Stormont was again the venue for day 3 of the girls’ finals. Unlike Monday and Tuesday, when the sun shone and there was a light cool breeze. On Wednesday afternoon a strong south easterly cold wind brought incessant rain and a wind chill of 0/1C. This numbed players, drawing any heat out of them.

First up was the McDowell Shield final between Ballymena Academy and Wallace High School. Though it was a 1-00pm push back it was already dank, gloomy, cold and wet.

Whether it was nerves or numb hands but neither side could control first touches and passes went astray. Both sides found difficulty stringing passes together in the conditions. Consequently, midfield became crowded, with neither side able to break out. Halftime was reached at nil all, with no meaningful . . .