VIDEO: Academy set sights on Shield success

Ballymena Academy’s First XV rugby team aim to bring the curtain down on their season by landing a trophy this week.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Mar 2014, 11:00 BST
James Walker of the Country Garage talks tactics with Ballymena Academy 1st XV players Dean Reynolds, Duncan Maguire and Andrew Magrath, and coaches Alistair McKay, John Andrews and Gavin Murray, before their Subsidiary Shield final. INBT12-242ACJames Walker of the Country Garage talks tactics with Ballymena Academy 1st XV players Dean Reynolds, Duncan Maguire and Andrew Magrath, and coaches Alistair McKay, John Andrews and Gavin Murray, before their Subsidiary Shield final. INBT12-242AC
James Walker of the Country Garage talks tactics with Ballymena Academy 1st XV players Dean Reynolds, Duncan Maguire and Andrew Magrath, and coaches Alistair McKay, John Andrews and Gavin Murray, before their Subsidiary Shield final. INBT12-242AC

The Galgorm Road boys take on Ballymoney neighbours Dalriada in Wednesday’s Danske Bank Subsidiary Shield final at Shaw’s Bridge (2.30pm).

Ballymena’s School’s Cup campaign was ended at the first hurdle in an agonising last-gasp defeat by Ballyclare High School but they have put together a good run of form since then.

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“It’s been quite a frustrating season - we’ve had a few boys off injured - but for the Ballyclare game we managed to get most of our boys on the pitch and it was actually our best performance,” said Academy coach John Andrews.

James Walker of the Country Garage talks tactics with Ballymena Academy 1st XV players Dean Reynolds, Duncan Maguire and Andrew Magrath, and coaches Alistair McKay, John Andrews and Gavin Murray, before their Subsidiary Shield final. INBT12-242ACJames Walker of the Country Garage talks tactics with Ballymena Academy 1st XV players Dean Reynolds, Duncan Maguire and Andrew Magrath, and coaches Alistair McKay, John Andrews and Gavin Murray, before their Subsidiary Shield final. INBT12-242AC
James Walker of the Country Garage talks tactics with Ballymena Academy 1st XV players Dean Reynolds, Duncan Maguire and Andrew Magrath, and coaches Alistair McKay, John Andrews and Gavin Murray, before their Subsidiary Shield final. INBT12-242AC

“We were unlucky to lose but now we’re looking forward very much to this final after three or four wins on the trot.

“We’ve had a few great encounters against Dalriada over the past few years - the year we won the Schools’ Cup they actually beat us on our home patch so we know it won’t be an easy game and we’re not treating it lightly at all. We beat them 16-8 just before Christmas in a tight game so it’s a tough one to call.

Ballymena will again miss Ulster Schools representative Josh McIlroy - a long-term ankle injury casualty - but Andrews reports: “We had a couple of boys missed the semi-final through injury but they’ve resumed training this past week.

“It’s a very young side - we only have five Upper Sixth boys who will start on Wednesday so it’s good for them to get experience of semi-finals and finals,” added John.

Related topics:Ballymena Academy