Limavady Grammar School 1st XV Rugby Team are making final preparations to meet Ballyclare HS in the final at Kingspan Stadium On Wednesday 5th March 2025.
Captain Dara McAuley expressed his pride in leading the team to this stage: “It’s a great honour for me to be able to lead the team to Kingspan. It’s not often a Limavady side reaches this stage in a competition, let alone being able to play at Kingspan. It’s a credit to all the hard work that the boys have put in all season, and it’s something we can collectively be really proud of.”
Reflecting on the journey to the final, Dara highlighted the challenges faced: “Each side we came up against posed their own respective challenges. Being drawn in a group with an Armagh team who booked themselves a place in the cup final was certainly difficult. However, our first group game against Larne stands out. Despite injuries to key players and being underdogs on paper, we managed to battle through from being behind and get the win, which allowed us to build momentum.”
The captain also emphasized the importance of staying focused and treating the final like any other match: “It’s easy to get caught up in the occasion, but there are many reasons we’ve got to the final, so there’s no point in trying to alter anything. We have a great group of parents led by Mr W Smyth (coach) who has supported us in all our preparation, and a coaching staff with a vast wealth of experience who will know how to get us primed for Wednesday.”
Coach Mr Hughes echoed Dara’s sentiments, praising the team’s hard work and unity: “The lads have worked really hard throughout the whole season. They have had to really work together to win the last number of games against some strong opposition and really deserve their place in the final.”
Mr Hughes highlighted the key players and moments that have been crucial to the team’s success: “Dara McAuley’s leadership, alongside Seth Guy, has really led by example. The Upper Sixth players have stepped up this season, with Josh Connolly and James Laird keeping the team going at 9 and 10. There has been a lot of effort on and off the pitch, with many people involved in getting the players prepared from conditioning, coaching, and nutrition.”
As the team prepares for the final, the focus remains on high-quality basics and playing their style of game: “We are really excited to be playing on the new Kingspan surface. It’s important to stick to our game plan and play our game,” said Mr Hughes.
Both Dara and Mr Hughes emphasized the importance of staying calm and focused during the match. Dara’s message to the team is simple: “Enjoy the occasion and ‘Fear Nothing!'”
The final match against Ballyclare High promises to be a tough contest, but the Limavady 1st XV Rugby Team is ready to give it their all. “If we produce our best performance, we will be in with a good chance to win. We back our players to get the job done!” concluded Mr Hughes.
The School community is behind the team, and everyone is looking forward to what promises to be an exciting and memorable match at Kingspan Stadium.
