An inspired substitution for the run-ins helped Portadown College end their Royal School Armagh hoodoo and be crowned Belfast Telegraph Schoolgirls’ Senior Cup champions after a dramatic Final at Stormont PlayBall.
Having played out a thrilling 60 minutes that ended level after Joni Cunningham’s opener for Armagh was cancelled out by Evie Thompson’s response for Portadown, both in the third quarter, it came down to the lottery of run-ins to decide the destination of the title.
And it was a bold move from Portadown coach Beth Harper that edged them to victory as she replaced the excellent Makayla Stevenson in nets with Jessica Finch, and her decision was rewarded as the new goalkeeper was unbeaten across the four shots she faced, allowing goals from Thompson and Leah Galbraith to claim the title for Portadown.
It was just as much a relief for the girls in black as it was a celebration, this the first time they have beaten Armagh in a Final in four attempts having lost last year’s Senior Cup decider and the last two Super League Finals to Greg Thompson’s girls, whose hopes of a double-treble ended in the cruellest of fashions.
But Portadown are the ones who not only claim the title but also now head to the Kate Russell All-Ireland Finals, looking to complete a memorable double of their own.
Royal School Armagh (pink) and Portadown College (black) clash in the Final of the Belfast Telegraph Schoolgirls’ Senior Cup
Although Armagh were the side with more possession in the early exchanges, fashioning the first real chance of the game through a penalty corner that Grace McCool fired wide, it was Portadown College who looked more threatening when they went forward.
Led by the superb Lucy Megaw, who was leaving defenders flummoxed with her rapid stick work, she set up Emily Adamson for the shot from the left side of the circle, however her effort would hit the outside of the net as opposed to the backboard.
Both sides had penalty corner opportunities in the second quarter, Lily Alderdice making a smart save on Emily Adamson’s backhand effort for Portadown, while Cunningham had a sharp shot blocked in front as the game entered the half-time break scoreless.
But it would take just two minutes of the second half for Armagh to pull ahead, another penalty corner firstly getting a boost when Portadown lost a defender for breaking the line and Cunningham was able to rap home the shot from the edge of the circle.
Portadown’s response was excellent, however, and after Adamson whistled another shot wide on the backhand, they levelled it on the stroke of the third intermission, a penalty corner moved left to captain Lennon and her shot was deflected in by Thompson to tie it.
Rebekah Lennon is celebrated for scoring Portadown College’s equaliser in the Belfast Telegraph Schoolgirls’ Senior Cup Final
Armagh had their chances to win it in the fourth quarter and prevent needing run-ins, none more so than Cunningham, who had the game on her stick when the fantastic Katie Herron was body-checked in the circle to win the penalty stroke, only for her shot to go wide of the net and not test Stevenson.
And so to run-ins, which received its first bit of drama when Finch was the one who trotted out for Portadown having sat on the bench for the first hour of the game rather than Stevenson, but the coaching staff’s faith would be rewarded.
The replacement goalkeeper would steer away Herron and two from Daisy Nicholson, while Scarlett Taylor’s attempt was whistled down for reversing into the circle, which meant Thompson and Galbraith’s finishes were enough to spark wild celebrations on the Portadown side.
ROYAL SCHOOL ARMAGH: Lily Alderdice, Chloe Patton, Rhianna Gillespie, Joni Cunningham, Niamh Smith, Daisy Nicholson, Grace McCool, Scarlett Taylor, Katie Herron, Mia Taylor, Maggie Scott, Kate Livingstone, Cadence Gillespie, Hannah Redmond, Faith Jackson, Emma Sloan, Gracie Johnston, Beth Thompson.
PORTADOWN COLLEGE: Makayla Stevenson, Jessica Finch, Keeley Telford, Hannah Davison, Evie Thompson, Lucy Megaw, Rebekah Lennon, Leah Galbraith, Rebecca Owen, Maisy Hannath, Emily Adamson, Hayley McAllister, Grace Adamson, Rebecca Flavelle, Martha Speers, Emily Finlay, Beth Evans, Kate Haffey.
Relive all the action on our LIVE blog below!