Kerry teams prepare for Inter Regional Finals
Murt Murphy (PRO)
THE countdown is on for the Kerry teams who are well into their preparations for the upcoming Inter Regionals Finals to be held in UL Arena on Easter Monday April 2. Kerry coaches for this season are U-14 Boys Jim Hughes and Mike Cahillane, U-14 Girls Tommy Dom O’Connor and Montse Salvado,
U-17 Boys Liam O’Dowd, U-17 Girls Dell White and Mary Jo Curran.
The groups are:
U-14 Boys: Kerry, Cork, Galway, Clare, North Munster, Midlands
U-17 Boys: Kerry, Cork, Midlands, North Munster
U-14 Girls: Kerry, Cork, Galway, Midlands, North Munster, Clare
U-17 Girls: Kerry, Cork, North Munster, Midlands, Dublin
U-16 BOYS DIVISION 3
St. Mary’s 62 Glenbeigh Falcons 45
St. Mary’s got off to a great start in what was their last game of the season. Accurate in their shooting they hit 17 points in this first quarter, six points apiece coming from John Ahern and Cian Walsh Murphy while both Patrick and Colm Roche also contributed. Glenbeigh stayed in touch with from Ethan Falvey, Sean Quirke and Luke O’Connor but they trailed 17-9 at the end of the first.
The second period of play was much more evenly contested; Glenbeighs Sean Quirke gave a big performance for his side as did Aodhán Roche but Ahern and Walsh kept the pressure on from the home side. Glenbeigh took the quarter by a single point.
The third quarter was similar, the sides went basket for basket throughout leaving that seven point gap between them as they entered the final period. Glenbeigh fought hard throughout, Sean Quirke standing out, but they could not contain an unstoppable John Ahern who hit 10 of St. Mary’s 20 points in this quarter. Ahern was well up in the double figures with a tally of 29 for game and not for the first time this season as he has performed superbly throughout for St. Mary’s.
St. Mary’s: John Ahern 29, Cian Walsh Murphy 18, Patrick Roche 8, Glenbeigh Falcons: Sean Quirke 21, Ethan Falvey 13, Aodhán Roche 5.
U-14 BOYS DIVISION 1
Killarney Cougars 53 TK Bobcats 37
The last game of the U-14 Division 1 Boys League saw Cougars host the Bobcats with a place in the All Ireland Club Championship up for grabs both teams produced a very competitive game. Cougars the Cup Champions played with great confidence from the start and raced into a commanding lead 19-6 with Harry Kelly and Darren Ryan in top form as Cougars made home advantage count as the Bobcats struggled to make an impact early on.
The Bobcats were reeling but had a better second quarter as they showed a spirited response as the sides went basket for basket with Evan Boyle, Sean Rice and Donal Daly all on target with hard earned scores but Cougars Rian Colleran responded with a couple of good baskets as Cougars push the lead out to 31-15.
There was little to separate the teams in the third and fourth qaurters with Cougars withstanding Bobcats pressure to reduce the arrears with Bobcats Sean Rice scoring 11pts it was not enough with Cougars Dean Sheehan, Jack O’Neill, Rocco Sheehan all adding good scores to ensure Cougars secured the win and advanced to the All Ireland Club Championship next month.
Cougar’s best performances came from Darren Ryan, Dean Sheehan, Harry Kelly and Rian Colleran, with the Bobcats Sean Rice, Evan Boyle and Eoin Creedon all impressing in an entertaining game.