The 2018 Electric Ireland Super Schools’ Day attracted a record number of players.
The festival of football staged at Mallusk Playing Fields celebrated girls’ football at under-13 and under-16 levels.
The 2018 event attracted a record 1400 players – up by 200 from last year.
And a record 129 teams, representing 67 schools, took part in the large scale tournament for teams featuring players from Years 8/9 and Years 10/11.
A total of 73 teams competed in the under-13 section, with 56 battling it out at U16 level.
Initially there was a series of group games in both competitions followed by quarter-finals featuring group winners.
In the younger age group the semi-finalists were Down High from Downpatrick, Our Lady and St Patrick’s Knock (Belfast), Holy Cross College (Strabane) and Assumption Grammar from Ballynahinch.
In the first semi Down High and OLSP could not be separated during normal time and the Downpatrick side booked their place in the decider by winning the penalty shoot-out 3-2.
Holy Cross edged their way into the final with a narrow 1-0 win over Assumption.
The Tyrone school secured the U13 trophy with a 2-0 victory against Down High. Madison Kirk and Ciara McAleer were the scorers for Holy Cross.
In the senior age group Assumption Grammar ruled the roost.
Dalriada (Ballymoney) won the first semi against Belfast school St Louise’s Comprehensive College 4-3 on penalties, while Assumption eased past St Cecilia’s College from Derry-Londonderry.
In the final Assumption proved too strong for Dalriada and claimed the U16 trophy with a 2-0 win.
Irish FA Foundation schools’ officer Jackie Blyth said: “I would like to thank the schools and teachers that take time out every year to bring the girls along to participate in the competition.
“Each year we have more and more schools coming from all over Northern Ireland with the standard of football improving with each competition.”
Have a look through our gallery below to see how the girls got on at the event.
