St Marys exit U-18 Cup in qualifying tournament
U-18 WOMEN’S CUP
ST. Mary’s U-18 women were unlucky to lose out on a place in this season’s U-18 Cup quarter-finals. They travelled to Leiixlip at the weekend where they met Templeogue and Ballincollig in the first rounds of the qualifying tournament.
They suffered a loss to a strong Templogue team but went on to take the win over Ballincollig securing a place in Sunday’s semi final. They met St. Colm’s of Limerick in the semi and the sides were well matched. St. Colm’s led by a single point at the end of the first and again at half time.
The side were level on 50 points a piece going into the final ten minutes. A tremendous performance by both teams saw the game finish 62 points apiece in ordinary time, neither side willing to give up as a place in the final ensured a place in the cup quarter final in December. The sides went to overtime and finished 68 a piece sending them into double overtime.
Unfortunately for the Castleisland side St. Colm’s took the win by a basket, final score St. Mary’s 72 St. Colm’s 74.
The U-18 squad were coached by Liam Culloty who was announced on Friday as Basketball Ireland’s Women’s division coach of the monthe for October and assistant coach was Aoife Nolan.
Team Tom McCarthy’s St. Mary’s travel to Limerrick on Sunday to take on Limerick Celtics in St. Munchin’s at 3pm.
IN other games Tralee Imperials U-14s were busy defeating St Joseph’s 62-58 after being 31-20 ahead at the break.
They then saw off St Annes away 51-31. The first quarter was very tight with the Farranfore side leading 9-8. Tomas Kennedy drove the Tralee side on in the second quarter and they opened a 12 point lead 26-14 by the break. The coach was able to run his bench in what turned into a 20 point win 51-31. St Annes Michael Fitzgerald and Daithi O’Shea put in big efforts.
They ended their week with a 69-42 point win at home to KCYMS. It was the visitors that started the brighter and were 13-9 up at the break. However the team really upped the intensity in the second quarter and were 31-15 ahead at the break. Led by Ryne Ybanez on offence and Sean