The Royal Belfast Academical Institution were crowned champions of the McCullough Cup with a 3-1 win over Banbridge Academy yesterday afternoon.
Two goals from Josh Gill and a penalty stroke from Matthew McAreavey sealed the win, with defender Riley Marney putting in a man-of-the-match display.
The win sees them become the first side to retain the title since Cookstown High School between 2010/11 and 2011/12.
With seven minutes on the clock, RBAI got the opening goal of the game, having won their first penalty corner of the tie.
Playing in his first final for the school, Josh Gill’s drag flick picked out the bottom corner and gave the reigning champions an early lead.
Straight from the restart, the Belfast side could have doubled their lead when Matthew McAreavey won the ball back in midfield before Josh Gill played through Jacob McIlhatton.
However, the forward’s reverse shot was well blocked by the outstretched stick of Adam Liggett, who conceded a long corner.
At the end of the quarter, they had another chance to double their lead as Adam Price found James Smith in the circle, but his close-range effort was well saved by Jack Fleming.
As the second period got underway, it was Banbridge who were on top. The side started on the offence and quickly won a penalty corner.
Sam Mills saw his drag flick saved by Sam Holmes before a scramble in the penalty area eventually ended with RBAI clearing the danger.
Just five minutes later, they did draw level. Having won another penalty corner, Mills returned the ball to the Ligget before the injector fired the ball across the goalmouth, where Max Murphy got the decisive touch.
With the final play of the half, RBAI were awarded a penalty stroke after a foot on the line and Captain Matthew McAreavey sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to give his side a 2-1 lead at half-time.
A quiet third quarter saw Banbridge Academy have the best chances, winning two penalty corners and threatening on the counter attack, but they were unable to test Holmes in goal.
Meanwhile, with RBAI unable to fashion any chances of their own, the sides went into the final quarter with just a goal to separate them.
Just four minutes into the final period, Jacob McIlhatton led the charge down the left wing before winning a penalty corner for his side but it was Banbridge who almost got their goal.
Having successfully defended the corner, the side immediately broke down the left wing before Charles Stevenson combined with Charlie Taylor before the latters strike found the foot of a defender to win a corner of their own.
From the resulting set-play, Adam Ewart saw his drag flick go narrowly wide of the far post as it remained 2-1.
As the game entered its final moments, the RBAI win was sealed as Josh Gill got his second of the afternoon to extend the lead to 3-1.
Toby Lyon’s aerial into the circle found Frank Hollway, before Jacob McIlhatton picked out Gill at the back post, and he deflected in from close range.
With no route back into the tie for Banbridge Academy, RBAI were crowned champions of the competition for a record 18th time.