Basketball

St Mary’s 2nd Year Basketball team progress to All-Ireland Final Four

The St Mary’s team made their way to the National Basketball Arena having finished as the top team in the Western Division.

They had been drawn against St Louis Kiltimagh, St Davids Artane and Gormanstown College. Knowing they needed to win all three games to ensure they took top spot in their pool, they had to start well in their first game against St Louis Kiltimagh. Unfortunately, the early start seemed to have taken alot out of the Marys players and they struggled to convert chances and were outgunned by the Kiltimagh targetmen eventually going down 32-30. Their fitness was to be tested as they had to turn around and play their next opponents, Gormanstown straight away. Having started well, St Marys seemed to relax and let their opponents back into the game. However starting the 4th quarter, they were 6 points up. With 30 seconds to go, they were holding onto a two point lead and managed to see the game out 31-29 with a last-gasp Gormanstown shot failing to hit the target. St Marys now looked to other teams to help them out in their quest to make it through.

As we returned to play our last game, we found out that our fate was back in our own hands and we knew if we beat St Davids Artane, we would get through. The players, knowing how close they came to elimination, all stepped up to the plate and convincingly won out 42-11.

The team now goes on to the Finals in May where they will play the winners of the other 3 pools and take another step closer to another coveted All-Ireland title for the school. A fantastic day for the team, their coaches and the school.

Panel: Ed Lasuaskas(Capt.), Darragh Mulkerrins, Darragh O’Riordan, Tomas Donovan, Ciaran Flaherty, Eoin Clancy, Bingling Chen, Aidan Ryan, Dale Creaven, Keith Coughlan, Cathal Foy, Eamonn Buckley, Liam Buckley, Gaelen O’Toole, Edward Kilkenny, Shane Lohan, Padraig Kearney.