Community Games U-13 and U-16 basketball titles decided in Duagh finals

THE Basketball County Finals continued last weekend at the Duagh Sport & Leisure Complex where excellent skills were on display coupled with agility and accuracy as well as great Community Games spirit exhibited by our teams. BOYS U-16: Five teams participated in a round robin format producing 10 exciting games. Castlegregory, though unsuccessful on the night, showed true Community Games spirit in all their games as they were just after winning a Schools’ Football match that went to extra time earlier that evening. Rock Street/Caherslee won the Certs with one victory. All the games were close and exciting with following three teams all defeating each other and to decide the outcome it had to go to scores for in the games between them. In third place were Rathmore/ Gneeveguilla with three victories; Boherbee/Clohers/Manor were second with three victories; and first place and gold medals went to Currow/Currans also with three victories. GIRLS U-13: Rathmore/Gneeveguilla saw off Currow/Currans 17 points to 10 with Castleisland getting the better of Fossa by 22 points to 15. The play-off game was an absolute thriller with the lead changing hands on numerous occasions and with just six seconds left on the clock Currow/ Currans got for the all-important score to claim the bronze medals on a score of 17-16 for a gallant Fossa side who received the Certs.

The final was just as exciting with Rathmore/Gneeveguilla and Castleisland producing an epic match with the game going basket for basket. With 30 seconds left on the clock, Rathmore/Gneeveguilla 2 points down and pressing for the equaliser lost possession to Castleisland to score the insurance basket to claim the title and gold medals on a score of 24-20 and a gallant Rathmore/Gneeveguilla receiving the silver medals. The true Community Games spirit was shown by the Rathmore/Gneeveguilla girls as, though having lost a brilliant final, they hugged each other and then clapped the victorious Castleisland team. BOYS U-13: In the first semi-final, Rathmore/Gneeveguilla saw off Castleisland 23-15 with Fossa seeing off Duagh/Lyre 28-20. In the play-off game Duagh/Lyre won the bronze medals with 25-13 victory over Castleisland who received the Certs.

In the Final, Fossa used their height advantage to good effect to claim the county title and Gold medals with 27-15 victory over Rathmore/Gneeveguilla who received the silver medals. GIRLS U-16: In the semi-finals and Finals where Castleisland saw off Duagh/Lyre 28-12 and Fossa came from 3 points down at half time to outscore Currow/Currans 24-17. In the play-off game Currow/Currans claimed the bronze medals with Duagh/Lyre collecting the Certs.

The Final produced some exciting basketball with Castleisland leading at half time by 14 points. In fairness to Fossa they outscored their opponents in the second half but could not close the deficit enough and Castleisland went on to claim the County title and gold medals by 41-30 for Fossa who collected the silver medals. All four gold medal winning teams now represent Kerry at the provincial finals on April 2 and we wish them every success FIXTURES Saturday, February 4 Basketball U11 Duagh & Castleisland – details sent to teams); Sunday, February 5 Judo in Lissivigeen School – Weigh in 10.30am; competition star ts at 11am. All competitors must register in correct weight category no changes on the day) Friday, February 10 Recitation Saturday, February 11 Music Sunday, February 12 Singing Sunday, February 19 Futsal Boys U-13 Saturday, February 25 Ar t and Handwriting Sunday, February 26 Draughts Closing Dates Recitation, Music, Singing, Futsal Boys U15 – Closing date Sunday next. RESULTS OF COUNTY FINALS Badminton Girls: 1. Listowel; Annascaul/Camp/ Inch; 3. Moyvane/Knockanure) Badminton Boys: 1. Listowel; 2. Castleisland; 3. Moyvane/Knockanure; 4. Annascaul/Camp/Inch Basketball Girls U-13: 1. Castleisland; 2. Rathmore/Gneeveguilla; 3. Currow/Currans; 4. Fossa Basketball Boys U-13: 1. Fossa; 2. Rathmore/ Gneeveguilla; 3. Duagh/Lyre; 4. Castleisland Basketball Boys U-16: 1. Currow/Currans; 2. Boherbee/Cloghers/Manor; 3. Rathmore/ Gneeveguilla; 4. Rock Street/Caherslee