On Wednesday afternoon, Ballymena Academy met Sullivan Upper School, one of our featured sides, in the second Semi Final of the Schools Cup. If Tuesday’s game had been blessed with clement weather, then Wednesday afternoon was grey, overcast and driech. The threatened rain arrived before kick-off. During the game, only the intensity of the rain varied.

In the opening minutes both teams showed nerves and were tentative. 

Ballymena’s Charlie Hargy surged through the Sullivan defence and when he was stopped close to the line, the ball was quickly recycled for Sean McKay to score midway out. Robbie Coleman’s conversion had Ballymena 7-0 up in 13 minutes.

Ballymena kept the board ticking over . . .