Schools basketball glory for Galway teams

IT  was a remarkable day for schools basketball in Galway recently, with four schools making it to the 2nd Year All-Ireland semi-finals and finals across all grades.

The highlights were Calasanctius College winning the 2nd Year All-Ireland A title, beating rivals Castleisland Community College in the final after narrowly losing out last year in the 1st Year final. The other title came to Presentation College, Athenry in the 2nd Year All-Ireland C final, a first for the school.

In the 2nd Year B League, Coláiste Iognáid (The Jes) won their second bronze medal in two years, while Coláiste Éinde, Salthill went one step further before losing out by the narrowest of margins in the final against Sliabh Luachra, Rathmore.

 Presentation Athenry 55

Crescent Limerick          29

Presentation College, Athenry won their first All-Ireland basketball title last Friday when they defeated Crescent Comprehensive, Limerick in the Second Year Boys C Final, played in the University of Limerick, on a comprehensive score line of 55-27. In a good team performance, the star player was J.P. McLoughlin who ended up top scorer in both the semi-final and the final.

It was in the semi-final that the Pres really won the competition when they narrowly defeated the favourites Colaiste na Sceilge from Kerry 27-21. The Galway side took the initiative from the start as Niall Bree scored their first five points. In the second quarter, it was McLoughlin’s turn to score five points as he netted twice and had one free throw. A Joe Morris basket left the score at 12-5 at half time.

The second half was a close affair. Indeed, only two points separated the teams with over a minute left. The Athenry boys kept their heads and while McLoughlin and Bree were being well marshalled, it was Patrick Foley who stepped up and scored a basket and two free throws to win by six. Throughout the game, the lads under the baskets, Matthew Gardiner, Konrad Piotrowski, Stephen Callaghan and Peter Zabecki, rebounded extremely well against a physically strong Kerry outfit.

With the semi-final win behind them, the Athenry side were more confident going into the final, where they outscored their opponents in each quarter. The feature of the final was that nine players contributed to the scoring to win by double scores.

The panel and scorers were: Sean Coakley (2), Ben Concannon (8), Matthew Gardiner, Konrad Piotrowski (2), Niall Bree (15), Stephen Callaghan (4), Patrick Foley (16), Joe Morris (6), J.P. McLoughlin (25), Peter Zabecki (2), Conor Campbell (2), and Kevin Wilde.

Calasanctius College    34

St. Patrick’s         32

After suffering disappointment in last year’s final, Calasanctius College’s Second Year basketball team were always going to come back this year to gain revenge, and they did it against their oponents from the previous year.

In a thrilling match, it was Eoin Rockall who stood out for Calasanctius. Despite the Oranmore players being outsized by their Kerry opponents, a combination of excellent outside shooting, and many scores from an impressive fast break gave Calasanctius the narrowest of advantages in another All-Ireland A title for the school.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.