Another busy 4 weeks in the life of the UHU President, and Vice President! Here is a flavour of the President’s diary events!
Randalstown v Mossley (w) Saturday 15th February
North Down v Kilkeel (m) Wednesday 20th February
On Wednesday 6th March the Belfast Telegraph Girls Cup Final was played at Lisnagarvey HC between Banbridge Academy and Ballyclare High School – it was a thrilling match with Banbridge coming from a goal down to defeat Ballyclare 2-1.
The winners now go on to represent Ulster in the Kate Russell all Ireland tournament later in March. The only negative point was the throwing of
flares after the final whistle.
I attended 13 girls cup finals at NICS between Monday 11th and Wednesday 13th March – plenty of talent and goals over the three days, despite the atrocious weather conditions.
The JMEA Burney Cup semi finals were played at ‘Garvey on 13th March – thanks to Terry Templeton, Vice President, for attending – Wallace HS defeated Banbridge Academy 4-1 and Sullivan Upper defeated MCB 4-0.
Saturday 16th March: Ballyclare v Saintfield (w) in Senior 2.
Banbridge Academy represented Ulster in the Kate Russell on 21-22 March at St Andrews, Booterstown – the Ulster girls were silver medallists on goal difference.
Thanks must also go to the umpire manager, Gail Taylor, and umpire Mark Dietzold, both from Ulster who officiated at the tournament. The 23rd March was another busy Saturday with Instonians men winning the premier league title after a decisive 4-1 win over Kilkeel at Shaw’s Bridge – thanks to Terry who was there to present the winners with the cup.
Raphoe ladies won the Senior 1 title after a 1-1 draw with CI and are now promoted to the top flight again – apologies I wasn’t there to award the trophy! There were other results in the mix!
Terry Templeton ably deputised for me at the JMEA Burney Cup Final on Thursday 28th March at NICS between Sullivan Upper and Wallace High School – the game was a 3-3 draw at the end of full time and then went to a shoot out. Wallace won 4-3 on penalty runs to lift their second piece of silverware this season, adding the Burney Cup to the McCullough Cup won before Christmas.
Sorry I missed the game, but by all accounts it was one of the best hockey matches this season.
There is more good news as Ulster teams will be represented in five Irish cup finals over the next month or so:
Dromore Ladies Irish Hockey Challenge (13th April)
Ballynahinch Men Irish Hockey Challenge (13th April)
NICS Men Irish Hockey Trophy (13th April)
Instonians 2 Irish Junior Cup (14th April)
Lisnagarvey Men Irish Senior Cup (11th May)
Good luck to all the Ulster representatives in the Irish cup finals.
Adare Brady
UHU President
