Saturday 4th April 2026 brought challenging weather conditions, with cold temperatures, driving rain and gusting winds setting the scene for both the U14 and U16 Shield Finals. Despite this, players showed great resilience and skill in two entertaining contests.
U14 Shield Final: Clogher Valley vs Academy
Heavy rain greeted the U14 finalists as Clogher Valley kicked off against Academy, with spectators sheltering under umbrellas around the pitch. Early exchanges were disrupted by difficult handling conditions, with both teams adjusting to the wet and windy environment.
Clogher Valley struck first following a midfield break from Abraham Ferran, who powered through to score, with Adomas Griskaitis adding the conversion. Academy responded well, moving the ball wide before fullback Emmanuel Lawrence finished confidently near the posts, and captain Joe Brennan converted to edge Academy ahead.
Clogher Valley, however, regained control before the interval. Ferran crossed for his second try and quickly completed his hat-trick to give his side a strong lead. Griskaitis added further to the tally as Clogher Valley built momentum heading into the second half.
Academy continued to battle and enjoyed periods of possession but were unable to break through a determined Clogher Valley defence. The decisive moment came when hooker Nathan Martin intercepted and raced clear to score, converting his own try to extend the advantage.
Clogher Valley added a late unconverted try to seal an impressive 34–7 victory, securing the U14 Shield title.
U16 Shield Final: Coleraine vs Newry
Conditions remained difficult as the U16 final got underway, although the wind eased slightly. Coleraine made a strong start, with Luca Porter crossing early and Max Cunningham converting. Aidan Browne quickly followed with another try, again converted by Cunningham, to establish early control.
Newry worked hard to gain territory but were repeatedly met by strong Coleraine defence. A pivotal moment came when Toby Hasson charged down a clearance, chased his own kick and scored under the posts, with Cunningham maintaining his perfect record from the tee.
Hasson added a second try before the break to give Coleraine a commanding half-time lead.
The second half saw Coleraine continue their dominance. Porter produced an excellent finish along the touchline before touching down under the posts, while the forward pack got in on the action as Jacob Elliot powered over, again converted by Cunningham.
James Quigg added the final score of the game to complete a comprehensive performance, with Coleraine running out convincing winners 41-0 to claim the U16 Shield title.
Both finals showcased the determination and spirit of youth rugby, with players overcoming difficult conditions to deliver high-quality performances.