Carrigtwohill girls and Kildare Town boys claim U19 'B' All-Ireland Schools Cup titles

Carrigtwohill celebrate with the trophy after the game. Pic: Nick Elliott/Inpho

Carrigtwohill CC are the U19 'B' Girl All-Ireland Schools Cup champions, after defeating Coláiste Dún An Rí 47-33 at the National Basketball Arena on Wednesday. Ireland underage international Lucy Walsh scored 29 points on her way to MVP for Carrigtwohill.

The first quarter entirely belonged to Walsh, scoring 14 of Carrigtwohill’s 18 points, including six points inside the final minute of the quarter. 

Two free-throws followed by a fast pull-up on the elbow and then capped off by a superb lay-up off the backboard finished off a big opening period, as Carrigtwohill took an 18-8 lead into the second quarter.

Dún An Rí came roaring back in the next period, opening the quarter with a 9-0 run. including a superb cut and finish by Karina Urbanivicute, to bring the game back to three points. A tough shot from the free-throw line from Aoife Kennedy then brought Dún An Rí to just one-point behind midway through the quarter.

Carrigtwohill bounced back well and finished the second period strong with a Walsh three pointer extending the lead to ten points at 27-17. They would take that lead into the half-time interval.

Carrigtwohill started fast in the third quarter, with six points from Maya Finn-Hannon and Walsh giving them a 33-17 advantage in the first minute of the quarter. 

Urbanivicute hit a quick three in the corner for Dún An Rí midway through the third to make it 33-20. She then hit her second three of the quarter with 15 seconds left to make it a 12-point game at the end of the third.

Walsh and Finn-Hannon continued their stellar performances as a duo for Carrigtwohill in the final quarter, with Finn-Hannon hitting a corner three followed by a finish inside from Walsh to give Carrigtwohill a 42-28 advantage with four minutes to go.

Walsh would then end the game with free-throws to ensure Carrigtwohill bring home the win 47-33 to crown Carrigtwohill champions.

Meanwhile, Kildare Town clinched the U19 'B' Boys All-Ireland Schools Cup beating Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh 62-53. Charlie Dunny led the way with 21 points on his way to the MVP award for Kildare Town.

In the first quarter, Kildare Town started fast, they had a 7-2 lead with just over two minutes gone thanks to two quick scores from Grantas Piekus.

An Spioraid Naoimh responded in a big way, with three consecutive threes in quick succession by Joshua Barry, Fionan Nagle and Hugo Medina, giving them an 11-10 advantage with four minutes to go. 

As the quarter winded down, Medina and Nagle made a free-throw each to send An Spioraid Naoimh into the second quarter ahead 19-15.

Kildare bounced back in the second period, David Cajocaru hit a three on the wing to cut the deficit to two-points, at 23-21, with five minutes left in the period.

In the last 90 seconds of the quarter, a Cillian Ajimokun finish inside, followed by Dunny scoring a layup through contact with 30 seconds left gave Kildare the edge at 31-30 going into the interval.

Dunny and Ajimokun continued their scoring form in the third quarter, with five Dunny points and a great pass to Ajimokun under the rim in the space of a minute, which gave Kildare Town a 38-34 advantage.

The third concluded with Charlie Twomey recovering a loose ball and finishing at the rim with 20 seconds left. An Spioraid Naoimh would go in to the final quarter down just six points, trailing 43-37.

Both sides started the fourth trading baskets, with a Nagle three being answered with a Dunny three to make it 46-40 to Kildare with two minutes gone in the fourth.

As the final quarter came to a close, Kildare started to pull away with five points in the final 30 seconds, giving Kildare a nine-point victory.