On Monday afternoon, under lights, Friends played The Royal School Armagh, in a Schools Friendly, in a very mild and dry Lisburn.

The 1st half was very even and scoreless. Both sides created chances, as the game ebbed and flowed, but couldn’t break solid defences.

The 3rd quarter was very much the same, until in the 27th minute Friends broke the deadlock, when Nina MacDonald rifled home a goal to give Friends a 1-0 lead. Despite Armagh pressure, Friends held a 1-0 3rd quarter lead.

In the 4th quarter Armagh’s intensity changed. They put the squeeze on Friends midfield, defending high up the field, starving the Friends attack and forcing the defence into errors. With the Friends defence unable to clear . . .