No margin for error as titles on the line in KABB Divisions

Padraig Harnett

IN the Under 12 Boys Division 3 League St Colmans’ clash with Kenmare Kestrels was not decided until the final quarter.

These are two well matched teams and it took a strong second quarter from St Colmans to give them a narrow lead that they never relinquished. In the end the Saints beat the Kestrels 33-28. Cathal Spring hit 16 for the winners with Ronan McKeon ending on seven. For the Kestrels Aidan O’Sullivan Casey ended with 12 and Colm Kelliher on six.

The win moves St Colemans up to joint third in the table level with St Marys and behind Ballybunion Wildcats and Glenbeigh Flacons who have a five-point lead, but a game more played. Ketrels are only a point behind St Colmans, but have also played six games,

In the Under 12 Girls Division 3 St Colmans Rockets were also involved in another game that went down to the wire. In the end the Rockets won 28-26 against Rathmore Ravens. St Colmans were ahead by six after a good first quarter and just managed to stay ahead despite a great effort from Rathmore.

For St Colmans’ Roisin Daly and Georgina Casey hit eight each while for Rathmore Niamh Brosnan, Aoife Murphy and Christine Moynihan all ended with six points.

In other games in this division this week Tralee Imperials beat Glenbeigh Falcons by the narrowest of margins 17-16, St Colmans Rockets made it two wins in a row with a 31-23 point win over TK Cobras and Ballybunion Widlcats saw off St Mary’s 30-14.

That leaves the Girls Division 3 table with St Colmans Rockets leading the way on 23 points from nine played. The Wildcats are just one point behind but have a game in hand. The

Kestrels are in third on 19 from seven with Rathmore two points further back but also having only seven games played.

Staying with the Girls and the Under 17 League sees Galenbeigh Falcons top the table. The Falcons followed up their Cup win with a 56-44 point win at Team Kerry Colaiste Ide. Eimera Burke was their top scorer on 25 points followed by Roisin Smith on 11, Hollie Clifford on nine with Danielle Griffin, Natalie Sheehan and Kacey Connor all on the score sheet.

This is a very tight division and there were also wins for St Pauls, TK Killarney Cougars and Gneveguilla in recent days.

Glenbeigh Falcons top the table from Gneeveguilla and TK Colaiste Ide while St Pauls lead their section.

Looking at some of the Boys competitions and in the Men’s Division 2 Pool A Caherciveen beat Tralee Tigers 76-53 and St Mary’s saw off Rathmore Ravens. Caherciveen lead the way here on 25 points from nine outings followed by St Marys on 21 and Rathmore Ravens on 18, but they do have a game more played.

In Pool B of the same competition St Josephs were 69-49 winners in Duagh over TK Vixens. St Josephs have a four point lead at the top of this

Pool but have 12 games played, while St Brendans are on 26 from 10 and Gneeveguilla in this on 25 and have only nine games played.

Finally for this round-up in the Women’s Division 2 there were big wins for Gneeveguilla and St Pauls over Kenmare Kestrels and St Marys respectively. St Bridget’s continue to lead the way on 32 points from nine games with St Mary’s on 27 also from nine and St Paul’s on 26, but having 10 played.

Once again this week there is a huge range of fixtures across all the juvenile and adult competitions in the Kerry Airport Kerry Area Basketball Leagues.