Belfast Telegraph Ulster Senior Schoolgirls’ Cup holders Rainey Endowed have been handed a bye into the second round of this season’s competition.
The Magherafelt side will meet the winners of the first round tie between Sullivan Upper and Friends’ School Lisburn. Rainey coach Carolyn Burns is quietly confident that her team can progress but expects a tough start to their defence of the prestigious trophy irrespective of the opposition.
She said: “We have lost seven players from last season but we have a strong set of players have moved up after winning the Junior Cup last year.”
“Results this year have been good with us reaching the quarter-finals of the super league as top of our group however we still have a lot to learn and work on to try and produce more consistency. We beat Sullivan in the first match of the season but it’s hard to tell much from that result while Friends have had some very good results and would be a very tough cup draw as always.”
Last season’s beaten finalists Banbridge Academy also received a bye and will face either Kilkeel High or Royal School Dungannon in the second round. Monday night’s draw was made by former Belfast Telegraph Schools’ Cup winner Shirley McCay, who has gone on to become Ireland’s most-capped sportswoman. The Pegasus player, who was a member of the triumphant Omagh Academy team in 2005, won her 257th international cap in August when Ireland lifted the silver medals at the World Cup in London in August.
Belfast Telegraph Ulster Senior Schoolgirls’ Cup Draw (ties to be played on or before November 24):
Bloomfield Collegiate v Royal & Prior
Ballymena Academy v Hunter House
Belfast High v Glenlola Collegiate
Wellington College v Limavady Grammar
Cookstown High v Ballyclare High
Portadown College v Lurgan College
Carrick Grammar v Down High
Grosvenor Grammar v Methodist College
Dalriada v Cambridge House
Larne Grammar v Antrim Grammar
Sullivan Upper v Friends’
Kilkeel High v Royal School Dungannon
Foyle College v Regent House
Strabane Grammar v Coleraine Grammar
Byes: Strathearn, Royal School Armagh, Omagh Academy, Victoria College, BRA, Rainey Endowed, Banbridge Academy, Wallace High.
