Banbridge Academy 1st XI Girls’ Hockey v Royal School Dungannon

3rd Round of the Belfast Telegraph Schools’ Cup

Banbridge Academy started their Belfast Telegraph Schools’ Cup campaign this year with an away match to Royal School Dungannon. Last year the Academy girls made the final of the BT Schools’ Cup but were heartbroken to lose to Rainey Endowed by penalty strokes.  So far this year they have already beaten Rainey Endowed in the Superleague Semi-Final putting their earlier disappointment to rest.  Unfortunately, they were then beaten by Royal School Armagh in the Superleague Final.  The girls are, however, eager to come back fighting and to start the journey this year to claim the Belfast Telegraph Schools’ Cup and become Ulster Champions once again.

Banbridge Academy started strongly with Nadia Benallal proving to be a difficult opponent for the Dungannon defence. The majority of the play was in the Banbridge Academy attacking half and the local girls enjoyed most of the possession.  Banbridge Academy’s efforts were finally rewarded with Nadia Benallal slipping the ball through the RSD goalkeeper’s legs.  They continued to play some great hockey with play building from the efforts of Ellen Reid and Holly Hanna in defence, ensuring that Dungannon didn’t get through to attack.  Katie McDonald and Maisy Corry also worked hard to distribute the ball through to midfield and beyond. Once again Banbridge found the net with a team goal being finished off by Jodie Simmons.  This high standard of play continued for the rest of the half and Jodie Simmons found the net twice more completing her hat-trick.  Half time came and the score was 4:0 to Banbridge Academy.  There was a change of pace to the game in the second half from the Academy side and RSD came back fighting and had more periods of attacking play.  The home side snatched a goal and Banbridge Academy couldn’t find their first half form to reply with another goal.  The final score was 4:1 and Banbridge Academy progress to the quarter finals which should be played by the end of January.