The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Top marks for Kerry’s U-14 girls who claim Inter-Regional title in UL
SOUTHERN AREA INTER REGIONAL TOURNAMENT
THE Southern Area Inter Regional Tournament were held at UL arena on Bank Holiday Monday and while all the Kerry sides performed well, pride of place goes to the Kerry U-14 Girls who emerged champions after a nerve racking and thrilling final with a fancied Cork side. It was a tremendous game of basketball and all the Kerry girls gave it their all and reaped a rich reward. Full marks also to their coaches Tommy Dom O’Connor (St Mary’s) and Montse Salvado (Kenmare Kestrels) who not only did a superb job on the day but has been preparing the squad over the past number of months. All their hard work paid off on the day and it’s not the first time Tommy Dom O’Connor coached a winning Kerry team.
Kerry was in Group B with the Midlands and Galway and came through the group stages with relative ease. Kerry beat the Midlands 49-21 in their opening game and then proved far too strong for Galway winning 45-17 to reach the semis. All the squad got game time as some of the stronger players were being rested for bigger games ahead.
Kerry with Amy Harrington, Tania Salvado and Ellie O’Connell in awesome form bushed side the challenge of North Munster in the semi-finals winning 42-19 to set up a final meeting with a strong Cork side.
The final proved a thriller as Caoimhe Guerin Crowley, Roisín Smith and Meabh Coleman Horgan helped the three powerhouses of the side, Amy Harrington, Tania Salvado who grabbed some crucial boards. The power of Ellie O’Connor ensured Cork trailed by a point when they called a time-out with 27 seconds left and the large Kerry bank of supporters were on tender hooks. But Kerry’s defence was superb and disciplined and they hung on to win a cracker by 28-27.
KERRY SQUAD: Emma Kerin, Abbey O’Mahony and Shauna Tagney (St Mary’s), Tania Salvado, Amy Harrington and Sarah Taylor (Kenmare Kestrels), Tara Donnellan and Ellen Kennealy (St Paul’s), Meabh Coleman Horgan (Cougars), Tara O’Leary and Caoimhe Guerin Crowley (Gneeveguilla), Roisín Smith (Glenbeigh Falcons), Rachel Murphy (St Annes), Ellie O’Connell (Cahersiveen). Coaches: Tommy Dom O’Connor and Montse Salvado.
U-17 BOYS
THE Kerry U-17 Girls were unlucky not to make the final but they did not have the overall strength on the bench to rest their top players and lost put in the semi-finals against a quick breaking Cork side who have been together for six months as a development squad.
Kerry beat North Munster 50- 45 with Síofra O’Shea draining a late three pointer to seal victory and along with Sinead Leahy they were Kerry’s two stand out players. They did most to Cork in overtime 47-44 as they tired and were no match for eventual winners Cork A in the semis. But most of the girls are underage again next year and Roisín Griffin looks an exciting prospect. KERRY SQUAD: Eve Creedon and Caroline Carroll (Bobcats), Aine Moriarty and Aoife Coleman (Cobras), Katie Moriarty (Ballybunion Falcons), Eimear Burke and Roisín Griffin (Glenbeigh Falcons), Sinead Leahy and Anna Lyons (St Joseph’s), Síofra O’Shea and Natalie O’Connor (Cahersiveen), Laurie Adams (Kenmare Kestrels), Grainne Walshe and Áine Sheehan (St Mary’s). Coaches: Del White, Mary Jo Curran
U-17 BOYS
KERRY lost their two opening games narrowly to North Munster 46 to 37 and then lost to Cork 4237 to bow out and finished third beating the Midlands 43-36 so well done for a great effort and to their coaches.
KERRY SQUAD: Stephen Bowler,
Rap Buivydas and James Fernane (St Brendan’s), Dáire Kennelly (Tralee Imperials), Lorcan Keane (Gneeveguilla), Daniel A (Cougars), P Fleming and A Fleming (St Brendan’s), PJ Curtin and G O’Sullivan (St Mary’s), Jack Tobin (St Brendan’s), David Gleeson (Gneeveguilla), Gearoid Coffey (St Brendan’s). Coaches: Liam O’Dowd and Joshua Roche
U-14 BOYS
THE U-14s did well as they reached the semis after a 45-8 win over Clare and a 30-38 and a 30-38 loss to Midlands. The competition was very strong and they met a very strong Galway team in the semis and lost 2343.. Full marks to their coaches Jim Hughes, Mike Cahillane and Eimear O’Neill who did a great job in a short period of time.
KERRY SQUAD: Ross O’Leary (Gneeveguilla), Cormac O’Connor (Vixens), Ed Sheehy and Andrew Wallace (St Brendan’s), Padraig Lyons and Harry Kelly (Cougars), Coren Hughes (St Brendan’s), Ben Switzer (St Paul’s), Rian Colleran and Jack O’Neill (Cougars), Cathal Brosnan (St Bridget’s), Michael Dennehy (Rathmore), Luke Crowley (St Pauls)