Ulster Hockey is delighted to announce that Crowne Plaza Hotel is the title sponsor for this year’s All Ireland Schoolboys championship which is being hosted in the province this week.
Sixteen schools from Ulster, Leinster and Munster will contest the tournament which will be known as the Crowne Plaza All Ireland schoolboys Championship.
Ulster Hockey Executive Manager Jill Poots said:
“We are very grateful to the Crowne Plaza for supporting this event and we look forward to hosting the Team Dinner in the Hotel on Thursday evening. All the matches are being held in the vicinity of the hotel and I hope that supporters, as well as a number of teams who are staying in the hotel, enjoy the great facilities the Crowne Plaza offers.”
Leinster sides have dominated the competition in recent years and title holders St Andrew’s are bidding to win the prestigious Tasmanian Shield for the sixth time in the last seven years.
You have to go back to 2015 for the last local winner when Banbridge Academy beat Wesley College 3-2 in a thrilling final at Shaw’s Bridge. This year, Bann have been drawn to face the team they beat in the decider three years ago, local rivals Bangor Grammar and Kilkenny College in the round robin phase. Bann’s Rowe brothers, goalkeeper Scott Dale and vice captain Mark Barlow give them plenty of options around the park.
Wesley’s side has plenty of strong points, too, with Josh Greaney leading the line, Euan Mackay in goal and Ben O’Grady in defence providing a drag-flick option.
Wallace High will be expected to provide a stiff challenge for St Andrew’s in Group C after the Lisburn school scored 34 times in three qualifier games.
Fellow Ulster qualifiers RBAI – who have won the trophy a joint-record seven times- and Cork’s Ashton complete the group.
Sullivan Upper, one of the strongly tipped local sides, are up against Regent House, Newpark Comprehensive and High School in Group B. McCullough Cup holders Sullivan are coached by Irish international Callum Robson, a recent graduate, and will have Harry Morris, Paddy Crookshanks and Patrick Rose among their leading lights.
Group D includes Burney Cup holders Friends’ along with Methodist College, Newtown and Limerick’s Villiers.
The event runs from Wednesday October 24th to Friday 26th with matches split across three south Belfast venues in Queen’s, Shaw’s Bridge and Deramore Park.
Crowne Plaza All Ireland Schoolboys Championship 2018
Group A: Banbridge Academy, Wesley College, Kilkenny College, Bangor GS.
Group B: High School, Newpark Comprehensive, Regent House, Sullivan Upper
Group C: Ashton School, RBAI, St. Andrew’s College, Wallace HS
Group D: Friends School, MCB, Newtown School, Villiers School
SCHEDULE
Wednesday 24th October 2018
Crowne Plaza All Ireland Schoolboys Championship 2018
13:45 Banbridge Academy v Bangor GS @ Malone Playing Fields
13:45 Sullivan Upper v Regent House @ Malone Playing Fields
15:30 Newpark School v The High School @ Malone Playing Fields
15:30 Wesley College v Kilkenny College @ Malone Playing Fields
13:45 MCB v Friends @ Belfast Harlequins HC
15:30 Newtown v Villiers @ Belfast Harlequins HC
13:45 RBAI v Wallace HS @ Shaw’s Bridge Sports Complex
15:30 St Andrew’s College v Ashton School @ Shaw’s Bridge Sports Complex
Thursday 25th October 2018
Crowne Plaza All Ireland Schoolboys Championship 2018
09:45 Newpark School v Sullivan Upper @ Malone Playing Fields
09:45 Villiers v Friends @ Malone Playing Fields
11:15 Bangor GS v Wesley College @ Malone Playing Fields
11:15 Kilkenny College v Banbridge Academy @ Malone Playing Fields
14:00 Friends v Newtown @ Malone Playing Fields
14:00 Newpark School v Regent House @ Malone Playing Fields
15:30 Banbridge Academy v Wesley College @ Malone Playing Fields
15:30 St Andrew’s College v Wallace HS @ Malone Playing Fields
09:45 Newtown v MCB @ Belfast Harlequins HC
11:15 Wallace HS v Ashton School @ Belfast Harlequins HC
14:00 MCB v Villiers @ Belfast Harlequins HC
15:30 Bangor GS v Kilkenny College @ Belfast Harlequins HC
09:45 Regent House v The High School @ Shaw’s Bridge Sports Complex
11:15 RBAI v St Andrew’s College @ Shaw’s Bridge Sports Complex
14:00 The High School v Sullivan Upper @ Shaw’s Bridge Sports Complex
15:30 RBAI v Ashton School @ Shaw’s Bridge Sports Complex
Friday 26th October 2018
Crowne Plaza All Ireland Schoolboy Championship 2018 – FINAL
14:30 TBC v TBC
SEMI-FINALS
09:30 TBC v TBC @ Malone Playing Fields
09:30 TBC v TBC @ Shaw’s Bridge Sports Complex
