SIBLING rivalry will be to the ‘four’ when St Genevieve’s High School, Belfast take on Rathmore Grammar in the Northern Ireland Schools’ Netball Senior A league final this afternoon.
Today’s decider, which will be held at the National Badminton Centre in Lisburn (12.45pm start), features all four of the Turley quadruplets from Belfast – Aoife, Brid, Cora and Eilis.
Crucially though, they are not all on the same side, with Aoife, Brid and Cora representing St Genevieve’s while their sister bids to bring the trophy back to Rathmore.
“Somebody in the house will be smiling anyway,” laughed Eileen Haigney, who coaches the St Genevieves’s team alongside Andi Magee.
“The girls couldn’t believe it when they saw who got through in the other section. Of all the schools in Northern Ireland we could’ve met in the final, it had to be Rathmore, with the three girls against their sister.”
Their athletic prowess should come as no surprise really considering the 18-year-old upper sixth students grew up in such a sports-mad house.
Brothers Dan and Conall are also keen sportsmen, with all four girls also playing basketball, Gaelic football for St Gall’s, as well as being talented cross-country runners.
“They’re all very sporty,” continued Eileen Haigney, “just great all-rounders. They’re all lovely girls too.”
As well as the Turley contingent, St Genevieve’s also have another set of sisters in Abbey and Lara Dahunsi – named 2017 Ulster Young GAA player of the year after her performances with Antrim.
So no matter what happens in Lisburn today, it promises to be an intriguing family affair.
