The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Two Kerry schools bid for All-Ireland basketball titles
TWO Kerry schools head to the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght next week in their bid to win an All-Ireland title as the Subway All-Ireland Schools Cup Finals conclude in a festival of basketball at the Dublin venue.
On Tuesday Mercy Mounthawk Tralee take on Gael Cholaiste Mhuire AG (North Mon) from Cork city in the U-19 ‘A’ Boys final at 12.15.
The Tralee side came through a brilliant town derby semi-final last Thursday against Tralee CBS The Green at a packed-to-the-rafters Sports Complex.
The game was a gripper from the tip-off to the last second of over-time after which Mounthawk prevailed by 66 points to 62, with Irish international Darragh Kennelly landing 21 points.
Kennelly’s total was trumped by fellow international Rap Buivydas who scored 26 points but even he couldn’t turn the result CBS’s way despite his team having led most of the game. The led 16-12 at the end of the first quarter and 35-32 at half time. Mounthawk were within a basket, 47-49, at the end of the third but Mounthawk forced overtime after drawing level, 57 apiece, at the end.
In over-time CBS went ahead again but Mounthawk reeled them in and finally overtook them to book their ticket to Tallaght on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Pobailscoil Inbhear Sceine Kenmare take on Colaiste Einde from Salthill in Galway in the U-16 ‘A’ Girls final on Wednesday at 3.30 in the last of the Cup finals. The south Kerry school beat Mercy Mounthawk by 53-37 in their semi-final last week.