Portadown College teams successfully contested two Ulster Hockey finals at PlayBall Stormont on Monday 13 and Wednesday 15 March 2023.
The 1sts, after good wins against Lurgan College and Royal School Dungannon, faced Rainey Endowed in the Final of the Senior Schools’ Shield. Rainey are a squad peppered with Ulster and Irish representatives and who PC have found hard to get the better of.
In the McDowell Plate Competition, the 2nds had already travelled to Foyle College and Limavady Grammar and then beaten Lurgan College in the semi final to book their final spot against The Royal School, Armagh.
Senior Shield Final, Match Report.
Portadown College 2 – 1 Rainey Endowed
Congratulations to a determined PC Squad on their Senior Shield win against Rainey Endowed at PlayBall, Belfast.
This close encounter opened with Rainey getting the better of the early exchanges as they took the game to the College. The PC defence, capably organised by the composure of Ellie O and the determination of Rachel deep in the midfield ensured that PC dealt with the Rainey threat and maintained a clean sheet at the break.
In Q2, play started to settle and both teams tested each other; maintaining possession, creating breaks and winning and defending corners. The College began to grow in confidence as they entered the halftime break.
A corner conversion by Rainey early in Q3 broke the deadlock and changed the complexion of the game. With PC now a goal down, they played with character and were rewarded when 2 minutes before the break Rebekah split the Rainey defence to find Emily, who eliminated Rainey’s ‘keeper with a cool left to right drag to equalise.
The College entered Q4 confidently and within 4 minutes of the restart were 2-1 up when Rebekah slammed a PC strike out of the Rainey keeper’s reach and into the corner of the goal. The College, playing a tenacious game fought to maintain possession and when Rainey pulled their ‘keeper with 5 minutes of time remaining, PC worked hard to eliminate the Rainey outfield overload.
The game finished 2-1 to Portadown College. Much respect goes to the whole Rainey squad for the competitive manner in which the game was played
Thank you to EllieMo’s Cafe for today’s pre match breakfast and to the students, parents, staff and friends who travelled to PlayBall to support the Squad.
Squad:
Katie Jones, Ellie Odgers, Ellen Mathers, Isla haffey, Keeley Telford, Hannah Davison. Rachel lennon, Eva taylor, Leah Galbraith, Rebekah Lennon, Amelia Thompson (Capt), Emily Adamson, Sophie McMahon, Charlotte Eagle, Olivia Rose Haffey.
McDowell Plate Final Portadown College 2nds 4 – 2 The Royal School, Armagh 2nds. Match report.
The 2nds travelled to PlayBall to face the Royal School, Armagh in the final of the McDowell Plate. The game lived up to its local derby status and was as thrilling as Monday’s final was tense.
PC started well when Emily A opened the scoring with a first minute goal. By half time PC were 3-0 up through a second goal by Emily A and Leah’s first.
At the start of Q3, RSA scored from a corner. Undeterred, PC won a stroke only to have RSA’s keeper save Leah’s effort. Highlight of the day came from debutant ‘keeper Jessica’s guard save from an RSA stroke.
These exchanges only encouraged both sides and their commitment resulted in open end to end hockey with both teams creating scoring opportunities. Emily A scored another goal to complete her hat trick, RSA replied to make the score 4-2.
Determined to battle on, RSA subbed their ’keeper to create a outfield numerical advantage. However PC looked more composed in the final stages of the game and finished by lifting the McDowell Plate for the first time in the College’s history.
Congratulations to the squad and thank you to all who travelled to PlayBall on a wet afternoon. Both squads delivered an entertaining contest.
Squad:
Jessica Finch, Hayley McAllister (Capt), Keeley Telford, Hannah Davison, Rebecca Flavelle, Beth McBurney, Rebecca Owen, Darcie Graham, Kate Haffey, Emily Finlay, Gracie McNally, Emily Adamson, Leah Galbraith.
Fortiter et Humaniter.
