Extra-curricular sports at Wallace have enjoyed remarkable success over the years. We have been privileged to play a part in the development of world-class athletes. Everyone at Wallace was immensely proud this summer as three of our former pupils represented the Irish men’s hockey team in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and another former pupil, David Ross, represented Great Britain in the Paralympics. Former pupils have also been achieving great success playing for Ulster Rugby.
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Irish Olympic Hockey Team
Sean Murray captained the side and was joined by Matthew Nelson for the five group games, while Jonny Lynch made his Olympic debut against Australia, appearing alongside Sean and Matthew.
All three pupils were instrumental in helping Ireland qualify, as they were key members of the squad that departed for Valencia in January 2024. After an arduous tournament, Ireland secured their place with a nail-biting 4-3 victory over Korea, thus confirming their ticket to the Paris Olympics.
Sean first entered Wallace in September 2008 and left in 2015, having helped the 1st XI squad to two Burney Cups (as captain in 2015) and one McCullough Cup. Memorably, he scored a last-gasp equaliser in the 2014 Burney final against Banbridge Academy, which took the game to penalty strokes. He now plays professionally in Belgium, has earned well over one hundred senior caps, and is renowned as a world-class player.
Matthew joined us in Sixth Form and was a Wallace pupil from September 2014 to 2016. He helped the 1st XI reach the Irish Schools’ final in 2014 and was a key player in the 2015 Burney Cup win, setting up Ryan Getty for a last-minute winner and playing alongside his brother Ben (also an Irish international) in the process. Since leaving school, he has continued to play with distinction for Lisnagarvey Hockey Club, winning numerous medals, is closing in on one hundred senior caps, and teaches Physical Education at Grosvenor Grammar School.
Jonny spent seven years at Wallace, from September 2012 until 2019, and captained the 1st XI to the Burney Cup/McCullough Cup double in the 2018/19 season. Having made his debut for Ireland in the summer of 2022, he has impressed with his excellent skill set and is a highly popular member of the senior men’s squad. He recently completed his studies at the University of Ulster, has over forty senior caps, and continues to represent Lisnagarvey Hockey Club with distinction.
Ireland played five group games while in Paris and acquitted themselves brilliantly against higher-ranked opponents. The results were as follows:
- Belgium: lost 0-2
- Australia: lost 1-2
- India: lost 0-2
- Argentina: lost 1-2
- New Zealand: won 2-1
It would also be remiss not to mention Mark McNellis, who was in the same school year as Sean and another key component in three trophy wins as a cultured defender. Mark joined the squad before the Olympics and was in the team that defeated the then-reigning Olympic champions Belgium twice in the FIH Pro League. Although he narrowly missed out on selection for Paris, he remains a member of the squad with many more caps surely to come.
Each past pupil shared their thoughts on their Olympic experience:
Sean Murray: “The overall experience was incredible. I think we were all on cloud nine for the full two weeks we spent in Paris. It was disappointing not to go further in the competition, but the atmosphere and Irish support were inspiring. It was brilliant to see so many people travel over to cheer us on throughout the tournament, which made that last win against New Zealand extra special.”
Matthew Nelson: “The Olympics for me was a journey spanning twenty years, with the last eight years involving a lot of sacrifice to be an Irish senior international. The Olympics was everything I had imagined it to be and more. Meeting celebrity athletes and being part of the world’s biggest sporting event is an experience I will never forget. It was an honour for me and my family, who played a huge role in my journey and were the main reason I could represent my country at the Olympic Games.”
Jonny Lynch: “The Paris Olympics was a dream come true, with so much sacrifice and hard work needed to reach the pinnacle of our sport. Personally, it was an extremely proud moment for myself and my family, because none of this success would have been possible without their support. It was truly a surreal experience and one I would love to recreate in LA 2028.”
The teacher in charge of boys’ hockey, Gareth Kidd, is understandably delighted with the continued success of our past pupils and commented: “We pride ourselves on pupils leaving school and continuing to play hockey. For some, this means representing their local club, while for others, it means playing on the biggest stage of all. For Wallace to have three past pupils as Olympians is something that we can all be immensely proud of, especially as all three are not only excellent hockey players but also excellent human beings who conduct themselves brilliantly at all times. All three lads (and Mark McNellis) continue to support our hockey players through coaching sessions and are inspirations for our current pupils trying to follow in their footsteps.”
Great Britain Paralympic Team
Former pupil David Ross has been playing wheelchair rugby for many years. We have watched this young man display unbelievable resilience in pursuing the sport that he loves to play. He is truly a role model for all our students and staff. We want to congratulate him on his success and wish him the very best of luck for the future.
Here is his account of his experience at the Paralympic Games in Paris:
‘It’s hard to sum up in words what my experience in Paris was like. It was surreal entering the Paralympic Village for the first time and somewhat overwhelming as it hit me that I was there and had finally achieved the dream I’d been chasing for the past eight or nine years. I tried my best to take in every moment, but in truth, the whole thing went by in a flash. Being out there under the bright lights on the biggest stage in the world was truly a buzz like no other. There are so many things about those two weeks in Paris that I will never forget playing the French in front of a sold-out crowd of 6,000 on a Saturday night is something I doubt I’ll ever experience again. The atmosphere was electric, and the noise was deafening. To come away with a win in that game and top our group was the highlight of the tournament for us. Overall, it was disappointing to finish fourth, so close to a medal, but on reflection, I am extremely proud of the team and of myself for all we achieved in Paris. It has only made me hungrier to try again in LA in four years’ time.
Life as a professional athlete is not one I imagined for myself when I was at school, nor when I started wheelchair rugby, if I’m honest. Somehow, through a lot of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice, it’s where I find myself now. A lot can be said for the glamour of being a professional athlete: travelling the world, competing on the biggest stages, getting to play the sport you love every day, and being paid to do so. However, it’s a lifestyle that also comes with a lot of sacrifices. I have missed countless social events and family gatherings, as well as birthdays, weddings, and funerals. There is a heavy mental toll that comes with the pressure to perform and the moments of questioning if you are good enough when you don’t. It requires a level of hard work, discipline, and consistency I could never have appreciated before. That being said, I love what I do and am so fortunate to be in the position to do it. It may not be as glamorous a life as I envisioned, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.’
Ulster Rugby
We are also delighted to report on the ongoing success of many former Wallace pupils within the Ulster Rugby setup. We have watched with great pride as former Wallace rugby players have represented our province, playing in matches across the globe and at the highest level.
Jacob Stockdale started his career with Ulster in 2016 and has made over 125 appearances for the club. He has also represented Ireland, with 37 appearances between 2017 and 2022. Nathan Doak won the Ulster Boys’ Schools Player of the Year award in 2020 and joined Ulster that same year. Since then, he has made over 70 appearances for the club. Other former pupils who have recently made their debut with Ulster include Ben Carson, Reuben Crothers, Charlie Irvine, and Scott Wilson. Well done, and good luck for the rest of the season!
We are also delighted to have welcomed back one past pupil, Kyle McCall. Kyle had a professional contract with Ulster Rugby, making 86 appearances for the club. He joined Wallace in 2021 as a classroom assistant and rugby coach. Since then, he has continued coaching our rugby teams and has begun a Maths PGCE with the school.
Wallace High School takes immense pride in the continued success of its alumni, who serve as exceptional role models for our current students, demonstrating the heights that can be achieved through dedication and determination.
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Last modified: November 21, 2024
