The following schools took part:

From East Antrim:
Monkstown
Ulidia Integrated College
Carrickfergus College

From Banbridge:
Banbridge H.S.
Dromore H.S.
Lurgan Junior High
Kilicomaine Junior High

From Ballymena:
Ballymoney H.S.
Limavady H.S.
St. Pius’ Magherafelt

From Clogher Valley:
Omagh C.B.S.
Omagh Sacred Heart
Fivemiletown

From Bangor:
Shimna Integrated College
Ashfield Boys’ H.S.
Our Lady and St. Patrick’s

The day began with a group stage, where schools from the qualifying areas were split into groups of four, with one team from each pool going through to the Semi Final stage.

The following are the results from each of these group stages:

At the end of the group stages, three out of the four groups were tied with two teams sitting equal on points. Pool 1 saw Omagh Sacred Heart and St.Pius’ Magherafelt tied on equal points, tries for and tries against, which inlcluded a 1-1 draw against each other. From this, Omagh Sacred Heart qualified as a result of being the first team to score in the tied game.Pool 2 saw Killicomaine and Fivemiletown tied on equal points, tries for and tries against, which inlcluded a 3-3 draw against each other. From this, Killicomaine qualified as they were the first team to score in the tied game.Pool 3 saw Dromore High School come through as the winner of the group with scoring 60 points and only conceding 5 points.Pool 4 saw Omagh CBS and Lurgan Junior High tied on equal points at the end of the group stage, but Lurgan Junior High qualified through as they had a better try difference than Omagh CBS

At the Semi Finals Draw, Dromore High School  played Killicomaine and Omagh Sacred Heart  played Lurgan Junior High. In the semi finals the try scoring ability of Lurgan Junior High and Dromore came to the fore when they both beat their opponents.

Dromore High School  played Lurgan Junior High School in the Final. In what was a very tight final, it was the ever- confident Dromore HS who eventually came through as winners, when, with only two minutes to go, they broke the dead lock to score the only try of the game. But credit must go to Lurgan as they showed determination and pride in their rugby, battling right to the final whistle.

After the Final, Ulster Rugby's Paul Marshall was on hand to present the Shield. As Dromore H.S. accepted the Shield, it completed a clean sweep for the school, who already lifted the Under 14s and U 16s cups earlier in the year.

For more photos from the Year 8 finals, see branch galleries