For the first time since 2002, a comprehensive public school has claimed victory in the prestigious Bill Turner Cup, knocking out sports and private schools on the way.

Killarney Heights High School emerged as the champions in the boys’ division of the school football competition, which sees over 400 teams from across the eastern states compete each year.

Up against well-funded football programs and professional coaches from other schools, the Killarney Heights team showed great resilience and was backed by a supportive community to claim the title.

In a thrilling quarter-final match against Newington College, the team came from behind to level the game in the second half, securing a 2-1 victory with a golden goal in extra time. A hard-fought 1-0 semi-final win over Illawarra Sports High School was next.

In the final match, Killarney Heights triumphed with a 3-0 victory over Queensland’s Corinda State High School, with goals scored by Nat Evans (45m pen), Benjamin Suen (48m), and Declan Feng (59m pen). Nat was also named player of the final for his outstanding performance.

Killarney Heights coach Zeke Desiatnik told The Daily Telegraph that the final result was the realisation of a three-year project.

“They (Corinda) were a good team. We switched on in the second half but credit to them, they rattled us for the first half,” Mr Desiatnik said.

“Hopefully we can create something special for the future of the boys and girls who want to play soccer on the northern beaches.”

Parent Peter Skjellerup said that it had been wonderful to be part of this journey, including watching the boys create their own team songs along the way.

“The boys have built special friendships along the way and always have each other's backs,” he said.

For the past two years, NSW public schools have emerged triumphant in the boys’ competition, with Endeavour Sports High defeating Ipswich Grammar last year and Narrabeen Sports High School overcoming Endeavour Sports High School in 2022.

That dominance by NSW public schools continued in the girls’ decider this year, Westfields Sports High School claiming the Bill Turner Trophy.

Arguably the greatest girls’ football nursery in Australia, Westfields Sports beat Far North Queensland rivals Carins State High 4-1 in the final.

The Bill Turner School Football High School knock-out competitions, Bill Turner Cup and the Girls’ Bill Turner Trophy, are for students 15-years-and-under, contested by schools across the football federations of Queensland, Northern NSW, NSW, the ACT and Victoria.

The first Bill Turner Cup was played in 1979 with the Bill Turner Trophy starting in 1991.

Killarney Heights High School’s pathway to victory:

Round games

v St Leo’s College 7-1
v Chatswood High School 4-0
v Knox Grammar 2-1
v St Ignatius College 4-1
v St Luke’s Grammar 1-0

Round of 16

v Santa Sophia College 7-2

Quarter final

v Newington College 2-1

Semi final

v Illawarra Sports High School 1-0

Final

v Corinda State High School 3-0

Photos: https://www.billturnersoccer.com.au/photos/