All Ireland glory for Mounthawk

ALL-IRELAND U-19 A BOYS SCHOOLS CUP FINAL Mercy Mounthawk, Tralee 81 St Patricks, Castleisland 64

MERCY Mounthawk were crowned Under 19 A All Ireland Schools Cup champions at the National Basketball Arena on Tuesday afternoon as they won out 81-64 in an electric all-Kerry final against St Patrick’s Secondary School, Castleisland.

A huge first quarter display from the Tralee school was ultimately what secured them victory, as they outscored St Patrick’s 25-10 in the period to open up a cushion that would remain intact for the remainder of the game.

Despite a superb following three quarters from St Patricks, the damage had already been done and Mounthawk were crowned champions on a final scoreline of 81-64. Steven Bowler put in an MVP performance for the Tralee side, with a 24-point game, but there were leaders all over the floor for Mounthawk, with Daire Kennelly dominating the boards, Tim Pullman Daamen knocking down some key scores and James Fernane also to the fore.

Mounthawk drove into the lead early on, opening up a 9-0 gap by the midway mark of the quarter with Tim Pullman Daamen and Leery Odiahi leading the scoring. A big push from St Patricks at the midway point though, saw Gary O’Sullivan hit an opening three-pointer, while free throws from Jack Tobin and Donal Geaney followed.

Tobin was on hand to get some key defensive stops at the other end, and they soon paid dividends as he knocked down a big three at the other end.

As the quarter wound down though, it was Mounthawk who were in charge at the end of the period, with back-to-back three pointers from Zigi Kalekta and Pullman Daamen to see them lead 25-10 at the end of the period.

Mounthwak asserted their dominance in the opening stages of the second quarter, driving into a 34-12 point lead with three minutes gone, behind superb scoring from Pullman Daamen, Steven Bowler and James Fernane.

It was Daire Kennelly under the boards though who was causing huge problems for St Patrick’s and his dominance there helped keep Mounthawk’s big lead intact. A big run of scores from Bowler saw him finish the quarter out with 10 points, while at the other end, it was Aaron Fleming, Geaney and Gearóid Coffey who kept the scoring ticking over and despite a very strong finish to the quarter, Mounthawk were still firmly in control at half-time, leading 46-29.

A similarly closely-fought third quarter followed as the sides matched each other almost score for score. Kennelly was again to the fore for Mounthawk, causing havoc under the boards, while the sharpshooting of Kalekta, Pullman Daamen and Bowler saw Mounthawk have the answer each time, as Aaron Fleming went off at the other end for St Patrick’s, netting back-to-back threes as the quarter ticked down. Pullman Daamen replied in kind at the other end though to see Mounthawk win the quarter 22-19 to take a 68-48 point lead into the final quarter.

A massive fourth quarter from St Patrick’s followed though and with Fleming, Gary O’Sulivan and Padraig Fleming leading the charge, they had the deficit back to 13 points with just three minutes to play.

With momentum firmly in the hands of the Castleisland school it was Bowler who stepped up for Mounthawk and drained a dagger three to kill off the spark and despite some great work from Coffey and Aaron Fleming as the clock ticked down, it was Mounthawk’s day and they won out 81-64 in the end.

MERCY MOUNTHAWK, TRALEE: Tim Pullman Daamen, Sean Pullman Daamen, David Burke, Daniel Bowler, Zigi Kalekta, Cian Devine, Oliver Harte, David Goranski, Steven Bowler, James Fernane, Daire Kennelly, Leeroy Odiahi, Sean Collins

ST PATRICK’S, CASTLEISLAND: Darragh Kelly, Cathal Culloty, Aaron Fleming, Padraig Fleming, Shane Óg McGaley, Gary O’Sullivan, John Curtin, Gearóid Coffey, Adam Kelly, Donal Geaney, Jack Tobin, Darren O’Donovan, Darragh Culhane, Padraig Hilliard, Nathan O’Callaghan, Keith Daniel, Cian Ring

MVP: Steven Bowler (Mercy Mounthawk)