Gneeveguilla do the double

BOYS U16 DIVISION 1

THIS was the final game of the 2016/17 league, a top of the table clash and also a repeat of the cup final.

Gneeveguilla were on top of the table going into the game but a victory for St. Mary’s would draw the teams level on points and the two-point victory Gneeveguilla had back in the first game of the season would become a crucial factor.

The home side Mary’s got off to a lightening start and were up 6-0 within a few minutes and extended their lead to 12-0 with Garry O’Sullivan scoring 8, Joe Sheehy 4 and Daniel Kelly finished the quarter with a three-pointer. Before the quarter ended Gneeveguilla got on the score board with a basket each from David Gleason and Ronan Collins. The score was 15-4 at the end of first quarter.

The second quarter was to be the highest scoring of the game, with end to end action and Gneeveguilla hitting a scoring patch. The halftime score was 33-30 with the home side still leading. Gneeveguilla hit four three pointers in this quarter with two in a row early from Paul O’Leary giving the away side some badly needed momentum, Ronan Collins and Lorcan Keane added one each.

Also on target were Jack Brosnan, David Gleason and Charlie Collins contributing to the 26 points scored. Mary’s also scored 18 points in this quarter with five from the free through line, a three pointer from Joe Sheehy and baskets from Daniel Kelly, Tadhg O’Shea and Donal Geaney.

In the third quarter the momentum swung back to Mary’s, extending their lead to seven by the end, but a fierce battle was still to be fought. With an assist from Patrick Brosnan, Ronan Collins open the scoring in the fourth with a two-pointer, Garry O’Sullivan pulled back the seven-point lead from the free through line.

Ronan then hit a three-pointer to close it to four, but Tadhg O’Shea responded with a well worked basket leaving six between the teams.

Then up stepped Lorcan Keane with a three-pointer from the left and followed in the next attack with another from the right drawing the game with a minute on the clock.

Daniel Kelly then scored one of his free shots to edge the home side to the narrowest of victories.

This put both teams level on points at the top of the table, so the Kerry Area Basketball Rules needed to be referred to, Gneeveguilla won earlier in the season on a score line of 53-51 and with Mary’s only winning here by one point, the Under 16 Division 1 Boys title goes to Gneeveguilla.

The Under 16 Division 1 league and cup double is another exciting chapter in the history book of Gneeveguilla Basketball Club on its 10th anniversary.

The relatively young club now heads off to the All-Ireland Club A for the first time where they will face some of the biggest names in Irish basketball.