All-Ireland title for Sligo Grammar
ON Tuesday a group of young basketball players, most of whom are only in Junior Cert went into the history books of Sligo Grammar.
The Grammar was crowned Subway Schools All-Ireland U16C Boys after a 50-43 victory over St Munchin’s of Limerick. The final in the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght was a thrilling encounter and the Grammar boys showed grit and determination when their Limerick opponents produced their usual comeback.
Performances from the likes of captain Mark McGlynn and MVP(Most Valued Player) Divine Akude, who scored 26 points, saw the Grammar return to the Northwest with the trophy.
Coach Anthony Flores said he was absolutely over the moon with the Grammar’s win. He told the Sligo Champion: “I am so thrilled, the whole school is thrilled too.
“The last national title won here was the U19s in 2007, we haven’t had a title since then,” the New York native added.
Anthony has been coaching with the Grammar since 2009 and is House Master of the boarding school.
The U16s season began back in October and even then there were positive signs emerging from the team.
Anthony said: “Our season began the first week in October when we played a really good side from Dundalk. They had a player who was 6’8” and he could dribble the ball. It was a tough match but we won 58-6 so we started off on the right foot.
“It gave us the confidence to know that we could go on and win games.”
The Grammar won the Northwest League and then lost to teams from Dublin and Louth in the Regional Finals.
“To qualify for the final with St Munchin’s we beat St Joseph’s from Derry in another close game before Christmas.
“That went down to the last few minutes too and all these games really helped build our team and players that hadn’t played all that much really stepped up and got more confidence.”
With a squad of only 14 players, it’s quite a small side. “Only 12 players are allowed to play so it can change depending on who can play, injuries etc.”
In Tuesday’s final, the Grammar had cemented early dominance on the game, but coach Anthony knew there was more to come from Limerick in the final half.
“We were up at half-time by 14 points and pushed into the lead to 16 but then St Munchin’s started their comeback.
“That’s the m.o. of their players that they get down and then have a big comeback and usually beat their opponents.
“I watched them in LImerick and during the first half thought the other team would win but all the players fought back and we stuck to that.
“St Munchin’s are a very skilled team, they can shoot and dribble and they move very well.
“We had some fantastic performances, they got it down to four points with 56 seconds left on the clock but then they had a shot fouled for behind and we got two shots and scored straight after that.”
Anthony said he was very impressed with the manner in which he players kept their heads, particularly when St Munchin’s were heaping on the pressure and closing the gap.
“Sometimes during the season the lads may get a bit complacent but we held out cool even when they were coming back at them.
“I’m very proud and I knew we would win something as these players are very consistent and basketball mad, they work hard in the gym. “The whole school is thrilled and I must give a big shout out to our supporters, they were so loud.
“Limerick had more there but the Grammar were the loudest, with drums and whistles. The lads were feeding off it and we came home with the win.”
He said captain Mark McGlynn is from Ballyshannon with many Sligo locals on the side too. “Josh Henry is with the All-Stars he was a big asset, there’s Oisín Kehoe and Christian Lally too and there’s a few from out the county. A lot are doing their Junior Cert so focus too on the academic side of things.
“I coach all the boys teams here and the U19s lost the Regional finals, they are a good side too,” Anthony added.
Sligo Grammar were crowned SUBWAY Schools All Ireland Under 16 C Boys champions with a 50-43 point win over St Munchin’s of Limerick at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.
An MVP display from Sligo’s Divine Akude was one of the big talking points of the game, as he not only chipped in with 26 points, but was working hard under the boards at the other end to secure vital rebounds for his side. Akude and Mark McGlynn drove Sligo into an early lead at the end of the first, with good scoring and hard work on defence helping them to slow down the talent of Reece Barry. They continued to dominate in the second quarter, opening up a 28-14 point gap at half time. A tough third quarter ensued, with Sligo going on a run to widen the gap to 32-19 midway through, but Munchin’s kept their heads up, and by the end of the third, were trailing by just eight.
The fourth is where they really hit their stride though, and superb displays from Callanan, Ben Barry and Reece Barry suddenly saw it back to a four-point game mid way though. Akude stepped up for Sligo and he, alongside McGlynn, Bosakani and Kehoe, kept the gap on the scoreboard ticking over until the final buzzer, to win out 50-43 in the end.
SLIGO GRAMMAR: Divine Akude (26), Ben Cunningham, Eoin Murphy, Andrew Yu, G Bamber, Josh Henry (2), B Bosakani (7), Mark McGlynn (7), Oisin Kehoe (4), Callum Murrin, Ben Miller, David Barlow, Donal Ryan, Christin Lally (4), Iyanu Talwo, Oscar Caton.
ST MUNCHIN’S LIMERICK: Josh Callanan (13), Ben Garry (10), Nick Timaskous, Eoin Price (2), Reece Barry (18), Rhys Cosgrove, Cian Conneely, Philip Burke, Ben Pearse, Conor McGuane, Patrick Mitchell, Adam Prenderville. MVP: Divine Akude (Sligo Grammar).
INSET: Coach Anthony Flores.