The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kelly inspires St Bridget’s to Cup win
Killarney Cougars 32 St Bridget’s 43
KILLARNEY Cougars hosted St Bridget’s in the Cup quarter-final and the Currow boy’s strong final quarter saw them come out on top with a slightly flattering winning margin following a well contested game. The visitors made the best start to lead 13-10 with Jack Moriarty impressing.
The second quarter was basket for basket to leave the score at half time 19-16 to St Bridget’s. Cougars took the game to St Bridget’s in the third quarter and were dominant with Harry Byrne impressing for Cougars to reduce the arrears by the end of the quarter 26-24 but Cougars had missed very good opportunities to have the lead heading into the final quarter.
Cougars frustration at missed chances led to foul trouble early in the closing quarter and the visitors made them pay from the free throw line with Darragh Kelly very accurate from the line as they opened up a lead as the Cougars challenge faded in the closing minutes despite a big effort the Currow boys held firm in a very entertaining Division One contest.
U-14 GIRLS DIVISION 1 Kenmare Kestrels 40 Glenbeigh Falcons 42
GLENBEIGH Falcons travelled to Kenmare and looked in big trouble at the end of the opening quarter after a Kestrels blitz with Laurie Adams and Tania Salvado leading the charge helped by Sorcha Taylor as they home side led 17-5 with Eimear Burke getting Falcons five.
The second quarter was a much tighter affair with Caitlin McMahon and Hollie Clifford finding their range for Falcons early on but the Kestrels struck back with Emma Foley’s basket and Aoife Crowley hitting three baskets to give the Kestrels a half time lead of 25-11.
The third quarter saw Falcons produce a tremendous fight back with Hollie Clifford and Eimear Burke dominating the boards and finding their team mates on the quick break. Danielle Griffin, Aoife Paige, Samantha Riordan and Caitlin McMahon all scored while Kestrels only managed three baskets from Tania Salvado thanks to great work by Falcons on the defence. This saw Falcons close the gap at 31-27 at the end of the third.
The game was now in the melting pot with both teams getting tired, fouls came thick and fast. Falcons kept up the pressure and quickly took the lead with Hollie Clifford and Eimear Burke linking up well to score four baskets while Kestrels Amy Harrington backed up by Tania Salvado and Laurie Adams kept Kestrels within range.
Falcons held on for a great win thanks to two late scores from Mairin Duffy and Aoife Paige to win a thriller by a basket after a game where basket was the real winner.
U-16 BOYS LEAGUE Killarney Cougars 39 St Anne’s 28
THE Cougars hosted St Anne’s at the Pres Gym on Saturday evening and a good attendance saw a close contest with Cougars making home advantage count. The game saw Cougars make the better start leading 12-7 at the end of the opening quarter with all the starting 5 on target with a St Anne’s Dylan O’Callaghan three pointer on the buzzer the highlight score of the opening period.
A poor second quarter saw little scores with the half time score 16-11. Cougars had a dominant spell in the third quarter with Danil Aleksejenko dominating on the boards adding six points and Eoghan My- ers also adding a couple of good baskets as Cougars opened up a lead 32-23. St Anne’s came into the final quarter chasing the lead and pressed Cougars to good effect and reeled in the Cougars lead to just four points thanks to good scores from Darragh Brosnan, Cian Ring and Brian O’Leary as Cougars struggled to get a grip in the closing stages of the quarter. Cougars used their final time-outs to good effect and were able to regain their composure to finish the game with a couple of good scores from Eoin Talbot, Ruairi Murphy and Sean O’Brien and deservedly take the points.
SENIOR LADIES DIVISION 2 Killarney Cougars 42 Ballybunion Wildcats 36
COUGARS hosted the Wildcats at the Pres Gym and put in a determined effort for their coach Ger Tarrant with Cougars having to work hard for the win.
Cougars led 8-7 at the end of the first quarter with Fiona McSweeney continuing her good recent form with a couple of early baskets to settle the home side.
Wildcats were well in contention in the first half and good scores under the basket by Aileen O’Mahony who caused problems on the boards for Cougars as the sides finished the first half 22-21 with Grace Cahillane with 6 points and hard work by Caroline Kelly on the boards for Cougars helping maintain the narrow lead. Scores were hard to come by in the third quarter but Cougars Marguerite O’Connor hit a purple patch three consecutive baskets to edge Cougars slightly further ahead 30-26 entering the final quarter.
Cougars were put under pressure throughout the final quarter with Trish Byrne encouraging the Wildcats to close the lead but Cougars just did enough with a couple of late baskets by Deborah Murphy and Emer Casey secured the points in an entertaining game with Cougars just about deserving the win.