Dalriada reflect on magnificent year

Firstly they were promoted to Division One of the Coleraine and District League after winning all their games in Division two last year.

A major sponsorship deal with local supermarket giants TESCO soon followed, resulting in all the junior teams being kitted out in brand new playing strips.

The U13’s began with a real shock to the system when they suffered a heavy 1-5 home defeat to St Marys, Limavady.

Next up was last year’s winners, Cross and Passion, Ballycastle, where they recorded an excellent 4-1 win away from home.

This was followed up by another impressive display, beating last year’s runners-up, Coleraine team, Loreto. A hard fought hard fought 3-2 home win resulted.

The same week, the long journey to cookstown was rewarded with a resounding 7-0 victory, thus somewhat shortening the homeward journey!

Everything would rest on the biggest test of the season so far when local rivals Ballymoney High School were the visitors to Megaw Park.

This was undoubtedly the most difficult game to date, with the Dalriada boys emerging victorious by the closest of margins- a 3-2 home win.

So on to the final.

Opponents this time would be St Marys - the only team to beat Dalriada in two years - what an incentive to settle a score!

The game was played at the Crescent playing fields in Coleraine, in really difficult storm like conditions.

Amidst great scenes of celebration, a superb game ended with a 2-1 win, after extra time, for the Ballymoney team.

This was the first time that a team from the school had actually won a first division title.

The coaching staff of Mr Ian Getty, Mr Paul Gaston and Mr Barry Shields were delighted that the boys gained their just reward for a really hard season’s work.

Senior members of School Staff were on hand to welcome home the victorious squad and to congratulate everyone on a good job, very well done.