The Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Banbridge go head-to-head in the John Minnis Burney Cup Final this evening.
Tonight’s game marks a rematch from the 2024 final which saw RBAI run out victorious, ending their 20 year wait to lift the trophy.
RBAI have since gone on to win the John Minnis Burney Cup back-to-back, beating Campbell College in last season’s final and could become the first side to win three in a row since Banbridge Academy won four in row from 2010 to 2013.
Two weeks ago, the side booked their place in a third consecutive final with a convincing 5-0 semi-final victory over Bangor Grammar.
Goals from James Smith (2), John Cunningham, Toby Lyons and Josh Gill sealed the win for the Belfast School and kept their hopes of a cup double alive.
Tonight’s game will also see the sides meeting in a cup final for the second time this season, with schools having previously met in the McCullough Cup Final in December with RBAI coming out on top on that occasion.
Goals from Josh Gill (2) and Matthew McAreavey sealed a 3-1 win for Mark Gleghorne’s side and saw them win the competition for a second consecutive season.
Opponents Banbridge Academy are hoping to win the competition for the first time since the 2021-22 season.
Since that win, the 14 times winners have reached just one final when they were beaten by tonight’s opponents in the aforementioned 2023/24 edition of the competition.
Looking to lift the trophy for a 15th time, they sealed a quarter-final victory over Wallace High School, before beating Sullivan Upper to book their place in the final
Charlie Taylor picked out Stephen Grattan to open the scoring before further goals form Charles Stevenson and Sam Mills sealed a 3-1 win for the side.
PHOTO: Front Row Union