbling skills, winning the Firsts deserved short corners.

For the Seconds Rory Woods forced Michael Anderson to produce a good save from a close effort, after good piece of team work.

Their defence was eventually beaten by a well executed short corner scored by Owen Magee; at the half time whistle the FIrsts may have felt slightly fortunate at their 1-0 advantage.

The second half continued to provide entertaining hockey with the Seconds' back four proving a hard wall to get through. For the Firsts Joshua Edwards, Andrew Ferguson and Clarke Neville all played very well on their debuts, showing the youngsters in the Academy are more than capable of playing at the top level.

The strength of the Firsts started to show with the attacks against them becoming fewer and the forwards consistently being broken down by Matthew Bell and Michael Duggan.

Two further goals from set plays, one Magee the other Philip Doyle showed the class the Firsts possess and the ended the game with a well earned win.

Meanwhile the U15 faced a well drilled and excellent BRA First XI. The youngsters won 3-1 with Johnny McKee opening with a well executed stroke before Bailey Dillon-Burns tucked the second away on the reverse from a nest angle.

The last goal of the game came from Craig Kennedy as he made his mark after some good team play.

The BRA goal showed room for improvement but credit to them, beating Justin Glass – the Academies man of the match in goal.

Banbridge Academy U14's 3

Friends U14s 0

This was a tight match against friends but our passing and skill was better and we penetrated the circle in the first 10 minutes and Robert Scott scored a goal with a cool finish in front of their keeper.

The rest of the half was tightly contested although our defence was strong and they only penetrated the circle twice.

In the second half we won a few short corners and we scored the first, Ben Knox scored a reverse and Johnny McKee scored the fourth short corner.

- The U12 continue to impress with a 1-0 defeat to BRA U15s, the goal coming from a well executed short corner mid way through the first half.

And the Colts beat Sullivan Upper Seconds 2-0 through goals from Corr and McConville in the Prior Shield.

The Academy teams are backed by the Belmont Hotel.