Our Lady’s & St Patrick’s Knock 3-3 | St. Mary’s Magherafelt 1-6
Our Lady’s and St. Patrick’s Knock (OLSPK) etched their names in the history books at the Dub Arena in Belfast, securing their first-ever Ulster Schools Ladies U20A title with a hard-fought three-point victory over St. Mary’s Magherafelt. Despite the challenging, damp conditions, both sides produced a high-quality encounter worthy of the occasion. While St. Mary’s drew first blood with an opening point from Aoife Doherty, their advantage was fleeting. OLSPK responded in the seventh minute when Grace Guest struck for the game’s opening goal. The Belfast school seized control of the first quarter as full-forward Rose Horisk rattled the net for a second major, followed quickly by a point from Guest.
The second quarter settled into a tighter tactical battle as the teams traded scores. Jemma Shivers kept the scoreboard ticking for the Magherafelt outfit with two converted frees, but these were effectively cancelled out by points from Evie McHugh and Guest. As the referee blew for half-time, OLSPK held a commanding six-point cushion, leading 2-3 to 0-3.
St. Mary’s started the second half with renewed intent, with Shivers pointing early to cut the deficit to five, but the conditions soon played a decisive role in OLSPK’s favor. A long-range free delivered into the square by Evie McHugh proved difficult to handle; the wet ball skidded off several defenders’ hands and ended up in the back of the net, pushing the Knock school further ahead.
However, the Magherafelt side refused to capitulate and mounted a spirited comeback in the final quarter. With 13 minutes remaining, Ava Hurl offered St. Mary’s a lifeline by coolly dispatching a penalty. Momentum shifted as Doherty and Shivers added further points, whittling the margin down to just three. Under immense pressure in the dying minutes, the OLSPK defense stood firm against the onslaught to secure the historic win.
Individual brilliance shone throughout the contest. Grace Guest top-scored for the victors with a tally of 1-2, while Evie McHugh contributed a vital 1-1. For St. Mary’s, Jemma Shivers was accurate in front of the posts with four points. The MFC Player of the Match award was presented to OLSPK Captain Isa McCarron for her leadership and performance.
The victory was made all the more poignant by the tributes woven into the evening. The finalists sported jerseys sponsored by MFC, but the OLSPK kit carried special significance: a star containing the initials ‘FW’ adorned the shirts, honoring their former teacher Frankie Wilson. Wilson was a pivotal figure in ladies’ football at the school before his untimely passing, and this title served as a fitting tribute to his legacy. The night was also a personal celebration for Cara McDermott, who marked her 18th birthday with a championship medal.
