Youthful St Josephs prove too strong for Kenmare

LADIES DIVISION 2 CUP FINAL Kenmare Kestrels 54 St Josephs 66

THIS was classic case of youth versus experience as St Josephs Duagh had too much pace and scoring threats for a Kenmare Kestrels side who really epitomise all that’s good in sport, true grit and a never say die attitude when the odds are stacked against them.

St Josephs were always in control here except in a crazy final two minutes when they lost concentration and Kenmare finished the contest with a 10-0 run.

St Josephs led 21-14 at the of the opening quarter with Anna O’Connell, Sorcha McNulty and Rihanna McNulty all running the floor with Annie Cooper, Clodagh Quinlan and Montse Salvado keeping Kestrels in touch.

While the other quarters were much tighter with Eabhnait Scanlon, Anna O’Connell and the McNulty’s impresses along with Ruth O’Keeffe excellent for the home side, there was never a chance Kenmare could win it despite the heroic efforts Cooper, Laura O’Sullivan and Salvado.

In fact St Josephs had moved 22 points clear late in the final quarter before they decided to gift their opponents five baskets, something that appeared to irritate coach Claire Sheehy for obvious reasons.

Due to pressure of space the three senior finals played on Friday and Saturday are being withheld until next week. Men’s Division 2 Cup final Gneeveguilla 70 St Marys B 58 Men’s Division 3 Cup final Glenbeigh Falcons 72 St Anne’s 76 Ladies Division 1 Cup final TK Cougars 41 St Marys 70

Goran Pantovic, Tralee Warriors and Kevin Lacey, Swords Thunder in action during the game at the Tralee Sports Complex in the Superleague last Saturday evening Photo by Domnick Walsh / Eye Focus