St Mary’s University College Belfast regained the Student Sport Ireland Netball League title after a thrilling win over Queen’s University Belfast in Ulster University Jordanstown last night on a 43-35 score line.

After losing their title to the host college in 2016 St Mary’s were eager to get back to the top in 2017. The plan did not start well as Queen’s University Belfast were quick out of the traps and raced into an 8-1 lead with Helen Monaghan and Isabel Jess scoring freely as St Mary’s struggled to get going. However, by the end of the first quarter dynamic scoring duo of Nicole O’Neill and Colleen McVeigh had tied the scores up at nine points each.

Parity remained right up to half time as both teams displayed some fantastic skills in defence and attack as the sides headed to the break level at 19 points each.

An incredible fourteen-point haul during the third quarter by St Mary’s would break the Queen’s challenge and with a 33-25 lead at the end of the third St Mary’s were on the brink of success.

Queen’s rallied early in the fourth quarter but four points in quick succession were cancelled out as the final quarter saw both sides finished the last twelve minutes with 10 points each and St Mary’s celebrated glory with an eight-point win.

St Mary’s
Aideen Murphy, Aislinn McFarland, Eimear Gilligan, Cristin O’Kane, Aileen McAllister, Nicole O’Neill, Colleen McVeigh, Cora Stewart, Elena Smyth, Catriona Bannon, Grainne McAnealy.

Queen’s University Belfast
Beth Wilson, Maeve Nethercott, Lauren Redpath, Claire Hanna, Emma Holley, Helen Monaghan, Isabel Jess, Lauren Hamilton, Cara Gordon, Emily Murphy, Aimee Donaldson, Catriona McArdle.