Our Lady’s make it to two finals
TWO teams from Drogheda’s Our Lady’s College have managed to qualify for Secondary Schools Association finals after a busy week of action.
In all they had four contenders in the semis and on Thursday last two Under-19 teams headed to neutral venue Naomh Olaf in Stillorgan.
First up was the Premier Division semi-final against Maynooth Post Primary, a team the Boynesiders had beaten by 36 points in a previous encounter.
Our Lady’s had a poor start, with many missed opportunities, but still led 6-2 at the break. However, Maynooth shot out of the blocks in the second quarter and won that period 9-7.
The Drogheda girls were playing some good basketball in patches, but over-zealous passes and missed rebounds saw them lose the lead at the end of the third quarter.
Maynooth were five ahead before Our Lady’s responded through Ava Prendergast. With 10 seconds on the clock and Maynooth one point ahead, Our Lady’s got a shot off, which narrowly missed, and although they secured the rebound they couldn’t get the crucial score and went down by that single point - 32-31.
It was a poor performance by their standards on the day, but in their first year in the Under-19 ranks this experience will stand to them.
The Under-19 Division 1 semi-final was next, against St Dominic’s, Cabra. A recent encounter between the sides was eventually settled by a single point after three periods of overtime.
Dominic’s scored first after a nervy start by both teams and then Catherine Grey opened the Boynesiders’ account. With Lynn Victory accurate, as usual, from the free-throw line the Drogheda girls led 8-4 at the first interval.
Katie McCabe lit up the game with her introduction in the second quarter and scored eight of her team’s nine points in this period. Their defence also improved, with Benita Assoua and Keelin O’Reilly particularly impressive under the boards.
The third quarter saw each team score just four points, but Our Lady’s did hit a further 14 points in the final quarter to finish convincing 35-15 winners.
This victory was particularly sweet as this team - promoted from Division 2 last year - is the only one in the division with no club players.
On Friday it was the turn of the Under-16 teams. They headed to ALSAA Sports Complex at Dublin Airport, with the Division 2 semi first to be played.
St Paul’s travelled from Tallaght to provide the opposition and it was the impressive Grace Woods who netted both baskets in the first quarter, while St Paul’s only scored one in reply. St Paul’s were quite aggressive in their defence and this caused problems for the
Drogheda girls.
A single basket still separated the sides going into the second half, but a full court press turned the game around in the third quarter, with Lily Mae Harmon and captain Uyi Aghavbere getting on the scoresheet.
Our Lady’s led 15-6 at the start of the final quarter, only for the Tallaght side to produce a late surge. Success Agbonifo picked up a nice rebound to steady the ship and Grace Woods scored their final basket to secure a hardfought 19-15 win.
The last semi-final was the Under-16 Premier Division one against Mount Sackville from Chapelizod.
These two sides met in last year’s 2nd Year Premier decider, with Mount Sackville taking the spoils, and they boasted Dublin, Leinster and indeed international players against an Our Lady’s team who were missing captain Loveth Edowande because of holidays.
However, the Drogheda girls roared out of the blocks, winning the first quarter 10-7.
Captain for the match, Sarahjane Hughes, hit six of these points, but Mount Sackville got down to business and turned it around to lead 20-15 at the half and 36-19 going into the final quarter.
Two quick scores from Rebecca Tully sparked a scoring spree, during which a gallant Our Lady’s outscored their opponents 10-2, but it wasn’t enough and the final score was 38-29.
UNDER-19 PREMIER: Oyin Adelegan 5pts; Ava Briscoe 9; Nikola Busa 4; Zoe Gardiner; Ava Prendergast 7; Abby Rice 6; Ellie Riggs; Ava Russell; Abby Strutt.
UNDER-19 DIV 1: Shona Bradley 4pts; Benita Assoua; Rachel Beirth 6; Eimear Clarke 4; Niamh Cullen; Caoimhe Doherty; Chantelle Gallagher; Catherine Grey 1; Katie McCabe 14; Josephine Ogbanga; Keelin O’Reilly; Lynn Victory 6.
UNDER-16 DIV 2: Uyi Aghavbere 2pts; Success Agbonifo 2; Grace Awe; Molly Durnin; Lily Mae Harmon 2; Alma Harrak; Teigan Kavanagh; Stephanie Obisan; Desiree Ofodile; Gabriella Orackova; Katie Ryan; Grace Woods 13.
UNDER-16 PREMIER: Sarahjane Hughes 6pts; Niamh Byrne 6; Subomi Dele; Ella Flanagan; Keelin Foley; Kate McGuigan 2; Cliona McKernan 1; Neda Totilaite; Nicole Tully 6; Rebecca Tully 8; Jowita Wyka.