Castleisland claim both girls and boys title in U13 Community Games basketball

BASKETBALL U-13 GIRLS

OUR first event of the year took place last Saturday with the Under-13 Girls Basketball. Excellent skills were on display coupled with agility and accuracy were the order of the day. With twelve teams taking part in Duagh Sport & Leisure Complex, the home side defeated Ballydonoghue/Lisselton 18-6 and Fossa 19-4 to qualify for the semi-final and in Group 2 Ballymacelligott topped their group seeing off Rathmore/Gneeveguilla 18-6 and Spa Mucross 26-14.

In Castleisland Community Centre, the home side there proved too strong for Caherciveen and Miltown/Listry to qualify for semi-final. In Group 2 Firies saw off Currow/Currans 19-6 and then defeated Glenbegh/Glencar 25-16.

The semi-finals took place in Castleisland Community Centre where the home side showed all their experience to defeat Duagh/Lyre 24-7 and Ballymacelligott saw off Firies in the second semi 23-6.

In the play-off game Firies won the bronze medals in a come from behind to win by 28-20 against Duagh/Lyre who received the certs.

The final produced some excellent basketball with Ballymacelligott leading at half time 11-5. Castleisland up the tempo in the second half and reduced the deficit but were still two points down with 13 seconds left. With possession from a line ball one of the Castleisland girls was fouled in the act of shooting, the ball dropped to level the game and the one free throw was converted to put them in to the lead for the first time. Though Ballmacelligott had one last chance to snatch victory time ran out and Castleisland retained their title to claim the gold medals with an excellent and a little unlucky Ballymacelligott side receiving the silver medals.

Results: 1. Castleisland; 2. Ballymacelligott; 3. Firies; 4. Duagh Lyre.

BASKETBALL U-13 BOYS

On Sunday, 12 teams participated in the U-13 Boys Basketball competition with six teams in Castleisland Community Centre and six in Duagh Sport & Leisure Complex where they were divided into two groups of three with the winners of the groups going onto contest the semi-finals in the afternoon.

In Castleisland Group 1 the home team qualified here with 28-8 win over Spa Mucross and a 32-11 win over Miltown/Listry. In Group 2 Rathmore/Gneeveguilla saw off Ballymacelligott 30-15 and had a 36-8 win over Fossa.

In Duagh the homeside qualified with 28-8 win over Ballydonoghue/Lisselton and a 35-10 win over Currow/Currans. In Group 2 Moyvane/Knockanure created their own bit of history with a boys team in basketball for first time reaching the last four with wins over Spa Fennit/ Barrow 19-6, and in a very exciting game against Firies 16-13.

The semi-finals draw paired Rathmore/Gneeveguilla and Duagh/Lyre and in very close encounter Rathmore/Gneeveguilla came out on top by 30-20. The second semi-final Castleisland had too much experience for Moyvane/Knockanure winning 24-9. The play-off was very close game with Duagh/Lyre winning the Bronze medals by 31-20 for Moyvane/Knockanure who received the certs.

The final was a cracker with Castleisland leading at half time by three points. The second half produced some fantastic basketball and with just one second left on the clock Rathmore/ Gneeveguilla had a line ball and with a quick pass went for a three-pointer, which hit the rim, and with the final buzzer going Castleisland had claimed the title and gold medals on a score of 25-24. A gallant Rathmore/ Gneeveguilla side received the silver medals. Both Castleisland teams will now represent Kerry at the provincial finals in April.

FIXTURES

Our events for next week are Badminton on January 20 in Moyvane; and on Sunday Basketball Under 16 Girls in Duagh and Castleisland.

Closing date for Basketball U-11 is Sunday, January 29. Latest date for competition withdrawals is this Friday for Music, Singing and Boys U-15 Futsal.