Ulster Schools’ Cup 2 nd Round

Ballyclare High v Omagh Academy

Saturday 17 th November

A group of younger players making their competitive debut at this level, other more experienced players embarking on their last Schools’ Cup campaign, occasional glimpses of outstanding individual skill combined with rarer instances of naïve decision making, the distinctive identity of the spectators, mainly friends and family, knowledgeable and committed coaching staff exhorting their teams to greater efforts, an understated but strongly felt sense of pride at representing the school, elation and despair in equal measure, and the most enduring feature of sport itself – its sheer unpredictability.

Many of the defining characteristics of school sport were evident in abundance on Saturday morning as Ballyclare High hosted Omagh Academy in the second round of the Ulster Schools’ Cup. Two of the stronger school teams in the province met regrettably early in this year’s competition, and the outcome remained in doubt from the first to last whistle before Ballyclare emerged 1-0 winners thanks to a Vanessa Surgenor goal scored with only two minutes remaining.

Ballyclare started the match brightly in front of a good crowd which included several members of last season’s team which reached the Schools’ Cup final. Lauren Mawhinney and Rebecca Smith combined well to earn Ballyclare’s first penalty corner from which Vanessa Surgenor’s goalbound shot was deflected wide. Ballyclare had seized the early initiative and another Vanessa Surgenor shot was well saved after 6 minutes.

Ballyclare continued to exert good control and pressure in the early stages and it was against the run of play that Omagh won their first penalty corner after 12 minutes. It required two excellent saves from the home goalkeeper Lynn Taylor to deny Omagh the lead, a timely reminder of the visitors’ attacking threat.

Ballyclare regained the initiative with a sweeping movement from one end of the pitch to the other involving Suzie Weir, Sarah Agnew, Amy McConnell and Lauren Mawhinney, the latter two prospering at this stage in the space created on the right hand side. The resultant penalty corner amounted to nothing as a new variation failed to impress the home supporters. Further Ballyclare pressure led to a series of long corners in quick succession, as the home side refused to allow the visitors time and space to establish their own pattern of play.

The first half ended with the home side still in the ascendancy. Rebecca Smith delivered a precise pass to Vanessa Surgenor but the Omagh players continued to defend resolutely. The first period concluded with a penalty corner shot from Suzie Weir going just wide, despite the celebrations of a section of the home supporters.

Three minutes into the second half Ballyclare were awarded their fifth penalty corner from which Rebecca Smith’s shot was blocked. Another penalty corner saw Vanessa Surgenor’s raised shot strike a courageous Omagh defender on the line, and as play switched to the other end the Ballyclare defence was required to block a good shot from Omagh’s second penalty corner.

The Ballyclare defensive unit continued to cope well with the Omagh attack. Megan Thompson and Suzie Weir defended solidly and distributed the ball well, while Lydia Campbell and Holly Steele-Nicholson tackled tenaciously. Jenny McBrien won Ballyclare their sixth penalty corner, while Sarah Agnew became increasingly influential in the home side’s attacks.

The thoughts of the spectators began to turn to the unenviable prospect of a difficult replay at Omagh as the game appeared to be heading towards a stalemate. An eventful last five minutes saw both sides have chances to score the decisive goal. Omagh forced the home goalkeeper Lynn Taylor to make another accomplished save, and then Ballyclare looked to have wasted an opportunity as a promising attacking move broke down. However, Ballyclare’s persistence and tenacity won back the ball and an accurate pass found prolific striker Vanessa Surgenor in space in the circle, and her typically assured finish gave the home team the lead with only two minutes remaining.

The home spectators acclaimed the potentially match winning goal, but the Omagh contingent had other ideas and made a spirited effort to claim an equaliser. Ballyclare squandered possession and gave Omagh the chance to launch a final despairing attack. With time having elapsed Omagh were awarded a penalty corner from which the inspired Lynn Taylor made another fine save. A further sequence of penalty corner awards tested the nerves and patience of the home supporters who were hugely relieved to see the ball finally cleared and to hear the sound of the final whistle.

Ballyclare may have had to rebuild their squad this season but still managed to field a side featuring one Ulster Under 21 representative and three Ulster Under 16 representatives in Rebecca Smith, Vanessa Surgenor, Penny Brown and Megan Thompson. The newly constructed side has grown in confidence and self belief through the early part of the season and will now look forward to hosting Portadown College in the 3 rd round early next month.

Squad: Lynn Taylor, Megan Thompson, Lydia Campbell, Holly Steele-Nicholson, Suzie Weir, Rebecca Smith, Jenny McBrien, Amy McConnell, Lauren Mawhinney, Sarah Agnew, Vanessa Surgenor, Penny Brown, Joanna Mills, Clare Holmes, Kerri Hill, Helen McKinstry.

Player of the match: Lynn Taylor