The Northern Ireland Schools’ Football Association is hosting its annual finals day at Ballymena Showgrounds on Wednesday (26 April).
The event will feature the finals of nine Northern Ireland schools’ competitions - from under-12 to under-18 level - with the main game of the day being the U16 Cup decider between St Columb’s College of Derry-Londonderry and St Patrick’s Belfast.
NISFA chairman Paul Kerr said: “I am very pleased that we are holding the schools’ cup finals day at Ballymena Showgrounds. Having such a fantastic facility to showcase schools’ football is wonderful and adds to the occasion for the young players who have achieved so much in getting to the finals of the largest inter-schools sports competition in the country.
“I would like to pay tribute to the teachers who put so much time and effort into getting their teams to this stage of the season and thank the school principals for their continued support. It is a great achievement getting to a national cup final and this is only achieved by hard work, both staff and students giving up their free time and dedication.
“The Schools’ Cup is such a prestigious competition, with so many former internationals and current internationals having played for their schools in this competition. For some of the players it will be the highlight of their football careers, for others it will be a stepping stone to greater achievements.
“I would like to extend to every player my best wishes and hope that they all play well. Every player will remember this finals day for the rest of their lives, therefore I would encourage everyone to support all the pupils in their endeavours to be victorious.”
The finals being staged in Ballymena on Wednesday are:
U12 Cup
Holy Cross Strabane v St Columb’s College (11am kick-off)
U12 Plate
Abbey Community College v Ballyclare Secondary (12.30pm)
U13 Cup
St Colman’s Ballynahinch v St Patrick’s Lisburn (11am)
U14 Cup
Our Lady and St Patrick’s Knock v St Columb’s College (3pm)
U14 Plate
Dalriada v Lurgan Junior High (12.30pm)
U15 Plate
Newry High School v St Joseph’s Donaghmore (11am)
U16 Cup
St Columb’s College v St Patrick’s Belfast (1pm)
U16 Plate
Abbey Community College v Dromore High School (2.30pm)
U18 Plate
NRC Coleraine v SERC Lisburn (11am)