Boys 1st Eleven win the Irish Schools Championship
posted 29 Oct 07

Last week the Boys 1st eleven travelled to Dublin to play in The Irish Schools Hockey Championship. This tournament is held every October and features the top boys’ hockey schools in Ireland. This year there were 8 teams from Ulster, 4 from Munster and 4 from Leinster.

The sixteen teams are placed into four groups of four. Each of the teams in the group play one another This is a very difficult competition and the first hurdle is qualifying for the semi final as only one team qualifies from each group. To reach the semi final it is almost always essential that you win all your group matches.

In the first group match our school played one of the top Munster schools and two times all Ireland winners, Ashton. This proved a very tough match and the game was heading for a 1-1 draw when Greg Allen scored his second goal of the match with the very last touch of the game. 2-1

The second game was against Friends School Lisburn. Thankfully the boys were able to get into a rhythm particularly in the second half and ran out 4-1 winners with a hat-trick from Captain David Ames and one from Greg Allen.

Two hours later the boys played the host school, Sutton Park. Despite the huge home support for the Dublin school the boys won 5-0 with two goals each from Greg Allen and Stuart Smyth and one from David Ames.

This meant that the boys had secured qualification for the semi finals along with arch rivals and current title holders Banbridge Academy, 2005 winners and Munster Champions Bandon Grammar and 2004 winners and Leinster Champions Wesley College.

The boys waited nervously for the draw which was made at the Tournament Dinner, and knew they faced a difficult task when Bandon came out of the hat.

Given that Cookstown had been labelled favourites by the press going into the tournament there was added pressure for Coach Mr Haycock and his team.

A large crowd assembled at Three Rock Rovers Hockey Club where the semi finals and final were to take place.

Semi-Final
Despite having most of the possession the Bandon forwards proved dangerous on the counter attack and Cookstown found themselves 3-0 down at the interval. After a good tactical decision in which Cookstown went for all out attack, moving David A into the forward line and playing without a sweeper having moved David B into centre midfield, along with an inspiring team talk by Mr Haycock the boys came out firing on all cylinders at the start of the second half. Captain David A led from the front, proving himself as the best player in the competition and caused havoc in the Bandon defence. After Cookstown missed two good chances, a penalty stroke and hit the woodwork it was with much relief that right midfield Stephen S broke the deadlock and initiated a comeback. With only 15 minutes on the clock Cookstown surged forward in waves with David B playing a pivotal role in the centre of the park and the right side of Jonny A, Stephen S and Mark C overrunning the Bandon defence.

Striker Greg A pulled the scores level with two excellent finishes. The Cookstown crowd were sent into raptures and there was more to come.

Once again it was David A who led the way with a finely executed pass in the circle to Mark C who made no mistake to tap in for the winner.

The game finished 4-3 and Cookstown High School had qualified for the final for only the second time in their history.

Meanwhile in the other semi final Banbridge and Wesley had played out a 1-1 draw and the game had gone into penalties with holders Banbridge finally securing the win.

The final proved as exciting as the semi final with the Cookstown players drawing on every last ounce of energy having played 5 matches in 2.5 days.

Cookstown started well but went one down early in the match. David A pulled one back from a corner before a superb individual effort from Stuart S made it 2-1. Stuart ran from the half way line before playing a one two with Greg Allen and finishing what must have been one of the best goals of the tournament.

In the second half, the defence, led by David B, of Jonny A, Robin J, and Andrew McG were resolute and worked tirelessly to prevent a Banbridge comeback. However, Banbridge managed to score an equaliser from a short corner to draw the game level. Keeper Alastair T was then to make two fantastic saves to prevent the opposition from going ahead.

Cookstown’s class shone through as the match progressed with the midfield of Stuart S, David A and Stephen S working hard to control the game. The boys would take the lead from a corner when Jonny A deflected a Greg A ball into the roof of the net, capping off a fine individual performance. Then, with only 5 minutes on the clock the ball fell to 13 year old Ian S in the circle, and he made no mistake in threading the ball past the helpless Banbridge keeper to make it 4-2. As he and his team-mates wheeled away in celebration, the crowd knew that the shield was going to Cookstown for the first time in the school’s history.

At half past three, captain and player of the tournament David A lifted the trophy from Irish President Dixon Rose to the jubilation of the Cookstown supporters both in Dublin and back home.

The emotion on all the boys’ faces showed how much winning the trophy for the school really meant. Their never say die attitude and team spirit was obvious throughout the tournament and their will to win should be an example to all of us. They were clearly proud of what they had achieved for each other, the school and indeed the town of Cookstown. Many young people would give up if faced with a seemingly impossible task, similar to what the boys experienced in the semi-final on Friday. Our school motto speaks of character and this quality shone through from the entire Cookstown team in winning the most prestigious tournament in Schoolboy hockey.

Squad:
David A, Robin J, David A, Adam H, Gareth P, Roland M, Harry A, Andrew McG, David B, Stuart S, Stephen S, Mark C, Alastair T, Jonathan A, Greg A, Ian S

MEET THE TEAM

Alastair T (GK)
Alastair has been the regular keeper for the past two years. He has represented Ulster and Ireland at under 16 level and has recently been selected for the Ulster under 18’s. He played in the under 16 European Championships in 2006

Adam H (GK)
This is Adam’s first season on the first eleven squad. Adam captains the school’s under 15 team and he has recently been selected for the Ulster under 16 squad.

David B (Defender)
Vice Captain. David has been a regular on the school first eleven for the past three years. He also plays regularly for the Cookstown first eleven in the Vi sport Premier league. David has represented Ulster and Ireland at both under 16 and under 18 levels and recently played in the 2007 European Championships.

Andrew McG (Defender)
This is Andrew’s third season in the school first eleven squad. Andrew is a keen athlete and he has also represented the school at major athletic events.

Robin J (Defender)
This is Robin’s first season on the first eleven having been a key player in the school’s second eleven midfield last season.

Jonathan A (Defender)
This is Jonathan’s second season on the first eleven. Jonathon represented Ulster last season at under 16 level and he is team captain, David’s, younger brother.

Stuart S (Midfield)
Stuart has played for the first eleven for the past two years. He has played as a striker and this season in the midfield. Stuart has represented Ulster and Ireland at under 16 and under 18 levels and has played in two European Championships.

David A Captain (Midfield)
David has been a regular on the school first eleven for the past three years. He also plays regularly for the Cookstown first eleven in the Vi sport Premier league. He has represented Ulster and Ireland at under 16 and under 18 levels and was recently selected for the Irish Development Squad.

Stephen S (Midfield)
This is Stephen’s third season on the first eleven. Stephen has represented Ulster and Ireland at both under 16 and under 18 levels and has played in two European Championships in 2006 and 2007.

Ian S (Striker)
Ian is Stephen’s younger brother. At only 13 he is the youngest player on the team. He was recently selected for the Ulster under 16 Team, making him the youngest boy ever, from the school, to play at this level. Ian captained the victorious Bannister Bowl winning under 13 school team last year.

Greg A (Striker)
Greg is in upper sixth and this is his fourth season on the school first eleven. Greg also plays regularly for the town second eleven in Junior League one.

Mark C (Striker)
This is Marks third season on the team. Mark has represented Ulster and Ireland at Under 16 level and was recently selected for the Ulster under 18 squad. Mark played in the under 16 European Championships in 2006.

David A (Defender)
This is David’s first full season on the school’s first eleven. David was a regular last season on the school’s under 15 team. David is also a keen athlete and was twice All Ireland Javelin Champion.

Roland M (Defender)
This is Roland’s first season on the school’s first eleven squad. Roland was a regular player last season in the under 15 team and is a key player in the school’s second eleven midfield.

Gareth P (Striker)
This is Gareth’s second season on the first eleven squad. Gareth is a regular in the midfield of the school’s second eleven.

Harry A (Defender)
Harry is in his final year and he has been part of the First Eleven Squad for three years. Harry is a regular in the School’s Second Eleven.