As another netball season came to a close the Yr 10 girls from Integrated College Dungannon (ICD) were successful in retaining the Alpha League shield for the second year running.

The Final of the Yr 9 and Year 10 Alpha League were played at St Patricks High School, Keady in a double header fixture with ICD providing the opposition in both games.

The Year 9 game provided the curtain raiser between ICD and Markethill. This was a repeat fixture from the group stages, on that occasion the Dungannon girls claimed the victory. However after a very closely contested match both teams found themselves level at the final whistle. It was always going to be a tough result to call with no team getting the opportunity to extend any secure lead. Extra time saw the teams go into battle for a do or die added time. It proved to be Markethill's day as they shaded the victory by a single goal at the final whistle. Winning 8 - 7.

Once all involved got their breaths back it was time to turn attention to the Year 10 final between ICD and St Patrick's High School, Keady. The Dungannon girls had seen first hand the disappointment felt by the Year 9 girls and were determined not to suffer another defeat. This was another closely contested final with neither team prepared to give the opposition any great lead on the score board. The Dungannon girls started brightly with Mona Younes getting on the score board with an accurate shot to help settle the girls. Mona followed this up with another shot on target. St Patrick's began to find their rhythm and registered their first goal through some exciting link play. Both teams were giving the game their all but the first half closed with St Patrick's leading by the smallest of margins.

On the restart ICD had a lot of work to do and immediately pulled the sides level. The industrious Emma Rice and Danielle Dobson were working extremely hard around the court providing quality ball for the shooters to get into scoring range. In defence Courtney Kinghan and Gemma Mc Caughey were making life difficult for the Keady shooters with tight marking and good interceptions. As the match unfolded the two teams proved to be off equal class and it was going to be a close one to call. Coming into the closing minutes the Dungannon girls had the lead but had everything to play for as St Patricks never gave up. With a sigh of relief the final whistle sounded to the joy of the ICD squad, they had retained the Alpha Leauge by the narrowest of margins 13 - 12.

Speaking at the event, Miss Deirdre Kelly, ICD PE tutor said, "Both ICD teams played excellent games and I'd like to congratulate both teams on their performance. All the girls have worked extremely hard throughout the year. Well done to both teams."

Year 9 Squad
Aoife Mc Kenna (Captain), Marcella Janekova, Chloe Starkey, Nicole Devlin, Francesca Mc Killion, Joanna Mc Killion, Cassandra Brandao, Hollie Templeton, Jessica De Sowa and Rachael Neill.

Year 10 Squad.
Emma Rice (Captain), Mona Younes, Karen Hegarty, Laura Boyd, Danielle Dobson, Gemma
McCaughey, Courtney Kinghan, Jemma Cumberland and Rebecca Irwin.