ALL-RELAND SCHOOLS LEAGUE SEMI FINAL
Incredible run comes to an end with semi-final defeat
GAELCHOLAISTE CHEATHARLACH 27 CHRIST THE KING, CORK 48
Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach's Fiona Ní Mhurchú climbing soars above the Christ the King defence during the All Ireland league semi-final in Thurles.
AN INCREDIBLE run in the All Ireland Schools basketball competition ended for the Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach U16 girls team this week in Thurles were they were defeated by Cork's Christ the King School 27/48 in the All Ireland league semi-final.
The Cork girls were on fire right from the throw up and exerted huge pressure on the Carlow girls with 8 points on the board before the Gaelcholáiste girls managed their first score through Muireann Ní Shúilleabháin two pointer.
Jenny Ní Dhubhchonna may have been the smallest player on the court but she was the top scorer for the Carlow school with 9 points, time and time again she broke fast and did manage to catch the Cork defence on the hop.
Chances came the Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach girls way in the 2nd quarter when they found gaps in the Christ the King defence but that ball simply refused to go in. It was agonising for the girls who were working their hearts out against a physically superior team to see the ball cling to the hoop only to fall out and to win this match all scoring chances had to be taken.
Muireann Ní Shúilleabháin and Michelle Ní Bhraonáin never stopped working driving and pushing at the Cork defence to get he ball into Fiona Ní Mhurchú and Kate Ní Mhóráin who themselves were having a tremendous physical battle with the defence.
Cork hunted in pairs one in front and one at the back of the Gaelcholáiste girls and as soon as the ball appeared at shoulder height they pounced and turned over the ball. Sine Nig Eochaidh played very well when introduced for Jenny Ní Dhubhchonna but the Cork girls were a well drilled and experienced team who in the end deserved their victory.
When ones considers that the Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach have a student population of around 240 and that Christ the King have 200 first year girls and 200 first year boys one appreciates just what the Gaelcholáiste girls have achieved.
They left the court deflated but incredibly energised for next years competition.
Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach: Fiona Ní Mhurchú (4), Muireann Ní Shúilleabháin (6), Jenny Ní Dhubhchonna (9) Kate Ní Mhóráin (6), Bríd Nic Dhiarmada, Amy Ní Fhearaíl, Sine Nig Eochaidh, Michelle Ní Bhraonáin (2).
Christ the King: R. Cotter (4), L. Wyse (7), C. Lynch (1), S. Lee (5), G. Markum, S. Geaney (10), T. Glynn, N. Leahy, R. Murray (8), C. Murnane, R. Finn (13).
