After successfully winning the Antrim Heats of the Carnegie Cup, the Year 8 and 9 Girls' Football team travelled to Cookstown to compete in the Carnegie Schools' Cup National Finals. The girls knew the competition would consist of a very high standard due to the teams all having already won their Area heats.

The first match saw Ballyclare face Holy Cross School. Ballyclare were well warmed up for this match and knew that a good start to the tournament was vital. The girls showed no mercy and comfortably won 3 - 0. Ashleigh Connor got her name on the score sheet twice, with help from two top quality crosses from Amy Jones, who was in fabulous form all day. Emma Patterson also slotted a goal past the Holy Cross goalkeeper with great skill.

The second group match against St Louise’s proved to be another solid performance from Ballyclare. Ashleigh Connor added to her goal tally in a similar fashion as the first match, by scoring three goals from close range thanks to another fantastic performance from Amy Jones. Emma Patterson made beautiful runs on the left wing, leaving her opponent behind and allowing her to finish the match with another two goals against her name. The match finished 5 - 0.

Ballyclare played Devenish College in their final group match, this proved to be the most difficult match and asked a lot of our girls' concentration. Devenish College put up a very strong physical fight with the mentality of trying to stop us from scoring rather than playing good football. Although it remained 0 - 0 at half time Ballyclare did not panic, patience and concentration would win us the game. The second half saw great leadership from Zoe Cummings in the back line. Rachel Jamison showed her superb ability of reading the game and knowing when to step up to win the ball. The defence had not been called upon much in the previous matches due to easier opposition, but they were definitely called upon in this match and stepped up to the mark with solid defending by Lauren Nicholl and Joanne Downey. This allowed Ballyclare to finish the game with a 1 - 0 victory, Ashleigh Connor once again with the winning goal.

The semi-finals meant the opposition would only get more difficult, where Ballyclare had to play Limavady Grammar. The game started very even and it was end to end excitement. Limavady had forwards with pace and this proved a problem for our girls but we kept it 0 - 0 at half time due to some fantastic saves from Rebecca Campbell. In the second half Limavady scored on the counter attack, Ballyclare responded with vengeance and narrowly missed out on an equalising goal as Emma Patterson’s shot hit the crossbar. Limvady broke again on the counter attack and unfortunately added another goal to leave Ballyclare trailing 2 - 0.

Ballyclare did not let their heads drop, they picked themselves up with wise words from Captain Zoe Cummings and managed to pull a goal back before the final whistle. Once again Ashleigh Connor put the ball in the back of the net due to a well executed cross from Amy Jones and a build up of a very impressive run beating three players. The game finished with Ballyclare on the wrong end of a 2 - 1 final score line.

The girls must be praised for their performance in the whole tournament, it is an achievement to win the Area Heat in itself but to reach the Semi-Final of the Carnegie Schools’ Cup National Finals is fantastic. Well Done Girls!