Banbridge Academy sealed their spot in the McCullough Cup Final with a 3-2 win over Sullivan Upper on Saturday morning.
They will now face the reigning champions RBAI for the trophy, with the game scheduled for 2pm next Wednesday at Havelock Park.
The Semi-Final fixture originally got underway on Wednesday afternoon and it was Banbridge who stormed to an early 2-0 lead in the game.
With just four minutes on the clock, Charlie Taylor drove his side upfield before his reverse pass found Max Murphy at the top of the circle. The Banbridge forward saw his initial shot blocked before the loose ball fell for Adam Ewart, who fired in to open the scoring at the second attempt.
Then, with the first quarter coming to a close, Taylor was involved once more. The Banbridge player picked up the ball on the Sullivan 25 before driving along the byline and playing a pass across the goalmouth.
His flicked pass found Stephen Grattan unmarked at the back post and he volleyed in from close range to extend the Banbridge lead to 2-0.
As the game progressed, the scoreline remained 2-0, but the weather took a turn for the worse with heavy snow falling and affecting visibility.
Just five minutes into the third quarter, the umpires took the decision to abandon the fixture and it was determined the remainder of the game would be played at a later date.
The remaining 25 minutes of the fixture then got back underway on Saturday morning and it took just six minutes for Banbridge Academy to extend their advantage to 3-0.
The local side won their first penalty corner following the resumption of play before Charlie Taylor beat two defenders at the top of the circle, and a loose ball fell for Adam Ewart who fired in his second goal of the game.
However, just two minutes later, Sullivan’s Adam Duffield gave his side a lifeline, having won a penalty corner of their own. The Sullivan man picked out the bottom corner with a drag flick to once more reduce the deficit to two goals going into the final quarter.
Not long after the fourth period got underway, Duffield struck once more, scoring from another penalty corner to get his side firmly back in the tie and set up a nervy end to the game.
Unfortunately for the Belfast school, they were unable to get their equalising goal despite a period of late pressure, as Banbridge Academy held on to their narrow lead to win 3-2.
The 2023/24 champions will now face The Royal Belfast Academical Institution in the Final at Havelock Park next week.