Notre Dame hit final spot

NOTRE DAME boosted hopes of a possible double when their junior side qualified for the final of the Under-19 Cup to get the ESB National Cup weekend under way at the National Basketball Arena last night.

The score may not have done justice to the effort put in by the Castlebar side who fought back to lead by six points, 36-30, at half time but they could not contain the fluency of Anthony Jenkins’ young guns.

They outgunned the opposition 22-11 in the third quarter and a devastating final quarter saw them score 30 points to 15 to claim their final place. Two years ago Notre Dame brought off the double when Anthony Jenkins coached both teams but he was not happy with the first half display last night when Notre Dame struggled.

They attacked the game from the outset but made little impact against a wall to wall defence. Eoghan White got them off the mark with two baskets but they struggled and could not get any momentum going. Just when they looked like pushing clear Tommy Canavan hit them with the first of his three-pointers and tied the game at nine points apiece with two minutes left in the quarter.

Ian O’Boyle, a member of the senior squad, restored Notre Dame’s lead with a big three pointer and they led 14-11 at the end of the first quarter.

At the start of the second Castlebar grabbed the initiative with baskets from Tommy Canavan and Johnny Kelly who tied it at 16-16. Finin Canavan put Castlebar in front for the first time from the free throw line.

Now they had the initiative and they were not going to relinquish it easily. Midway through the second quarter they led 25-22 and kept in front enjoying a 36-27 lead from another Tommy Canavan three pointer.

Mark Newcombe landed a basket under pressure and added another point from the free throw line to leave Notre Dame trailing by six points, 36-30 at half time.

Excellent work in that opening period from Eoghan White and Ian O’Boyle, both members of the senior squad was negated by power packed displays from the Castlebar captain, Canavan and Herman Heyl who dominated the second quarter. But Notre Dame were now coming down on them with six players contributing to the scoring as they came back to lead 52-47.

From here on it was all Notre Dame who broke down the resilient Castlebar defence and went on to display their class with Scott Kinevane lifting his game to contribute seven points and Stephen Shortt along with John Biggins, adding six apiece.

Top scorers for Notre Dame: Eoghan White on 19, Scott Kinevane on 16, Ian Fitzharris 12 and Stephen Shortt and John Biggins 10 each.

Castlebar: Herman Heyl 20, Tommy Canavan 17 and Kevin McGuinness 10