Monthly Archives: January 2025

On Thursday 23^rd of January, some of our sixth form pupils were invited to a talk from SQC Digital, focusing on the Northern Ireland economy and growth of business sectors across Northern Ireland.

It was a privilege to be one of only two schools invited to the event where pupils were able to hear the latest information on the growth of the N.I economy from Ian Snowden, Permanent Secretary of the Department for the Economy. In addition, pupils got the chance to hear from Clare Hanna MP, the Lord Mayor of Belfast Micky Murray, Dr Bill Wolsey OBE Founder and Managing Director at Beannchor Group, John Mathers Head of Barclays Corporate Banking NI and Suzanne Wylie CEO of NI Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

It was a fantastic morning and experience for our pupils, who will hopefully benefit from the advice and guidance provided by the speakers.

Thank you to SQC Digital for the invitation and the kind hospitality.

Mr Smyth

Year 11 English students recently enjoyed an end-of-unit project that combined creativity with language skills. In groups, students were tasked with designing their own restaurant menus, incorporating language devices to describe their dishes. This project ended with students presenting their menus in a mock restaurant setting and rating one another. 

We even had our own waiter! 

Well done Year 11! 

Miss McKee. 

Match Report – Year 8 Football

NI Plate vs. Ashfield

The Year 8’s served up another feast of schools football in the last 16 of the NI Plate, where they were unlucky to draw Ashfield Boys away at a relatively early stage of the competition. The Year 8s have proved already that they can go toe to toe with the best footballing schools in the country and last Thursday was no different.

Unfortunately, despite at one stage being 3-1 ahead in the second half, Ashfield to their credit put on a superb comeback to narrowly win 4-3. The team were told not to be disappointed at the final whistle because the quality of football on show, the dedication and the work-rate demonstrated were all first rate. Along with an Ashfield own goal, goals came from a long range effort from Brian J. and a tidy finish from Caleb J. The Man of the Match was the imperious Noah W. in central midfield.

Next up is Campbell at home in the Quarter Final of the Belfast Cup.

Well done to all who played last Thursday.

Ashfield Boys 4-3 Laurelhill

MOTM – N. Walton

Goals – Brian J, Caleb J

Mr Hillis

Next up for the Year 10 boys was a Lisburn League game against St Patrick’s, with 21 players getting minutes for the side, in what turned out to be a 10 goal thriller.

After a shaky start saw us 3-0 down Jay R managed to keep his composure with a smart finish and give us a goal back to end the first half 3-1.

The second half saw 10 changes to give more boys minutes, and 2 goals from Tristen M brought us to 4-3 before a couple of quick St Patrick’s goals gave them a 6-3 lead. We ended the game strongly and it finished up 6-4 to St Patrick’s, with Matty G striking home a penalty with the last action of the game.

Final score: Laurelhill 4-6 St Patrick’s

Goal scorers: Jay R

Tristen M X2

Matty G

MOM: Tristen M

Jack

U16 Northern Ireland Plate vs Integrated College Glengormley

The u16s progressed to the Quarter Finals of the Northern Ireland plate on Wednesday afternoon after a convincing 4-2 win over Integrated College Glengormley.

Laurelhill took command of the game from the first whistle, with Spencer, Harry and Max exchanging some excellent one-two touch football to win Laurelhill a corner. Billy N’s delivery was flicked on at the near post and smashed home on the volley by centre back Reuben, in the words of the boys “a proper Sportszone lunch time goal”. Laurelhill quickly made it 2-0 on the 8 minute, fantastic determination from Jay B to win the ball in midfield, drive past two players and slip Jay I down the left wing. Jay I played a fantastic ball across goal to Max who took one touch to calmly and confidently place the ball in the bottom corner.

Just before the end of the half Glengormley pulled one back with a terrific strike from the edge of the box. It was only their second shot of the game and their first on target, which highlights the superb defending from Isaac, Reuben, Noah and Spencer.

With Glengormley encouraged by their goal, they raised their game and started to press Laurelhill and put pressure on the players every time they touched the ball. Laurelhill weathered this 10 minute period of constant pressure through excellent desire to break up Glengormley’s attack and not let them get into any sort of rhythm. Credit must go to the midfield trio of Billy N, Billy B and Jay B who covered nearly every blade of grass.

Laurelhill took a 3-1 lead after excellent pressure of our own, led to Jay B finding himself 1-on-1 with the goalkeeper. To some they might have thought the angle was slightly against Jay B, but to no surprise Jay hammered the ball confidently across the keeper and into the bottom corner.

With three minutes left Glengormley found the back of the net with an acrobatic overhead kick which took everyone by surprise, a fantastic finish set the game up for a tense and nervy finish. However the U16s have been in this position before and that experience was telling during the final minutes of the game. While Glengormley were motivated and fired up after their goal, our boys kept their heads and displayed fantastic attitude to not get drawn into any silly behaviour. With Glengormley pushing for an equaliser, the Laurelhill back line stood firmed and dealt with any delivery into the box. The final moment of the game was telling of the attitude of the boys, a long clearance was chased down by James H, instead of letting the full back have time on the ball, James H put him under pressure and made him have to play the ball, instead James H dispossessed him and with the keeper up for the corner, James had an empty net to seal the win. Unfortunately for James, the defender fouled James inside the box just as he was about to shoot. Up stepped Max who smashed the penalty home for Laurelhill’s fourth and Max’s second of the game.

Man of the Match was again a tough decision, but it was decided by staff and opposition staff that it should be awarded to Jay B who’s driving runs and ability to recover the ball for Laurelhill was excellent throughout the game.

Well done lads on a great win.

Final score:

Laurelhill 4-2 Integrated College Glengormley

Goal Scorers: Max x2, Jay B and Reuben

MOTM: Jay B

Mr Smyth

The U14 Football Team were on their travels again in the NI Plate away to Enniskillen Grammar. After an early start at school and a long bus journey  the boys were eager to get onto the field of play and book their place in the 1/4 final of the cup.

Credit to Enniskillen they were determined not to let us win and were keen to give us a match. We dominated the first half with excellent ball retention and passing and it wasn’t long before we opened the scoring from JB. Zac and Charlie controlled the midfield and played numerous balls upfront to Temi and JB. Temi ran his socks off for 50mins and showed the grit and determination that Laurelhill is proud off.

Our back 4 ensured that Oliver G had very little to do it the game at all. JB scored our 2nd for an impressive 2-0 win.

Into the 1/4 finals we go!

Goals

JB x2

MOM Zac M E

Mr Watson and Jack 

Who said reading wasn’t fun? To keep the excitement from Bookbuzz alive, 8G and 9H4 English classes took on the ‘Get Caught Reading’ challenge.

The goal? Snap the quirkiest, most imaginative reading photo! From wacky spots to wonderful poses with four- legged  friends, our students truly embraced the challenge.

Take a look at their fantastic entries—creativity at its finest! 

Miss J Thompson

Our Laurelhill U18 squad travelled to Greenisland today to face a very good Belfast High team in the last 16 of the Belfast Cup. 

The game started off well with both teams creating some chances but it was Belfast High who looked to be the sharper team and  broke the deadlock around 20mins. The Laurelhill boys showed great character to come back into the game and get the equaliser with a well worked bit of play leading to a great finish from Ethan. 1-1 at halftime. 

The second half started very much the same as the first half. However it was the Laurelhill boys who got the next goal through Toby A making it 2-1.

Belfast High got one back making it 2-2 but the Laurelhill boys managed to find another two goals through an OG and Toby C. The Laurelhill boys held on to the big pressure from Belfast High who managed to get one back but the boys held on in the last few mins to get the 4-3 win and progress to the next round. 

Belfast High 3 – 4 Laurelhill 

Goalscorers: 

Ethan McG

Toby A 

Toby C

MOTM: Ethan McG

Well done! 

Mr Abbott