Cronin snatches late winner for Gneeveguilla
Murt Murphy BOYS U-18 DIVISION 2
AFTER a close game through all four quarters, this game was decided in the final seconds. Tralee were led by James Friel (29 points) and Ken Ocuo (11 points), while Gneeveguilla’s top scorers were Cathal McCarthy (21 points) and Evan Cronin (16 points). Gneeveguilla led by three points with 20 seconds remaining when Friel shot a pressure 3-pointer to level the game. Gneeveguilla made eight passes to set up Cronin, for the dramatic winning three-pointer with two seconds left.
U16 GIRLS DIVISION 1
THE opening period of the game saw Cahersiveen score of the tip off by Rachel O’Dwyer and some great defensive work by Claire O’Connor gave her six points in the first quarter but the game was tight early on with J Delaney scoring five points for St Paul’s and at the end of the first quarter Cahersiveen were leading by 14-7. Cahersiveen maintained their lead in the early part of the second quarter despite a very strong man to man defence by St Paul s and two great three points by A Sheehan for St Paul’s and a three-pointer for Siofra O’Shea on the buzzer to end the second quarter saw Cahersiveen lead 21-14 at half-time. The start of third quarter saw Irish International Siofra O’Shea breaking the strong press by St Paul’s to go to the boards with Rachel O’Dwyer to score four baskets each and two great baskets came from Leah Murphy who came off the bench to score and end third quarter 37-21 to Cahersiveen. The start of the fourth quarter saw Cahersiveen run their bench but St Paul’s soon closed the gap to 4 points thanks to great scoring by L O’Shea, T Murphy, A Doherty and J Delaney but Cahersiveen held on to win by 3 points.
U16 GIRLS DIVISION 3
BALLYBUNION Wildcats played their first home game of the season against KCYMS and the first quarter saw Wildcats Simo Fernandez score the first point with a free shot. KCYMS came back with Tara Clifford scoring their first basket. Wildcats led 16-10 at the end of the first quarter. KCYMS closed the gap in the second quarter when they outscored Wildcats 17-7 but Wildcats led by two at the break. Killorglin took over in the third quarter with a good spread of scorers and with Wildcats missing a lot; KCYMS took the lead 33-28 at the end of the third. Wildcats got into foul trouble in the final quarter and KYCMS finished the stronger to win by 14. Simo Fernandez top scored for Wildcats with 10 while Hannah McGreever with 12 was Killorglin’s top scorer.
U-12 BOYS DIVISION 2
GAVIN O’Sullivan gave the home side, St Annes, the opening score, settling the side to run up a strong lead. Scores by Daithí O’Shea and Colm Riordan saw the St. Anne’s ahead 15-2 in the first quarter. However, Tralee Tigers came back strong in the second quarter and defensively limited the home side to only scoring one basket. Matt Pearse and Jake O’Connor scored for the visitors, while Robert Kelly’s impressive basket closed out the second quarter 17-6 to St Anne’s. St Anne’s rallied once more and with scores from Michael Fitzgerald, Simon O’Leary, Colm Riordan and Daithí O’Shea they stretched the home sides lead to 32-6.
U-14 BOYS DIVISION 3
BALLYBUNION Wildcats made the journey to Farranfore on Friday night, to play St Anne’s in what was the first game of the season for both teams. St Anne’s started very strong and overcame the Ballybunion defence several times, ending the first quarter with a lead of 14-4. Ballybunion came back fighting in the second quarter, with a strong defence denying St Anne’s several scoring chances, while scoring six baskets. The closing score of this quarter was 16-16. The third quarter was very close; as soon as one team scored, the other replied. St Anne’s just edged ahead thanks to a free throw, ending with a score of 25-24. Heading into the final quarter with everything to play for, both teams showed great determination. Ballybunion scored two baskets while St Anne’s added three to the home score to claim a narrow win.