The Belfast Schools made a flying start in their annual challenge match against the Ulster Schools with Ryan McCreadie opening the scoring in the first minute when he neatly slid home a low cross from Martin Murray.

Ulster replied after 20 minutes when left winger Daniel Hand chased a long clearance and netted with a lob over the advancing Ross Glendinning.

The twin strike force of McCreadie and Murray was causing problems for the visitors and 10 minutes later the pair combined well again with McCreadie blasting the ball into the roof of the net after being put through by Murray.

The lead proved to be short lived as Gerard McGinty rifled in a free kick from the edge of the box into the roof of the net, giving Glendinning no chance.

Ten minutes after the restart Murray restored the lead, chasing a long ball from Niall Quinn and rounding the keeper before sliding the ball home from an acute angle.

Ulster fought back again and Liam Martin equalised near the end with a fierce shot into the corner of the net.

The Belfast Schools Under 18 team recorded a convincing 2-0 victory over the Leinster Schools in the Annual Challenge Match at Oriel Park, Dundalk.

The visitors made a flying start and Martin Murray was narrowly off target with a lob from the edge of the box.  Murray then saw a rasping drive turned over by the Leinster keeper but on the half hour Belfast deservedly went ahead through the lively striker.  Conor Rosato gathered a long pass from Niall Quinn and laid the ball into the path of Murray who rifled his shot into the roof of the net.

On 39 minutes Rosato doubled the lead when he picked the ball up 35 yards out and rounded two defenders before sliding the ball under the advancing keeper.

After the break Leinster came more into the game but Belfast keeper James Scott dealt comfortably with their long range shooting.

In the closing stages Ross Clark and Michael Ruddy went close to increasing the margin of victory with shots which were just off target.

YEAR 8

BDSSFA 3  v Dumfries & Galloway  4

Thursday 12^th May 2011

On a wet and windy day at Stranraer Academy the BDSSFA Year 8 side were narrowly beaten 4-3, the winning goal a header from a corner in the final minute.The BDSSFA side, who gave away a 6 month age advantage, were noticeably smaller than their Scottish counterparts but technically more advanced. This led to many excellent passing moves throughout the game by the composed and skilful Belfast side.Dumfries took the lead after 14 minutes when Belfast failed to get the ball cleared after a corner, the ball finally being slotted home after a goal mouth scramble.5 minutes later Belfast equalised through the outstanding Brendan Glackin who fired into an empty goal after the Dumfries goalkeeper had committed himself.Dumfries then scored 2 goals within a 5 minute spell before half-time which looked to have put the game out of reach for Belfast.Thankfully this was not the case as they came flying out of the blocks in the second half and quickly scored their second goal, again through Brendan Glackin who dribbled the ball past 2 Dumfries defenders before smashing into the bottom corner.With 10 minutes to go Glackin again struck for his hat-trick, this time from the edge of the box finding the top corner. This polished off Glackin’s Man of the Match Performance.Unfortunately Belfast could not hang on to this lead and conceded from a corner in the final minute of the game.Once again the experience for the boys was invaluable and they represented their District impeccably.

Match Report: Gavin McConnell