Lumen Christi establish themselves as serious force on school sports scene

Lumen Christi are continuing to establish themselves as a force to reckoned with on the school sports scene, and that continued last week.

On Wednesday the Bishop Street school had two teams featuring in the Northern Ireland netball finals which were held in the Lisburn Racquets Centre.

They were to bring one trophy back down the Glenshane, as the Intermediate team came back from five goals down to defeat St Pauls of Bessbrook in Belfast – a school with three times Lumen Christi’s student numbers.

The Junior team led for large periods of their final against Aquinas of Belfast, but in the end suffered a heartbreaking two goal loss.

The success follows on from Year 14 student Fintan Stewart’s victory in the All Ireland Cross Country Championship two weeks ago, while the school’s senior Gaelic football team prepare for their Ward Cup final tomorrow.

Netball is a sport in which the Derry school has been a force in recent years, and their appearance in two Northern Ireland finals has done nothing to dispel that.

The Junior team were captained by Orla McGeough, and played an excellent game of Netball that showed tremendous improvement from last season.

During the tight encounter with Aquinas the team were composed and calm throughout and were unfazed by the occasion.

In the first quarter they were excellent and they deservedly led by one goal to nil as the second began.

The Belfast school began to get into the game but Lumen Christi stayed firm in the face of some difficult pressure at times, with the match drawn by the end of the third quarter.

In the end Aquinas’ experience told as they went on to win top spot with a two goal margin but there were plenty of positives for the Derry school’s young side to take into their next season.

There was to be one trophy collected at the end of play as captain McGeough was awarded player of the match for a superb performance of leadership.

The sole hopes of success then rested on the shoulders of Lumen’s Intermediate team, and it was a challenge that they did not shy away from.

To say that the team showed character in this game would be an understatement.

St Paul’s of Bessbrook raced into a five goal lead in the opening quarter but as the Derry side stared down the barrel of defeat, they showed exceptional spirit and teamwork to level the tie by the close of normal play.

It was a test of nerve in extra time with both schools putting every ounce into getting the victory.

It was a victory that was to go to Lumen Christi who in the end had enough to get over the line on a 31-28 scoreline.

Once again the Derry side contained the player of the match, this time in the form of the talented Emily Sweeney.

In the end both teams will be delighted with their performance, and there is clear evidence that many more Northern Ireland titles await the school in the near future.