Under 16 Boys’ Football – Northern Ireland Cup Final

Commiserations to Grosvenor’s Under 16 Boys’ Football Team which suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to St. Joseph’s College in the final of this year’s Northern Ireland Cup.

In the final, held at Blanchflower Stadium on Friday 28th April, St. Joseph’s started strongly and dominated the first few minutes of the match, making the most of their ascendancy by scoring from a corner to take a 1-0 lead after just three minutes. Despite this early setback, however, Grosvenor fought back strongly over the remainder of the first half and managed to stabilise, ensuring that they headed into the interval still just one goal in arrears. 

Following a half-time rallying call from Head Coach Mr Johnston, the team looked unrecognisable in their play at the beginning of the second half and, before long, a header from Zach Anderson deservedly levelled the scores at 1-1. Despite a number of excellent saves and efforts from Grosvenor during the remainder of the second half, the game finished 1-1 at the end of normal time

In extra-time, however, despite such a strong effort from Grosvenor from the beginning of the second half onwards, St. Joseph’s scored following a well-worked move out wide, taking a slender 2-1 lead which they managed to maintain until the final whistle.  Despite their narrow defeat, the Grosvenor boys can be proud of how they battled to the final whistle, representing the School with pride throughout. Sometimes sport can be cruel, but the support given to the players on the day, by their peers, past pupils and past teachers in the stands, will live long in their memory.

Grosvenor’s place in the final was secured following a 6-1 victory over St. Colm’s High School in Round One; a 2-0 win over St. Brigid’s College in Round Two; a victory, on penalties, over Ballyclare Secondary School in the Round of 16; a 4-1 defeat of St. Mary’s Grammar School in the quarter final and a 3-2 win over St. Mary’s CGBS in the semis.

Well done to the boys, led by Mr Johnston, on an excellent campaign – despite their defeat in the final, they should be extremely proud of another superb season; one on which they will hope to build when they step up to Under 18 level next year.