The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Ballybunion hold on to claim famous All Ireland title
ALL IRELAND UNDER 16 C GIRLS SCHOOLS CUP FINAL St Nathy’s College: 31 St Joseph’s Secondary School: 37
ST Joseph’s Secondary School, Ballybunion, secured their first Schools Cup All Ireland title at the Arena in Tallaght this afternoon as they held out under late pressure from St Nathy’s College to win out 37-31.
A stand-out performance from Millie Byrne for the Kerry school saw her hit a game-high 21 points for her side, with four of these points coming at a key stage in the fourth quarter to help kill off the St Nathy’s comeback. At the other end, Amy Doory was the standout for St Nathy’s, as she put in a big 16 point game and, along with Sarah Brett, caused big trouble for the St Joseph’s defence throughout.
An extremely close first quarter saw scores at a premium at either end. Sarah Bretty led the way for St Nathy’s bagging two well-taken baskets, while a lovely score from Amy Doory kept their account ticking over.
They were matched score for score at the other end though, with Millie Byrne to the fore for St Joseph’s and a superb three pointer from Byrne just before the buzzer edged St Joseph’s into an end of quarter lead, 10-6.
With just two minutes gone in the second quarter, St Joseph’s had stretched their lead out to six, with a nice score. Big defence from St Nathy’s saw them pull a great score back through Sarah Brett but apart from a free throw from Amy Doory, that was to be Nathy’s only score in the quarter, as St Joseph’s took control of proceedings, with scores from Eabha Moloney, Mai Whelan, Katie Dunworth and Byrne seeing them into an 18-9 half time lead.
A close third quarter followed, with Doory putting in a superb display for St Nathy’s to include a massive three pointer and two well-taken two-pointers. Two wellworked scores from Ava Hanley for St Nathy’s kept the St Joseph’s defense on their toes, but good work from Byrne, Whelan and Abigail O’Neill at the other end kept their lead intact, and they headed into the fourth quarter with a 31-20 point cushion.
The final quarter was a much tighter affair, with St Nathy’s throwing everything they had at St Joseph’s to outscore them 11-6 in the quarter. Superb work from Doory was again the main talking point for the Roscommon side, as she chipped in a big six points, while a lovely three-pointer from Hannah Brett and a nice score from Sarah Brett saw them close the game right back to six points with just three minutes to play to ensure a nervy finish.
Despite the big effort though, it wasn’t enough in the end, as Byrne continued to dazzle at the other end, and a nice finish from
Kate Dunworth sealed the victory for St Joseph’s in the end, 37-31. ST NATHY’S COLLEGE: Ava Hanley (4), Nicole Noonan, Amy Doory (16), Naomi Cahill, Hannah Brett (3), Leah McCabe, Sarah Brett (8), Chloe Convey
ST JOSEPH’S: Eabha Moloney (2), Elida Buckley, Nora Fitzsimons, Kayleigh Elbell, Mai Whelan (3), Abigail O’Neill (3), Caoimhe O’Connor (2), Katie Dunworth (6), Millie Byrne (21), Aoife Scanlan, Aisling Hennessy, Ava Barrett
MVP: Millie Byrne (St Joseph’s)