St. Aidan’s CBS 92, Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig 71

National Basketball Arena

The big hitters came out to play on the final day of action at the SUBWAY® All Ireland Schools Cup Finals as St. Aidan’s CBS of Whitehall met Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig in the U19A Boys decider. It was the Dublin side who maintained their impressive form to eventually come through 92-71.   

“Each basket was as important as the one before out there,” said 6’6 guard Matt Treacy. “I love playing with this team and we’ll go far again I hope. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”

St. Aidan’s win was based on big players and a strong start. They had the athleticism to made decisions in mid-air leading to all the right options in the first quarter and the first 10 points from five different players. Ireland U18 International Tariq Guebaili put 10 points between the sides after six minutes. 

Colaiste Choilm Ballincollig were outgunned on the offensive boards and were trailing 24-8 before they found their footing in the second quarter. Conor O’Sullivan’s swerving drive sparked a run including threes from himself and his brother Darragh to bring the gap back to eight points. 

St. Aidan’s response was an 8-0 run with Brian Ashton and Emmet Lawless barrelling into the key and no turnover going unpunished. They were 41-27 clear at half time. 

Coláiste Choilm were 21 points in arrears heading into the final quarter but a run of baskets including a monster three from Dylan Corkery sent whispers of “Anything Can Happen” around the National Basketball Arena. Matt Treacy swung the game back in St. Aidan’s favour with a three off the right wing and 2/2 from the line. 

Ballincollig Coach Francis O’Sullivan said: “We were expending so much energy on defence that we just couldn’t make the shots we normally make. Credit to St. Aidan’s, they’re an explosive side."

Colaiste Choilm Ballincolig: Brian Murphy 10, Dylan Corkery 11, Dylan Brickley 8, Emmanuel Anaba 2, Conor O’Sullivan 20. Substitutes: David McMahon, Jack Murphy 9, Jack Lynch, Alan O’Leary, Darragh O’Sullivan 10.

 

St Aidan’s CBS, Dublin: Stephen Canning 13, Tariq Guebali 19, Brian Ashton 25, Emmet Lawless 7, Matt Treacy 23. Substitute: Cameron McCormack, Brian O’Connor, Ciaran McHugh 2, Nicol Drimal, Shane O’Leary, Shane Corcoran, Eric Redmond , Kian Auguste, Jordan Dowling, Aaron Dowling.

 

HT: Colaiste Choilm 27, St. Aidan’s 41

MVP: Tariq Guebali

National Basketball Arena

CBS Thurles claimed an All-Ireland title for Tipperary with a 37-23 victory over St. Nathy’s of Ballaghadereen in the SUBWAY All-Ireland U16C Boys Cup final. 

“They’re unbeaten all year but we had a very tough challenge today,” said Thurles Coach Maureen Gallagher. “It should spur things on here. All the lads here play club basketball as well so it’s a win for the clubs too.” 

Sean Mockler was the early focal point as CBS went out to an 8-1 lead midway after four minutes. Patrick O’Gorman took over with three baskets either side of the first break but St. Nathy’s hustled much better in the second quarter and hit the 10 point mark through five different scorers. 

Arthur Geronimo’s three-pointer pushed CBS further clear on the way to a 16-8 lead and it was looking like a big ask for St. Nathy’s to mount a comeback. Keelan O’Callaghan looked to cut the lead on the fast-break with long range outlet passes to players on the move. David McBrien got his angles spot on to hit a fadeaway shot from the elbow and Jamie Lunt’s swished three-pointer took a decent chunk out of the deficit. 

Sean Mockler had the perfect riposte - a no-look finish from six feet and a two-handed finish from Jorge Ruiz forced a time-out from the Roscommon bench. 

St. Nathy’s Head Coach Frances Dunne said: “We’re very disappointed. We knew we’d be up against it but we thought we could catch them out inside and the shots didn’t fall.”  

CBS Thurles: Arthur Geronimo 5, Liam Kenny 5, Patrick O’Gorman 10, Sean Mockler 12, Killian Ryan. Substitutes: Blaine Carroll 2, Jack Ryan, Victor Hemon, Jorge Ruiz, Ciaran Kirwan, Jack Hehir, Patrick Tobin.

St Nathy’s College, Ballaghadereen: David McBrien 6, David McHugh 2, Jamie Lunt 8, Rioghan Lowry, Gerard Forrest 1. Substitutes: Ciaran Guilfoyle, Chris Kennedy, Patrick O’Grady 2, Keelan O’Callaghan 4, Cian Tansey, Jack Craughwell, Adam McAllister, Joseph Waldron, Jack Freeman, Kieran Horan, Neil Dozio, Liam Coleman.

MVP: Sean Mockler

HT: CBS Thurles 16, St Nathy’s 8

National Basketball Arena

Claire Melia lit up the National Basketball Arena as Ard Scoil Rathangan claimed the SUBWAY U19A Girls All-Ireland Schools Cup with a 69-66 win over Holy Faith Clontarf. The game’s MVP scored 36 points, grabbed as many rebounds and iced the win with her 20th successful free-throw after Holy Faith leveled it from the three-point line with a minute left. 

“I thought we were up the creek after that three-pointer,” said Rathangan Coach Paddy Donovan. “It was up and down and just a case of hanging in their, but everyone knew their jobs.”

An early lead was crucial for confidence Rathangan earned it with baskets from Kelly-Anne Scully, Aine Nash and Niamh Burke. Holy Faith were right in contention once Saoirse Power Cassidy got her eye in from the three-point line. The first of her four triples reduced the gap before Sinead Byrne put Rathangan on their way to a 22-17 lead for the first quarter. 

Holy Faith Clontarf were lightning quick on the ball as they looked to stretch Rathangan in transition. On defence they were uncompromising. Deborah Sealy was raw hustle with Meave O’Seaghdha assigned to keep Melia in check. That only sent Melia to the free-throw line to eke out a 10-point lead shortly before she was double-teamed. 

Holy Faith halved the deficit by half time and took the lead for the first time in the third quarter. Mae Creane’s triple was the breakthrough with 2:30 to the break - the Irish international clenching her fists as 350 Clontarf rose to their feet.

It was Melia’s dazzling spin and hook shot that regained the lead for Rathangan and quick finishing from Scully and substitute Alanna McLoughlin  put enough on the board to sustain them through a Clontarf fight back. 

Holy Faith Clontarf Head Coach Jerome Westbrooks said: “They played well and went to their strengths. We knew we had to face up to Melia, but we had our chances. It’s disappointing.” His day had started out with victory for their U16A side. “Naturally we wanted to walk out of here with two wins, but the principle said one out of two isn’t bad.”

Holy Faith, Clontarf: Aisling Carberry, Saoirse Power-Cassidy 25, Tiffany Brockman, Maeve McDermott 2, Ciara Curran. Substitutes: Deborah Sealy, Ruth Fennell 11, Sarah Malone, Niamh Corry, Maeve O’Seaghdha 2, Alison Connolly 9, Mae Creane, Bronagh Power-Cassidy 8, Niamh Kenny, Elizabeth Black.

Ard Scoil Rathangan: Kelly-Anne Scully 14, Aine Nash 3, Claire Melia 36, Niamh Burke 1, Sinead Byrne 12. Substitutes: Alanna McLoughlin 2, Laura Dempsey, Emma Doolin, Dominika Sygnowska, May O’Brien.

MVP: Claire Melia

HT Holy Faith 33, Rathangan 37