Royal School Armagh were crowned champions of the Belfast Telegraph Girls’ Senior Cup with a 2-0 win over Portadown College yesterday evening.
Goals from Evie Girvan and Emma Sloan sealed the win and saw the side crowned champions for the third time in five years.
Having started strongly in the tie, it was Royal School Armagh who had the first chance of the game as Girvan was denied by the stick of Jessica Finch before she opened the scoring with nine minutes played.
A quickly taken free saw the ball eventually worked to Girvan at the back post, but she saw her initial effort saved before firing in the rebound to break the deadlock.
With time running out in the first quarter, the reigning champions were given a chance to equalise when they won their first penalty corner of the tie, but Rebekah Lennon saw her strike blocked before the rebound was saved by Lily Alderdice in goal
In the second period, an Armagh penalty corner was the best either side could create, but a strong block from Evie Thompson saw the deficit remain just a single goal at half-time.
As the third period got underway, it was Portadown College who began to grow into the tie.
A number of Maisy Hannath driving runs caused problems for Armagh’s defence, however, her side were unable to turn their dominance into chances as it remained 1-0.
As the sides emerged for the final quarter, it was RSA who got a decisive goal through Emma Sloan.
The forward received the ball on the Portadown baseline before squeezing her effort through the legs of Finch, picking out the far bottom corner and setting her side on their way to victory.
With the clock ticking, their opponents withdrew their goalkeeper in search of a route back into the game, but couldn’t break down a stubborn Armagh backline.
Instead, it was the eventual winners who had the best chance as they were awarded another corner.
With no shot-stopper in goal, the Portadown defence did remarkably well to keep the scoreline at 2-0, but unable to find a goal themselves, they were on the wrong end of the 2-0 scoreline.
PHOTO: Front Row Union