A massive weekend lies ahead for both girls and boys hockey teams in The Wallace High School with both 1st X1’s facing make or break Schools’ Cup action.
The Girls’ 1st X1 play the traditionally strong Armagh Royal in the Schoolgirls’ Cup quarter final, a team who can boast an all international midfield and many players who feature regularly in the Women’s Premier League. However, as the Lisburn girls get ready to face up to them, they are well aware that they have proven match winners of their own and that captain Lauren Wilson and vice captain Sophie McClean have senior league experience too. They also have a handful of other underage representative players and a striker in Sarah Montgomery who is hungry to score goals.
The Lisburn girls have been unfortunate with the weather recently which has left them a little short of match practice but they have built up their confidence throughout the season and are looking forward to their greatest test so far in trying to reach the February semi finals for the first time in years. The action is at Lisnagarvey, 10.15am start and, with a large crowd anticipated, it should be a great day for players and spectators alike.
At Shaws Bridge the boys’ 1st X1 face up to Belfast rivals RBAI in the second round of the prestigious Burney Cup (9.15am start). They will go into this game with full respect for their opponents who have a terrific record in this competition and who put the Lisburn lads out last year at the same stage. The Belfast school were also very close to knocking Wallace out of the Irish Schools’ in the qualification phase before they went on to reach the final of that particular tournament.
Inclement weather has also meant a lack of match action for the boys recently although they did manage a 3 – 1 victory against top Dublin school St Andrews last Wednesday at Lisnagarvey, Matthew Murphy continuing his prolific form with two well taken penalty corners and Timmy Crean the other scorer. They are also confident having reached the McCullough Cup final in December and would dearly love to go far in this knockout competition. As always they will look to the inspirational figures of co captains Peter MacDonnell and Stephen Hunter, as well as their other representative players Richard Arneill, Matthew Murphy and Michael Keery. They have been dealt a blow with the news that impressive left back Glenn Reid has broken his thumb but otherwise have a full squad to pick from.
Following this game the under 14s face a tricky Ferris Cup tie against the same Belfast opponents and at the same venue. The 14s have been in impressive form recently but were lucky to defeat RBAI in the weeks before Christmas. They also have an injury worry over captain Mark Acheson who has damaged ankle ligaments and Coach Neal McKnight will be giving the lightning fast striker a full fitness test in the hours leading up to the game.
Throughout the coming weeks there will also be lots of cup action for the other girls and boys teams in the school. The under 14 girls are still due to face Dalriada in their cup, whilst the 2nd X1 will be hoping to get their match against Regent House in the McDowell Cup played soon. All the other boys’ teams will also be in action and looking to progress further in their own cup competitions as well.
Last modified: May 15, 2010
