Royal School Armagh’s 1st XI Girls Hockey Team was among the young sporting successes celebrated at the 2026 Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Junior Sports Awards, after a season that brought double Ulster titles and an All-Ireland silver medal.
The team received the Youth School Team of the Year award at a ceremony held at Craigavon Civic and Conference Centre on Friday 23 October. Its head coach, Greg Thompson, was also honoured, winning School Coach of the Year after leading a side described as double Ulster winners and All-Ireland finalists.
The awards recognised individuals, teams, schools and clubs from across the ABC borough. The council said 2026 had been a particularly successful year for young people in sport, with competitors achieving record-breaking results, medals and major titles while representing Ulster and Ireland at European and world-level competitions.
Royal School Armagh team and coach recognised
Royal School Armagh’s 1st XI Girls Hockey Team was presented with the Youth School Team of the Year award, sponsored by AG Wilson Civil Engineering. The team’s season included two Ulster championships and an All-Ireland silver medal, with the side also described in the awards information as an All-Ireland finalist.
Thompson’s School Coach of the Year award was sponsored by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council. He was presented with the award by Lord Mayor Councillor Mary O’Dowd and Cathal O’Neill of the ABC Sports Forum.
The Royal School Armagh winners were part of a broad list of award recipients representing sports and schools across the borough. The ceremony also highlighted an Armagh-linked success for Oscar McKinney of Armagh Special Olympics Swimming Club and Markethill High School.
McKinney won the Sports Person with a Disability Award, sponsored by Interface, after taking double gold and a silver medal at the Special Olympics All Ireland Games. Aidan Murphy of the ABC Sports Forum accepted the award on McKinney’s behalf, with the presentation made by Orla Hoy of Interface.
Football, netball, boxing and athletics winners
Lurgan Junior High School’s under-14 girls football team won Junior School Team of the Year. The team’s achievements included winning the Mid Ulster League and Cup, as well as the Northern Ireland under-14 Girls Cup. JH Turkington & Sons sponsored the award.
Banbridge Netball Club’s under-14 team took the Junior Club Team of the Year title after winning both the Northern Ireland League and Cup competitions. The award was sponsored by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.
Franky Mooney of Banbridge Amateur Boxing Club was named Junior Male of the Year. The awards citation identified him as a national cadet champion and European quarter-finalist. Jason McKay, also from Banbridge Amateur Boxing Club, received Club Coach of the Year. McKay was recognised as a multiple medal-winning coach, with his award sponsored by Sport Northern Ireland.
Lucia McMullan, who represents Dromore Athletics Club and attends Lurgan Junior High School, won Junior Female of the Year. Her achievements included becoming Irish Schools 800m champion, joining the Northern Ireland London Mini Marathon team and being selected for the Ulster Hockey under-13 squad. Manfreight Limited sponsored the award.
Swimming, sailing and further youth awards
Banbridge Amateur Swimming Club’s Youth Boys’ Relay Team won Youth Club Team of the Year. The relay team was recognised as Ulster champions and record breakers, as well as All-Ireland silver medallists. Manfreight Limited sponsored the award.
Adam Green of Lough Erne Yacht Club and Banbridge Academy received Youth Male of the Year. Green was described as a Northern Ireland and British champion who had also finished fifth at the World Topper Sailing Championships. Total Hockey sponsored his award.
Youth Female of the Year went to Lucie Prentice of Banbridge Amateur Boxing Club and St John the Baptist College in Portadown. She was recognised as a double Irish champion and European bronze medallist, with the award sponsored by Armagh Sports & Trophies.
The range of winners reflected the different sporting pathways represented at the event, from school and club competitions to athletics, swimming, boxing, hockey, football, netball and sailing.
Awards ceremony and special guests
Denise Watson compered the event. Special guests Chloe Wilson, Alana Burns-Atkin and Willie-John McCartan, identified as Glasgow Commonwealth Games athletes, shared insights into their sporting journeys with those attending.
Lord Mayor Councillor Mary O’Dowd congratulated the individual athletes, teams, coaches, schools and clubs shortlisted for awards. She said:
“Tonight provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the remarkable sporting talent across our borough and to shine a light on the passion, commitment and determination demonstrated by everyone in this room. Whether you are here as an athlete, a team member, a coach, a volunteer, a teacher or a parent, each of you has played an important role in the successes we celebrate tonight.”
ABC Sports Forum Chair Edith Jamison thanked ABC Council for supporting the organisation of the event. She also acknowledged the sponsors for their continuing support, including headline sponsor Manfreight Limited.
Although the ceremony took place in Craigavon, the awards included prominent Armagh connections through Royal School Armagh, Armagh Special Olympics Swimming Club and the borough-wide ABC Sports Forum programme.
