Grosvenor In View Magazine 2025

90

SPORTS TEAMS

Our attention turned to the Burney Cup in the New Year as the boys became determined to defend the trophy we had won so handsomely the previous Spring. We played a number of matches in the second half of the season: a 1-1 draw against Banbridge Academy 2nd XI; beating a 1st / 2nd XI Wallace High School team 2-1; losing 4-2 to Sullivan Upper; and drawing 1-1 with Bangor Grammar School. In between these fixtures, we were defeated in the first round of the Burney Cup which meant that we entered the Plate Competition. We made it to the final of the Plate to play against Kilkeel High School in a lovely sunny March afternoon. Goals from Lewis Waters, Thomas Barr and Adam Peel were enough to see us run out comfortable 3-0 winners and retain the trophy. It was a fitting end to an amazing season and one that will undoubtedly go down as our most successful ever. The time spent in the sun after the game with our opposition, opposition coaches, our own parents and players and then enjoying a chippy lunch will live long in the memory as we savoured a fantastic win.

College, 2-1. Our next outing in the McCullough Cup was a trip to the Kingdom of Mourne to play Kilkeel High School, which is never an easy place to win. Thankfully we put in an excellent performance to win 4-0 with goals from Matthew Peel (x2), Thomas Barr and Finn Cross. This meant the boys were able to jet off to the warmer climate of Valencia to enjoy the joint Rugby and Hockey Tour knowing they were sitting comfortably on top of their McCullough Cup group. The Tour can be read about elsewhere in the Magazine. Upon return from the Tour, we played Sullivan (lost 3-0) before facing Regent House School in the semi-final of the McCullough Cup. It was a tight affair, as is so often the case in a semi-final. We scored early through Finn Cross but then had to endure a poor performance in which we could easily have conceded our advantage before Matthew Peel secured the victory in the final seconds of the match. We had qualified for the final and were scheduled to meet our old foes, Methodist College. We prepared for the final by beating Royal & Prior, Raphoe (3-2) and losing 3-0 to Cookstown High School, albeit we performed very well against a good team. We travelled to Banbridge Hockey Club on 18 December to play Methodist College in the final of the McCullough Cup, Tier 2. The boys were evidently more comfortable than they were in the finals they had played in the previous season as the experience had been beneficial and they knew what to expect. They settled into their rhythm early and a goal from Thomas Bailie in the first quarter was enough to settle any nerves. We conceded an equaliser before Finn Cross restored our lead in the second half. In the dying seconds, as players were tiring and with MCB having retired their goalkeeper as they went in search of a winner, Adam Peel robbed a MCB player, played a 1-2 with his brother Matthew, before smashing the ball into the empty MCB net much to the delight of everyone assembled. It sparked scenes of joy on the sidelines as the many past pupils, parents and current pupils celebrated the victory. The hooter sounded seconds later and everyone shouted for joy. We had won the competition we had failed to win the previous season. It was a brilliant way to end the first half of the season as we headed off on the Christmas holidays.

The Year 14 players can look back fondly on an amazing season. Alfie Stone, Finn Cross, Adam Peel and Matthew Peel contributed so much to GGS Hockey

GROSVENOR IN VIEW > 2024/25