New Heights

"The Sundays" (711180) achieved something this season that is worthy of mention, let me explain ...

A long time ago in the early days of Hattrick Northern Ireland a footballing power emerged, "Norn-iron Rangers" our first Premier league (60150) champions. This achievement was equalled and then surpassed by Northern Irelands first defence of the title by "Ballymena Utd" who won the title in season 2 and quickly followed that victory up in season 3 becoming our first consecutive title winner. "Norn-Iron Rangers" regrouped and won their second title in season 5 but they were again stopped from attaining the elusive double by "Ballymena United" who won their third title in season 6 before fading into obscurity. "Norn-iron Rangers" matched their rival by winning a third premier League title in season 7 and then broke the record in season 8 by joining Ballymena in being the second Northern Irish team to defend the title and winning his 4th premier League Title in the process.
Seems a small feat but what these two teams achieved .. the sucessful defence of the Title .. was not to be equalled for many many seasons and only another 3 teams in our 28 season history have completed this feat.
One of these teams won their first premier league title way back in season 14 and followed that up with an immediate title defence in season 15 thus joining the elite band of consecutive title winners. This mighty achievement was brushed aside when in season 16 they won their third consecutive Title an awesome achievement, the team in question was of course "Metallicamen". Despite already being hailed by some as Northern Irelands greatest "Metallicamen" were stopped dead in their tracks by a great Northern Irish team who had struggled for many seasons in the Prem without success, "2nd String" won their first title in season 17 thus ending Metallicamens attempt at an unheard of fourth consecutive title. "2nd String "proved their first title win to be no mere fluke by ataining a consecutive title victory in season 18 but there the run would end and it was to be season 20 before they, like "Ballymena United" won their third title and also like Ballymena would fade into obscurity. Our story continues with the comeback of "Metallicamen" who won their record equaling fourth Premier league Title in season 21. They were to go on a run and win in seasons 22, 23 and 24, FOUR consecutive titles and SEVEN titles in all. This left no doubt in anyones mind and made "Metallicamen" the greatest Northern Irish Hattrick team todate.
Now this truely great run was brought to an end in season 25 when "The Sundays" claimed their first premier league title. Its hard following in the path of a legend and " The Sundays " second title win in season 26 putting them in the small group of elites went unnoticed and even although this was followed by a season 27 victory "The Sundays" winning their third title becoming only the fifth Northern Irish team to win three titles and the second after Metallicamen to win THREE Consecutive titles, but the shadow of the beast that is Metallicamen still loomed and this all went by relatively unnoticed. Also unnoticed was the fact that earlier this season "The Sundays" won their FIFTH Northern Irish Cup equaling the current record held now jointly with Metallicamen.
But now as we stand at the end of season 28 who could fail to sit up and take notice as on Saturday 5th January 2013 "The Sundays" won not just their fourth title but their FOURTH consecutive title equaling Metallicamens remarkable record. They no longer stand in anyones shadow "The Sundays" now stand shoulder to shoulder with our greatest and are poised to re-write the records next season but one thing is for sure wether they set new markers for others to chase or fade away into obscurity "The Sundays" have earned and deserve all the praise we can give.

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