ST NINIAN’S U16S WIN THEIR SECOND SCOTTISH SHIELD
Congratulations to St Ninian’s High School U16 football team who won the U16 Scottish Schools’ Football Association Scottish Shield after a 5-0 victory over St Ambrose High School on Tuesday 26 April. This is the second Scottish Shield title for St Ninian’s U16 team as they made history by winning the Shield for the first time in the schools thirty years of existence, in 2014.
The game was played at Airdrie’s Excelsior Stadium in unexpected wintery conditions. St Ambrose started the livelier side as it took St Ninian’s a while to settle into the game. Once St Ninian’s found their feet, there was no real doubt in the final result. Connor Gillan opened the scoring in the sixteenth minute with a header after a Matthew Reilly free kick found him at the back post. The second goal came from a Lewis Smith cross which was deflected to the back post where Roan Fitzpatrick was waiting to convert it goal wards off the underside of the crossbar. Following the second goal St Ninian’s took control of the game and dominated possession. They made this possession count when again, Lewis Smith delivered a great cross and Matthew Coyle was able to head it into the net. St Ninian’s then made a few inspired substitutions which immediately paid off with goals from Oscar Sibille and Sonny Innes.
A massive well done to all of the boys who are enshrined in St Ninian’s folklore and will be able to treasure these memories forever.
Matthew Boyle (4a10), Alex MacDonald (4a10), Martin Cassells (4a7), Matthew Coyle (4a6), Ryan Donnelly (5a8), Ronan Fox (4a5), Roan Fitzpatrick (4a8), Connor Gillan (4a7), Umayr Hussain (4a3), Sonny Innes (4a9), Matthew McGrath (4a6), Craig McKeegan (4a5), Michael O’Neil (4a2), Matthew Reilly (4a10), Stephen Shaw (4a1), Oscar Sibile (4a5), Lewis Smith (4a6), Declan Walsh (4a6).
Photos from the game can be viewed here.
