Helensvale SHS upset Palm Beach Currumbin SHS in AFLQ Schools Cup grand final
There were dramatic scenes at the conclusion of the senior male AFLQ Schools Cup grand final with a kick on the siren deciding the outcome of a game between two fierce Gold Coast rivals. Full details and results for all of the games Coast teams were in here.
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HELENSVALE State High School have celebrated a huge upset win over powerhouse Palm Beach Currumbin to claim the AFLQ Schools Cup senior male title.
Aidan Fyfe was the hero for Helensvale, booting a goal on the siren to secure the team a 3.6 (24) to 3.2 (20) win at Maroochydore Multi Sports Complex on Sunday.
Palm Beach Currumbin had won the previous three senior male grand finals and Helensvale had lost the past five and history looked set to repeat before Fyfe stepped up after being awarded a free kick within range of goal.
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The win instigated enormous celebrations from Helensvale, with the team’s bench storming on to the field to embrace their teammates.
“They went off,” Helensvale senior coach Matthew Dwyer said.
“They all ran out and got around each other, they cried and hugged each other.
“They really cared about it because they have lost a couple on the trot and have worked really hard since Year 10 and kept getting better and better and won this year.
“Palm Beach had a really good plan and stuck to it.
“They defended really well and they nearly stole it but we were lucky enough to get it.
“You could tell it really meant something to them.”
Midfielder Shaye Walsh was named best on ground.
Gold Coast teams won five of the eight grand finals, with the decider turning into a derby between two of the city’s school’s on three occasions.
Palm Beach Currumbin won two Cups, beating St Augustine’s College 13.10 (88) to 1.0 (6) to win the junior male division and Varsity College 3.6 (24) to 0.3 (3) to win the junior female category.
Miami State High School beat Palm Beach Currumbin 2.5 (17) to 1.1 (6) in the senior female grand final while Hillcrest Christian College won the primary female Cup by beating Kirwin State School 1.2 (8).
Helensvale won the junior male third-place play-off with a 14.6 (90) to 2.0 (12) win over Mountain Creek while Marymount secured third by beating Ryan Catholic College 8.5 (53) to 2.0 (12).