The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Tralee schools go head to head for All-Ireland final place
MERCY Mounthawk and Tralee CBS will go head to head, toe to toe, and basket for basket on Thursday in an eagerly awaited all-Kerry All-Ireland semi-final in the Basketball Ireland Subway U-19 ‘A’ Boys Schools Cup.
Having each come through two rounds of the competition thus far, the semi-final meeting guarantees a Kerry school in the final of the Cup, with a hugely competitive game expected in the Tralee Sports Complexwith a 12.45 tip-off.
Tralee CBS beat St Pats Cavan in the first round by 77-66 and then overcame Summerhill College, Sligo by 88 points to 74 in the second round.
Mercy Mounthawk had a 66-41 win over St Marys CBS Portlaoise in their first round match and then accounted for Colaiste Choilm, Ballincollig in the next round to set up this all-Tralee semi-final.
The winner will face either Gael Cholaiste Mhuire (North Mon) from Cork or St Pauls Oughterard in the All-Ireland Final.
Meanwhile, in the U-19 ‘B’ Boys Cup Colaiste Ide & Iosef Abbeyfeale play Colaiste Pobail Bantry tomorrow (Thursday) in a semi-final, with an All-Ireland final place against Colaiste na Coiribe or Colaiste Baile an Chlair at stake.
On Monday last there was another all-Kerry match when Pobailscoil Inbhear Sceine-Kenmare and Mercy Mounthawk met in the semi-final of the U16 ‘A’ Girls Cup, with the Kenmare girls winning by 53 points to 37 to set up a final meeting with either Colaiste Einde or St Angelas Cork, who were due to play their semi-final on Tuesday evening.
Elsewhere on Tuesday the girls from Tarbert Comprehensive lost out on a place in the All-Ireland final in the U-16 ‘B’ Cup competition when they were beaten 57-45 by Presentation Thurles in the UL Arena.
In the U-16 ‘A’ Boys Cup Mercy Mounthawk lost out to St Joseph’s ‘The Bish’ from Galway in their semi-final on a 64-69 scoreline.