Minister praises schools' sporting success

Sports Minister Nelson McCausland this evening congratulated Northern Ireland Schools Cup winners at a reception held at Stormont.

The event was held in honour of Ballymena Academy, Banbridge Academy, De La Salle College and St Colman’s College who won this year’s Schools Cup Finals.

The Minister said: “I would like to pay tribute to each of the teams for all the hard work and dedication that they have given to their sports, and wish each of them continued success in future competitions.

“Our schools across Northern Ireland have a strong track record of producing quality athletes in a whole range of sporting disciplines. I am confident that the sporting success being celebrated here tonight will act as a springboard for many more of our students to excel at the highest sporting level.”

On St. Patrick’s Day Ballymena Academy rugby team won the Ulster Schools Challenge Cup, beating Belfast Royal Academy 10 points to seven. Ballymena Academy has won the cup three times and has been in the final nine times.

In hockey, Banbridge Academy won the Burney Cup, beating Campbell College three-nil at the final held on 16 March. Banbridge Academy has been in the final a total of 23 times and won the cup a total of 10 times.

In football, De La Salle College, Belfast, won the St Patrick’s Day final of the Maxol Direct Senior Cup at the New Grosvenor Stadium beating St. Malachy’s College two-one.

In the St.Patrick’s Day final of the MacRory Cup, St Colman's College, Newry beat Omagh CBS 1-14 to 1-8. St Colman’s have now won the MacRory Cup a record 18 times.

The Minister said that he was determined to help people in Northern Ireland not only participate in sport, but to have the opportunity to compete at the highest levels.

He explained: “The development of sport in schools is a key component in a new Sports Strategy entitled Sport Matters, which I intend to publish in the coming weeks.

“This is an ambitious strategy which explains how sport in Northern Ireland will be developed over the next 10 years. It affirms Government’s commitment to put in place effective structures and mechanisms in support of a vision of lifelong enjoyment and success in sport.”

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