Cup exits for St Marys senior and U-18 teams

U-18 NATIONAL CUP St. Mary’s 57 WIT Wildcats 70

ST. Mary’s U-18 girls bowed out of the National Cup at the weekend, their Garvey’s Supervalu home game against Waterford Wildcats was played on Sunday. Waterford won the tip but failed to convert, both sides had turnovers before Shauna Ahern registered the first score of the game for the home side.

Waterford’s Robyn Morrissey responded and Debbie Ogayemi added another to put the visitors ahead before Ahern levelled for St. Mary’s. Wildcats took control and went eight points up Millie Luck and Emma O’Regan kept St. Mary’s in touch and with Shauna Ahern winning rebounds at both ends of the court the home side reduced the gap to six points at the end of the first.

Emma O’Regan opened for the home side, both Ciara Ryan and Millie Luck added baskets to reduce the gap but Waterfords team captain Abby Flynn along with Robyn Morrissey ensured that WildCats kept their lead as the quarter progressed.

St Mary’s captain Danni Reidy hit her first score of the game and added a bonus. Irish International Siofra O’Shea made a great steal and set Gemma Kearney up for a score but again Abby Flynn responded. The sides traded baskets throughout the remainder of the quarter and just five points separated the sides at the half time interval.

It was the home side once again who opened the scoring in the third quarter with a basket from Millie Luck but this was followed by a series of scores from Wildcats who widened the gap to seven as the sides entered the final quarter. St. Mary’s managed just one score in the first five minutes of the fourth while Wildcats pushed ahead to take the game by 13.

ST. MARY’S: Shauna Ahern 15, Emma O’Regan 9, Millie Luck 8, Siofra O’Shea 7, Rachel Ryan 7, Gemma Kearney 4, Danni Reidy 3, Ciara Ryan 2, Aoife Dunlea 2.

WIT WILDCATS: Abby Flynn 23, Robyn Morrissey 14, Debbie Ogayemi 13, Katie Hickey 12, Anna Grogan 4, Bami Olukayode 2.

WOMEN’S NATIONAL CUP DIVISION ONE Swords Thunder 77 Team McCarthys St Marys 63

TEAM Tom McCarthy’s suffered a defeat in the quarter-final of the Division One National Cup at the weekend. They started well with a spread of scores saw them lead 21 points to 11 at the end of the first. The tables turned in the second quarter with Swords Thunder hitting 21 while holding St. Mary’s to 10 to see the home team lead by a point at half time.

The third quarter was evenly contested with Team Tom McCarthy’s taking it by a point to see the sides level as they entered the final period. Some harsh calls had been made and St. Mary’s had several players in foul trouble. Deirdre Geaney sustained an injury and was forced to leave the game which was a huge loss. Lorraine Scanlon picked up her fifth foul and was missed under the boards at both end of the court.

Swords took full advantage of the losses and powered ahead to outscore the Castleisland girls by fourteen and take the game on a score line of 77 points to 63.

TOP SCORERS FOR ST. MARY’S: Lorraine Scanlon 15, Deirdre Geaney 14, Meabh Barry 13, Labhaoise Wamsley 10 and Mary Herlihy 7, Cliona Coffey 4.

Team Tom McCarthy’s play at home next weekend at 6.30pm against table toppers Maree.