Schools Finals Week got underway yesterday with four teams winning the first competitions of the week.
In game one, BRA edged out Royal School Dungannon on penalty run-ins following a tight 1-1 draw in normal time.
After a tense first half, it was the eventual champions who took the lead in the 42nd minute through their Captain Sophie Burns.
The forward brilliantly beat her opposite number at the top of the circle before getting a reverse strike on goal which flew in at the near post.
Her side looked destined to seal the 1-0 victory, even going close to doubling their advantage from several short corners in the later stages of the game.
But it was their opponents Royal School Dungannon who got a dramatic late equalising goal with just two minutes remaining on the clock.
With the scores level at full-time, it was BRA who ran out eventual winners on penalty run-ins and crowned champions of the Senior Shield.
Later in the day, Grosvenor Grammar School took on Friends’ School Lisburn in the Senior Plate Final with the Lisburn side running out eventual champions.
Again, the sides went into the half-time break with the deadlock yet to be broken, but it was Friends’ who went closest with a short corner being brilliantly cleared off the line in the first quarter.
Nine minutes into the second half, Ella Latuske put FSL ahead with an effort from the top of the circle before Chrissy Hopkins made it 3-0 with two goals within a minute in the third quarter.
Despite their best efforts, Grosvenor were unable to find a route back into the game, with Friends’ being crowned the 2024 Senior Plate champions.
Elsewhere, the Lisburn sides 3rd XI were also victorious as they beat Banbridge Academy 2-0 in the Gibson Plate Final whereas Royal School Armagh sealed the Gibson Plate with a 3-1 win over Ballyclare High School.
PHOTO: Front Row Union
