Image: Action from the Our Lady and St Patrick’s College Knock v Rathmore Grammar second round tie in this season’s Danske Bank Schools’ Cup.
The tie of the round in the last 32 of this season’s Danske Bank Schools’ Cup competition saw holders Our Lady and St Patrick’s College Knock stroll into the third round.
The east Belfast side were simply too powerful for Rathmore Grammar as they booked their place in the last 16 thanks to a fine 5-0 victory.
The visitors from Finaghy started brightly and put the cup holders under pressure but wasted several good opportunities in front of goal.
After 15 minutes Eoin O’Neill opened the scoring when he cut in from the right and netted with a powerful drive. The winger was also involved in doubling the lead 20 minutes later as his low cross was deflected into the net by a Rathmore defender.
Our Lady and St Pat’s were now rampant and a minute before the break Northern Ireland U18 Schoolboys international James Clarke scored with a well-placed header.
On the restart Clarke produced a superb individual effort to put his team four up. He coasted past three defenders and planted a shot under the keeper.
Five minutes later Eoin O’Neill produced an inch perfect pass to send Fion Rodgers clear and the striker made no mistake by completing the scoring with a rasping shot from the edge of the box.
The east Belfast team will now face neighbours Lagan College in the third round as they bid to retain the trophy. Last 16 matches are due to be played in the run-up to Christmas.
The only remaining tie in the second round of this season’s competition will see Blessed Trinity College take on Boys’ Model in an all-Belfast encounter. That game is scheduled to be played tomorrow (Wednesday 24 November).
Other second round results of note included an emphatic win for Derry-Londonderry school St Columb’s College. In an all-Derry affair they swept aside St Brigid’s College on a 9-2 scoreline.
And in a Ballymena derby St Louis Grammar got the better of Ballymena Academy by three goals to two.
DANSKE BANK SCHOOLS’ CUP
SECOND ROUND RESULTS
Laurelhill (Lisburn) 2-1 Edmund Rice College (Glengormley)
De La Salle 0-3 Grosvenor (both Belfast)
Ashfield Boys 8-0 Colaiste Feirste (both Belfast)
Hazelwood College 1-6 Lagan College (both Belfast)
Ballyclare High School 4-0 Campbell College (Belfast)
Belfast High School (Newtownabbey) 1-0 Bangor Academy
OL & St Patrick's 5-0 Rathmore Grammar
Cullybackey College 1-3 St Colm's (Draperstown)
St Columb’s College 9-2 St Brigid's College
Ballymena Academy 2-3 St Louis (Ballymena)
Sperrin Integrated College (Magherafelt) 1-4 Holy Cross (Strabane)
St Patrick's Academy (Dungannon) 2-1 Portadown College
St Kevin's College (Lisnaskea) 1-5 Dromore High
Omagh High 0-4 Enniskillen Royal GS
St Patrick's GS (Downpatrick) 3-0 Royal School Dungannon
SECOND ROUND FIXTURES
Blessed Trinity College v Boys’ Model
Scheduled for Wed 24 November
THIRD ROUND FIXTURES
Laurelhill v Belfast High School
Grosvenor v Ashfield
Ballyclare High School v Blessed Trinity or Model
Lagan College v OL & St Patrick's
St Louis (Ballymena) v Holy Cross (Strabane)
St Colm's (Draperstown) v St Columb’s College
St Patrick's GS (Downpatrick) v Enniskillen Royal GS
Dromore High v St Patrick's Academy (Dungannon)
