Overview
Friends’ School has a vibrant Girls Hockey club. In recent years, such is the enthusiasm in all year groups, that Friends’ has fielded 5 senior teams and at least 2 teams in each of the age groups U14, U13 and U12. Practices take place every afternoon on the school astro pitches. Matches are arranged both midweek and every Saturday, when from late August to the end of March, often 9 teams compete against the top schools in Ulster. On Saturday mornings Year 8 girls are welcome to take part in a full morning of sport with both netball and hockey on offer. Teams are all entered in all the Ulster Hockey competitions available to grammar schools. Tours to Dublin, Holland and other top European countries are offered on a regular basis.
Girls Hockey Report 2020-21
After what was a very successful season in 2019-20 which resulted in the 1st XI reaching the schools cup final and the u14s reaching the Junior cup semi-final, there was a lot to be excited about. Unfortunately, the season was very disrupted due to restrictions placed on sport due to the virus.
There were restrictions placed on the number of people training and inter school fixtures. We were very fortunate that the 1st xi and 2nd xi were able to get fixtures with Wallace, Ballyclare High and Banbridge Academy.
The 1st xi coached by Miss Adams and Alana Doyle beat Wallace 6-2, drew with Ballyclare 0 -0 and finished with a narrow 2-1 defeat to Banbridge Academy. The 2nd xi were undefeated, beating Wallace 3-2, Ballyclare 2-0 and drawing 1-1 with Banbridge.
The 2B and 3rd xi coached by Angie Dickson and Mrs O’Neill had large numbers attending practice, which resulted in the 3rd splitting into an u16 and u18 team. The 2Bs had one victory against BRA 3-0. The 3rd xi u16s beat Wallace 3-0 and the u18s beat BRA 3-2 and Wallace 5-0.
The Junior teams had large numbers attending training which was great to see.
The u14s coached by Mrs Rodgers and Beth Ravey had a narrow 2-0 defeat to Wallace, a 1-1 draw with BRA and finished with a 2-3 victory over Banbridge Academy. The u13s coached by Mrs McMillan managed two games and had two victories against Wallace and BRA.
The year 8s have had an unfortunate start to their school sporting careers but were grateful to get the opportunity to play 4 8aside matches vs Wallace at the end of the season. They put in brilliant performances and show great potential for the future, with 2-0, 5-0, 2-0 and 5-0 victories.
The Ulster u16 and u18 teams were unfortunately not able to participate in interprovincial tournaments. Ella Brown and Darcy McGall were part of the Ulster u18 squad who had a series victory against Wales.
Sophie Kidd, Emma Fraser and Ella Latuske all enjoyed success with the U16 team, for whom Ms Adams was assistant coach. They defeated Scotland and Wales and had series victories. Congratulations to Ella Brown who has been selected for the Irish u19 team.
Thanks go to all the coaches who gave so much of their time, energy and expertise to make this disruptive year as successful as possible - Miss Adams, Mrs O’ Neill, Mrs Rodgers, Ms McMillan, Angie Dickson, Alana Doyle, Beth Ravey, Hannah Erskine, Sarah Wilson and Jack Taylor
Girls Hockey Report 2019-20
Over 40 Year 8 girls practised twice a week under the guidance of a team of coaches. The competitive season began with 8 a-side matches versus Wallace, Methody, Ballyclare HS and Armagh Royal when everyone played. Indeed, a squad of 12 girls were runner up in the 16 team Methody tournament before Xmas. The girls then progressed rapidly to 11–a-side with flair and skill and although the planned trip to Wesley College had to be postponed, there is much to look forward to next year.
The U13’s coached by Mrs Rodgers and Beth Ravey played some great hockey throughout the season and continue to develop their potential. Their appetite for learning was infectious as new terms like ‘arc’, ‘cover me’ became part of their DNA! The group of some 28 girls trained often 3 times per week such was their enthusiasm. The U13A were led by captain, Isabella Monaghan and vice-captain Emma Smyth and the B’s by Sara Irwin and vice-captain Tia Jackson. Plans are still in place for their tour to Holland, something to very much look forward to next season.
For both U14 teams the 2019/20 hockey season was one never to be forgotten. Coached by Ms McMillan, both teams displayed tremendous team spirit and were super keen to train. The Bs led by captain, Daisy Donnelly her vice-captain, Ashleigh Patterson remained unbeaten throughout the season with many goals from Daisy, Ashleigh, Sophie, Ellen and Brooke to name a few.
The U14A team led by captain, Emma Fraser and vice-captains Elsa McGall and Charlotte Snape were a very talented and super committed squad who lost only twice. The team played some amazing hockey with individual skills and team play of which seniors would have been proud. Notable victories came in U14 Junior cup games against, Wellington College, Coleraine Grammar, Lurgan Junior High and Omagh Academy. The girls progressed to the semi-final but unfortunately were beaten on the day 2-0 on the day to Strathearn and missed out on the final. Such was their spirit they bounced back a week later to finish the season with a 5-0 win to delight of the loyal band of parents who supported the girls every week.
The 3rd and 3BXI trained regularly each week with Mrs O’Neill. As many as 30 girls continued to enjoy their hockey despite the lack of opposition from other schools. However, midweek matches against local rivals Wallace, Dromore HS and Ballyclare HS kept their interest. The 3rdXI, captained by Katie Patterson were entered in the 4thXI cup and sadly were not able to defend the title won the previous year. They had an emphatic 8-0 win over Belfast HS in the 1st round but lost narrowly 2-1 to Methody in the ¼ final. Their commitment and love of hockey was very evident from start to finish.
The 2BXI, coached by Angie Dickson reached the ¼ of Gibson Cup having won 3 matches and lost one in the group stages. Led by ‘captain fantastic’, Kerri Mulholland they faced Methody in the ¼ final. A tense game ended in a draw, but the Friends’ girls reigned supreme in the penalty run-ins to earn a semi final draw against Ballyclare HS.
The 2019/20 season for the 1stXI and 2ndXI squads began with a tour to Dublin. 1stXI won 5-1 v High School and drew 0-0 with a very strong Wesley U18’s. 2ndXI won 1-0 v High School and lost 2-0 against Wesley. As always, the matches against Wesley College were very competitive and a good early season training & bonding exercise.
Having won the McDowell cup the previous two seasons, the aim of the 2nd XI was to get the hat trick to retain the title. The 2nd XI having a completely new group of faces, showed determination and charisma from the outset which continued throughout the season. Kate Boomer captained the side with Bethany Au being her vice-captain, the duo brought great experience and were great role models for the younger members of the team. Excitement was high as the girls began the cup with the first round against Wellington college. With a convincing 4-0 win the team continued with persistence to face Armagh in the second round defeating Armagh 2-0 seeing them to the quarter final. Unfortunately, the quarter final win was not meant to be as the 2nd XI lost 2-0 to the well-deserved McDowell cup winners of 2020, Ballyclare High School.
The 1st XI, captained by Rachel Geddis, found themselves in a tough group in the Super League, but after a hard-fought draw with Banbridge and victories over Sullivan and Dungannon Royal, a narrow 3-2 defeat against Armagh disappointingly ended their interest in the competition. However, much was learnt by coaches Ms Adams and Alana Doyle
The Belfast Telegraph Senior Schools commenced in November with a first round draw against Glenlola. This campaign began well with a great performance 7-1 victory, which then was followed up the next week by a 5-0 win against Antrim Grammar in round 2.
The third round saw Friends face Strathearn at home, Strathearn were seeded due to being semi-finalists of the super league. A strong second half performance saw FSL win 4-0. The quarter final against Methody was a tight affair and in a game of two halves the score remained 2-2 and it took Vice Captain Cara McEwan to save the day in penalty run ins to progress FSL to the semi-final.
FSL put on a fantastic display in the semi-final to defeat Omagh Academy 2-0 with goals from captain Geddis and goal scoring machine Sophie Kidd.
This was the school’s first appearance in the final since winning the competition in 1999. Friends’ had won the competition outright on 3 occasions. The final against BRA was on a glorious sunny day at Lisnagarvey in front of a large crowd, unfortunately it was not meant to be and Friends’ were defeated 4-2, but the girls should be very proud of the performance they put in and for making it to the schools’ cup final.
Rebekah Evans, Charlotte Kennedy, Charlotte Snape, Ella Latuske, Elsa McGall and Emma Fraser were selected to train with the U15TDS. Ella Latuske, Elsa McGall and Emma Fraser reached the final assessment trial which had to be postponed due to the pandemic.
In the Interprovincial series in September, Ella Agnew played for the winning Ulster U18 team, with Ella Brown, Darcy McGall and Sophie Kidd all enjoying success with the U16 team, for whom Ms Adams was assistant coach.
Ella Brown, Sophie Kidd and Darcy McGall were so impressive in the tournament they were selected and continued to train with Irish U16 squad, culminating in the series of matches against England at Lilleshall. Never in the past, have Friends’ boasted three Irish U16 representatives. The girls continue to train with the Ireland U16 squad.
Thanks go to all the coaches who gave so much of their time, energy and expertise to make this yet another highly successful girls’ hockey season at Friends’ - Miss Adams, Mrs O’ Neill, Mrs Rodgers, Ms McMillan, Angie Dickson, Alana Doyle, Beth Ravey, Hannah Erskine, Sarah Wilson and Jack Taylor
Club Member of the Year Bethany Au
Most Improved Senior Player Beth Faulkner
Walker Cup (most improved Junior Player) Daisy Donnelly
Top Senior Goal Scorer Sophie Kidd
Top Junior Goal Scorer Kate Callaghan
Team |
Played |
Won |
Lost |
Drawn |
1stXI |
20 |
12 |
5 |
3 |
2ndXI |
18 |
9 |
7 |
2 |
2BXI |
13 |
8 |
2 |
3 |
3rdXI/3BXI |
13 |
6 |
4 |
3 |
U14AXI |
21 |
16 |
2 |
3 |
U14BXI |
15 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
U13AXI |
17 |
9 |
6 |
2 |
U13BXI |
14 |
7 |
5 |
2 |
U12AXI |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
U12BXI |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
U12 (8s) |
17 |
3 |
4 |
10 |
Captains: (Not Squads)
1stXI Rachel Geddis
2ndXI Kate Boomer
2BXI Kerri Mulholland
3rdXI Katie Patterson
U14AXI Emma Fraser
U14BXI Daisy Donnelly
U13AXI Isabella Monaghan
U13BXI Sara Irwin