The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
St Mary’s Ladies ease into National Final
A SPECTACULAR team performance by St Mary’s senior ladies has guaranteed their place in the NICC women’s cup final at the end of this month.
It was announced on Tuesday that the Hula Hoops Women’s National Cup Final between Killester and St Mary’s Castleisland would be played in Session 4 on Sunday, January 28. at 12noon in the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.
The Castleisland girls took on a strong Maree side at Neptune stadium on Saturday last. Maree won the tip, and Sacra Mannion secured the first score of the game, though Mary’s team captain Aoife Nolan was quick to respond. Maree’s Carol McCarthy hit her first of four ‘threes’ on the day, but again St Mary’s pushed ahead with a Scanlon free throw and a rebound from Denise Dunlea which she converted.
Maree failed to score for several minutes while Mary Herlihy and Eileen O’Connor hit threes. St Mary’s defence was impeccable, and denied Maree any second chances, resulting in a 13-point lead at the end of the first quarter.
Maree were more focused in the early part of the second period. McCarthy opened with a three, McInerney and Fahy added two more baskets, reducing the gap to six points inside the first minute. An Orla White basket put St Mary’s back on track and they stepped up their defence once again.
Mid-way through, they had increased the lead to 11 points. McCarthy was accurate from the line to narrow it again, but Aoife Nolan responded by converting from a fast break.
Both sides turned over possession as the clock ran down and a foul sent Sacra Mannion to the line for Maree. The half-time score was 39 points to 30 in favour of a very focused and accurate St. Mary’s.
St. Mary’s had a strong opening in the third, Eileen O’Connor hit a three. A steal set Mary Herlihy up for a basket and once again the Galway side were playing catch up.
McCarthy hit their first score of the quarter three minutes in and Fahy added another, but a fast break from Denise Dunlea kept St Mary’s comfortably ahead.
The sides exchanged scores as the quarter progressed. St. Mary’s used the clock well. Nine points separated the sides with less than three minutes to go when Sarah O’Sullivan hit her first score of the game for the Castleisland girls.
Maree’s Carol McCarthy continued to be the main threat; she hit five points as the clock ran down, reducing the gap to six points but a late score from Mary Herlihy gave St Mary’s an eight advantage going into the final quarter.
It was Maree’s Carol McCarthy who opened the final quarter, her personal tally for the game was a massive 29 points. However, Aoife Nolan, Sarah O’Sullivan and Denise Dunlea all registered scores to put their side up by 13 points.
Maree brought it back to 11 but this was as close as they came from here on. St Mary’s were still playing brilliantly in defence and were by far the stronger side on the day. They increased their lead as the quarter progressed and with two minutes remaining they led by 16 points, giving coach Liam Culloty an opportunity to run his full bench.
Final score: St Mary’s 67 – Maree 51
Scorers for St Mary’s: Eileen O’Connor and Mary Herlihy 13 each, Denise Dunlea and Aoife Nolan 12 each, Lorraine Scanlon 9, Sarah O’Sullivan 4, Orla White and Emma Dinneen 2 each.