The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)

St Brendans win high scoring U-18 final

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U18 BOYS FINAL Gneeveguil­la 49 St Brendans 58

A very entertaini­ng and well contested Final saw St Brendans withstand a strong Gneeveguil­la challenge. The teams went basket for basket in the opening quarter with captain Stephen Bowler impressing to leave the Tralee side ahead 14-12 with David Gleeson on six points for Gneeveguil­la.

Gneeveguil­la enjoyed a good start to the second quarter and hit the front with Lorcan Keane two three pointers, this drew a reaction for the St Brendans as they responded to finish the quarter strongly and they held the lead 30-26 at half time with Aaron and Padraig Fleming impressing. The third quarter continued as the sides went basket for basket but St Brendans increased the lead to 44-39.

The final was very competitiv­e with St Brendans pushed hard but they maintained the lead despite good pressure from Gneeveguil­la with a couple of baskets each by Paudie Fleming and Charlie Collins but Stephen Bowler and Aaron Fleming ensured their was always an immediate response from the Tralee side as they finished on top in the final minutes to add the U-18 Cup to the U-14 and U-16 titles won last weekend.

U14 BOYS DIVISION 2 PLATE Tralee Tigers 49 St Brendans 31

AN all Tralee final saw the Tigers come out on top with a strong second quarter doing the damage to a younger St Brendans side. Tigers Colm Browne impressed with nine points in the opening quarter to give Tigers a 13-8 lead with Ruairi Hannifan on target with a couple of great baskets.

The Tigers dominated the second quarter to open a strong lead 29-16 at half time with Aivaras Uosis adding nine points as well as dominating on the boards to give the Tigers a grip on the game.

Tigers increased their lead with Colm Browne to the fore with another nine points with St Brendans Sean Heaslip trying hard to keep his side in touch with a couple of good scores as Tigers led 41-24.

The teams were basket for basket in the final quarter but the Tigers kept control of the game to record a deserved win despite a spirited effort from the younger St Brendans boys.

U14 BOYS DIVISION 2 PLATE Glenbeigh Falcons 33 St. Paul’s 32

GLENBEIGH Falcons claimed this title after a 33-32 win over St. Paul’s in a dramatic and at times breathless final. Glenbeigh started brightly with nine points from Jack McGrath and a basket from Keith Moriarty giving the Falcons the edge over Paul’s by 12-6 at quarter time who responded through Neil O’Connor with all their scores.

The Falcons pushed further ahead in the second quarter with Tony Duffy and Jamie O’Sullivan on the mark but St. Paul’s kept in the game with scores from Tom Benson and Jamie Moynihan but Glenbeigh took a 19-9 advantage to the long break. Paul’s worked their way back into the contest with a great third quarter and scores from Neil O’Connor, Jamie O’Sullivan and Donagh O’Connor helped cut the gap to four 27-23 at three quarter time.

The game was finely balanced as the sides battled it out in the final quarter and in a dramatic finale Glenbeigh edged ahead through Jack McGrath and Fionn O’Sullivan but Tom Benson with two scores either side of a Josh Bowler free throw gave St. Paul’s every chance in the dying seconds.

Both sides missed two attempts each from the free throw line to shade the outcome but it fell to Fionn O’Sullivan to land a single free throw that turned out to be the decisive score to seal the Glenbeigh win.

U14 GIRLS PLATE Killarney Cougars 29 St Pauls 55

A VERY competitiv­e first half saw a good contest but the game changed in the later stages of the third quarter to finish comprehens­ive win for the St Pauls in the Killarney derby over the Cougars. Cougars lead in the first quarter but once Pauls settled into the game they gradually took control to finish deserving winners.

Best for St Pauls were Olwyn Evans, Laura OShea and Eabha Rudden with Cougars Olivia Gaffey, Mia Griffin, Aimee Coffey and Alison Butler all impressing for Killarney Cougars.

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