Quinlan sinks late winner for Cahersiveen against Lixnaw

SENIOR LADIES DIVISION 3 Cahersiveen 50 Lixnaw 48

AFTER two losses Cahersiveen needed to win this game but they left it very late. Lixnaw held a slight edge in the opening quarter of this thriller as they led 19-14 with Myra Kissane scoring 8 for Lixnaw and Michele Lane scoring 11. Young Caoimhe Teahan drained 8 for Cahersiveen and she was joined by her mother Maria (sister of Maurice Fitzgerald) for the second quarter.

It was nip and tuck with Michele Lane on fire for Ballybunion getting good assistance from Myra Kissane, Teresa Stack and Mary Gardiner who was creating scores using all her experience. Caoimhe Teahan and Clodagh Quinlan got four each for Cahersiveen while Sinéad Sheehan drained two big deuces as Lixnaw just led by a basket at the break.

The third quarter continued with the sides trading scores, Quinlan, Teahan and Sheehan for Cahersiveen while Gardiner, Rosalie Stack and Michelle Lane were on the mark for Lixnaw as both sides added 9 third quarter points.

Maria Teahan was fouled out early in the final quarter as Elaine Curran levelled the contest with an early basket. Cahersiveen began to press Lixnaw and this proved crucial but Myra Kissane added seven points for Lixnaw but Caoimhe Teahan and Sinéad Sheehan responded for Cahersiveen and the scores were tied with less than a minute remaining.

With overtime looming a time-out saw Cahersiveen plot a final play that involved Caoimhe Teahan drives to the board, but fakes and instead passes to Clodagh Quinlan to score the winning basket and it was the only time Cahersiveen led.

U-16 BOYS St. Annes 40 St. Josephs Duagh 41

THE clash of St. Annes and St. Josephs U-16 Boys in Farranfore on Friday last was not for the faint-hearted. The first quarter did not indicate the late drama that would ensue as St. Josephs totally dominated early on.

St. Josephs got off to a flying start with the speed of Michael Tony shredding the St. Annes defence and Michael recorded 10 points in the first quarter. The score line at the end of the first quarter was 20-6 in favour of St. Josephs and the signs looked ominous for the home side.

Thankfully Dylan Callaghan of St. Annes burst into life in the second quarter and began to turn the tide and closed the gap between the teams leaving the half time score 17-29 to St. Josephs.

It became evident in the third quarter that St. Josephs small panel had tired considerably and Tadgh Riordan and Dylan Callaghan took full advantage of the situation and clawed back the lead to a mere 10 points.

This game was completely turned on its head in the final quarter when St. Annes scored 15 points while St Joseph’s only managed two points both of which came from the free throw line, whereas Darragh Brosnan scored 7 points for St Annes who were set to stage a great comeback.

With the teams tied on 40-40 and only 11 seconds left Murioch McNulty found himself on the free throw line and converted one of his free throws and St Josephs had escaped to victory.

U-16 BOYS DIVISION 3 St. Brendan’s 35 Rathmore Ravens 26

RAVENS opened the first quarter with some lovely scores from Ian O’Connor and James Darmody but Brendan’s replied with baskets from Kian Harris and John O’Mahony leaving the opening quarter tied 6-6.

Brendan’s had the upper hand in the next two quarters scores from Niall Fitzmaurice and Kian Harris. Rathmore working hard were finding it difficult to break down Brendan’s defensively, as St Brendan’s led 17-12 at half time.

The final quarter was an exciting affair Ravens seemed to get to grips of this game with some very good moving passes leading to scores on the board, from Kieran Fitzgerald, Michael Twomey, James Darmody and Ian O’ Connor.

Ravens had opportunities but lady luck wasn’t on their side. Sean Kennedy, Daniel Herlihy and Sean Burke O’Donoghue worked hard in defence this was Ravens best quarter but unfortunately time was up.

U-12 BOYS DIVISION 1 St. Marys 32 Rathmore Ravens 24

HIGH flying Ravens had their wings cut by a very slick and determined Castleisland team. This was a great game of basketball and both teams can be proud of their performance in this pulsating contest.

St Mary’s Thomas Conway was a constant threat as he dominated both boards and was assisted by the dynamic Eoghan Shire, Raven’s Ciaran Collins and Fionn Murphy scored baskets to end first quarter 8-7.

The second quarter saw few scores as defences were on top, St Marys had a basket by Patrick O’Shea and Collins replied with five points of his own to give Raven’s the lead 12-10 at the break.

The third quarter had end to end basketball and some top class finishing, Kian Downey, Patrick O’Shea and the unstoppable Thomas Conway lead the way but Raven’s were finding their range with three baskets from Padraig Moynihan an outside shot from Shane Daly and a beautiful Eurostep basket from John Hughes enabled Ravens to lead by five at end of quarter.

At the start of the fourth Cian Twomey scored a reverse lay-up and Ravens were high flying and leading by 7, but as we all know St. Marys are never beaten and they went on a 15-0 run to finish the game in tremendous style and deserving winners.

The return leg in Rathmore after Christmas promises to be a classic.

BOYS U-12 DIVISION 2 Gneeveguilla 28 Glenbeigh Falcons 15

THIS was a very entertaining game played in a sporting manner between two well coached sides. Gneeveguilla got off to a good start with scores from Stephen Dalton and Sean Hurley and led 6-2 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter again went Gneeveguilla’s way with Sean Finnegan, Gavin Barry and Cian O’Leary scoring. Adam O’Connor worked very hard as ball carrier in the third quarter and Darragh Dennehy scored a lovely mid-range basket.

The last quarter was won by Glenbeigh outscoring the home team 8 to 6. Joint leading scorers for Glenbeigh were F O’Sullivan and K Moriarty who scored a buzzer beater. James Doyle for Gneeveguilla worked very hard throughout the game and won some fine rebounds. Tomas Brosnan showed fine skills on the ball and Padraig O’Brien worked hard throughout the game.