Holders Our Lady and St Patrick’s College Knock were the surprise casualties in the third round of this season’s Danske Bank Schools’ Cup competition.
The east Belfast school’s U18 team came unstuck in the last 16 when going down 3-2 to neighbours Lagan College.
Castlereagh-based Lagan will now face another east Belfast school, Ashfield Boys’ High, in the quarter-finals later this month.
Ashfield were involved in the tie of the round in the third set of matches. Their opponents were near neighbours Grosvenor.
It was a rugged encounter at Dixon Park, however Ashfield progressed to the last eight thanks to a hard fought 2-1 victory.
Ashfield started brightly and Callum Carlton opened the scoring after 23 minutes with a powerful header into the roof of the net.
The lead was shortlived, however. When referee Frankie Hiles spotted a handball by an Ashfield defender inside the area Grosvenor full-back Thomas McAlear stepped up and made no mistake with the spot kick, driving the ball low under Ashfield keeper Kai Beck into the corner of the net.
Both teams had chances in an evenly contested second half but the tie was decided six minutes from time when Ashfield striker Robbie Lemon rose high to plant a header just inside the upright. It was a fine finish.
In the closing stages Grosvenor pressed hard for an equaliser, however Beck kept them at bay with a couple of great saves.
Other third round results of note included another emphatic win for Derry-Londonderry school St Columb’s College.
After defeating Derry neighbours St Brigid’s College 9-2 in the previous round, they put six past St Colm’s Draperstown without reply.
Another surprise result saw Ballyclare High School defeat Belfast Boys’ Model 1-0, while Dungannon’s St Patrick’s Academy scored eight without reply against Dromore High.
The first of the quarter-finals is due to be played next Wednesday (12 January) when St Louis Ballymena will face Enniskillen Royal. The other last eight ties are due to be played the following Wednesday (19 January). The third round results and QF fixtures are listed below.
DANSKE BANK SCHOOLS’ CUP - THIRD ROUND RESULTS
Laurelhill (Lisburn) 3-1 Belfast High School (Newtownabbey)
Grosvenor 1-2 Ashfield
Ballyclare High School 1-0 Model
Lagan College 3-2 OL & St Patrick's
St Louis (Ballymena) 2-1 Holy Cross (Strabane)
St Colm's (Draperstown) 0-6 St Columb’s College
St Patrick's GS (Downpatrick) 0-4 Enniskillen Royal GS
Dromore High0-8 St Patrick's Academy (Dungannon)
QUARTER-FINAL TIES
St Louis v Enniskillen Royal
(12 January - Mid Ulster Sports Arena, Cookstown)
St Columb’s College v St Patrick’s Academy
(19 Jan - St Columb’s)
Ballyclare High School v Laurelhill
(19 Jan - Foundry Lane)
Lagan College v Ashfield
(19 Jan - Lagan College)
Image: Action from the Lagan College v Our Lady and St Patrick’s College Knock third round tie in this season’s Danske Bank Schools’ Cup. Lagan won the game 3-2.
