Cork's St Aidan’s foil De La Salle double bid
De La Salle, Waterford missed out on the chance to land an elusive league and cup double, losing narrowly to St Aidan’s of Cork in the All-Ireland League U16B Boys decider at the National Basketball Arena.
Gareth Blount starred as St Aidan’s opened at breakneck speed. Blount’s early three-pointers put them out in front along with some fine individual skill and it was Blount again in the final quarter with the crucial baskets.
“De La Salle are a very talented team,” said St. Aidan’s Coach Jodi Furlong.
“We watched them in the cup final and it could have gone either way. They’ve achieved so much already this year at U16 and U19 level so I’m sure they’ll be back next year.”
Joel Ouethy, Jake Collins 9, Neil Francisco 8, Gareth Blount 21, EJ Albino 7. Substitutes: Josh Galvin, Eoin McCarthy, Christopher Bell, Neil Francisco, David Aluko, Michael Mc Elhinney, Colm Blount.
Angel Agharia 10, Scott Dunphy 9, Seaghan Walsh 13, Osi Oshiojwemoh 6, Jay Kavanagh 3. Substitutes: Shane Roche, Kiernan Murphy, Kalem Walsh, Harry Clooney, Chris Malone.
Loreto Crumlin 33
St Aidan’s, Cork 27
The girls of Loreto Crumlin were U19C victors at the All-Ireland Schools League finals, making amends for defeat at the semi-finals stage of last year’s U16C competition as they beat St Aidan’s of Cork 33-27, with all five starters getting on the score sheet.
St Aidan’s were rocked by a pre-game injury to captain, point-guard and National Cup winner Kelly Murphy and lacked an element of control in the early possessions.
Kaitlyn Long’s fast-break finish had the margin back to 19-15 by the end of the third quarter. Loreto Crumlin had a clear offensive edge, but it wasn’t translating into baskets.
Crucially through, St. Aidan’s missed their chance to make it a one-possession game. Crumlin pounced with a 10-0 run sparked by Quinn Neylon’s baseline drive and although St. Aidan’s applied plenty of pressure down the home stretch, they were up against it in the shortened format of eight-minute quarters.
Claire Quinn Nealon 14, Ciara White 9, Reanne Devlin 13, Eniola Salami 2, Niamh White 3. Substitutes: Chelsea Whelan, Rebecca Bohan 2, Jol Neuda, Honey Gamil, Niamh White, Kristia Segovia, Julia Cortez.
Kaitlyn Long 7, Jodie Forde 14, Niamh Nolan, Sarah O’Connell, Donna O’Neill 2. Substitutes: Eadaoin O’Keffee, Fawazzi Shabowale, Nicole Creagh, Sophie Murphy, Lydia Conway, Nicole Bolger 4, Kelly Murphy.
Adamstown CS 64
Blackrock College 60
Adamstown Community College claimed their first ever All-Ireland title with victory over Blackrock College in the All-Ireland Schools U19C Boys League final.
