The finals of two of the three annual Electric Ireland-backed competitions for girls’ teams within Northern Ireland’s post primary schools are set to be staged next week.
The Electric Ireland Senior Cup (U18) has already been secured by Belfast’s Dominican College.
Next Tuesday (11 June) the deciders in the Electric Ireland Junior Cup (U14) and nine-a-side competition for Year 8 teams will be staged at Dungannon’s Stangmore Park.
A total of 56 teams entered this year's Electric Ireland Y8 Cup, with 60 teams entering the Junior Cup.
Assumption Grammar (Ballynahinch) are set to face Lurgan Junior High in the Y8 final (11am kick-off) and that game will be followed by the Junior Cup final between Clounagh Junior High (Portadown) and Strabane’s Holy Cross College (12.30pm).
Holy Cross lost to Dominican in this year’s Senior Cup decider, so they will be hoping their U14s can go one better.
However, the Clounagh team are keen to make history by lifting the trophy for the first time in the school’s history.
Jo Reid from Clounagh JHS said: "The girls are really looking forward to the final. They have worked extremely hard all season to remain undefeated.
“They have already won the Mid Ulster League and Cup this year so winning the Electric Ireland Junior Cup would mean so much to them.”
In the Year 8 competition both Assumption and Lurgan Junior High have shown good form on reaching the decider.
Assumption started strongly with a 3-0 win against last year's champions, Kilkeel High. And they also registered a 3-0 victory against Belfast Girls’ Model in round two.
They then needed a last-minute goal to edge past Portadown school Killicomaine JHS 2-1 in the third round, however in the last eight they put in a strong performance to defeat Belfast’s Lagan College by three goals to nil.
In the semi-finals they again scored three, defeating Lisburn’s Laurelhill 3-1 to secure their place in the final.
Zoe Cummings from Assumption said: “We are extremely proud of our Year 8 team who have shown endless dedication and teamwork throughout this competition."
Lurgan Junior High School have seen off Edmund Rice College (Glengormley), Clounagh JHS, Belfast school St Louise's, Fivemiletown College and Thornhill College from Derry-Londonderry to reach the final.
The girls from Lurgan JHS, Assumption and Clounagh JHS will all be guests at tomorrow’s Women’s Euro 2025 qualifier between Northern Ireland and Portugal at Mourneview Park in Lurgan. And they will be doing a pitch walk at half-time.
Image: Kilkeel High celebrate their success in last year’s Electric Ireland Y8 final.
