Picture Credit ©INPHO/Gary Carr.
Castlerea Community School: 45 Holy Child Killiney: 40
(After overtime; Full time score 36-36)
There was just six seconds left on the clock when the ball landed in the hands of Sandra Keane for Castlerea Community School. Just six seconds on the clock, and her team were down by two and as the ball was inbounded from the baseline, she made no hesitation in laying it up neatly to send the game to overtime.
By Mary McGuire, Basketball Ireland
That basket from Keane was just one of many crucial scores netted by the MVP of the game, in what was an absolutely superb SUBWAY U16 C Girls final.
It was obvious from the start that this was going to be a close game, as while Killiney had a 6-11 lead at the end of the first, momentum was swinging in favour of Castlerea to ensure an exciting second quarter.
The second quarter and indeed, the remainder of the game was certainly thrilling, as superb displays from Killiney’s Hannah Murphy and Lisa O’Rourke and Keane of Castlerea saw the balance of power tip from side to side on numerous occasions and there was just one point in it going in at half time, 16-15 in favour of Castlerea.
The tension mounted as the third quarter got underway, as O’Rourke got proceedings underway with a three-pointer, but determined defence from Holy Child helped to set up Kate Hogan inside for a great score to put them back in the lead 20-21 with four minutes to play in the third. Again, Keane took control at the other end and with Laura Fannon and Holly Hopkins adding baskets saw the game all square once more 26-26 going into the last.
Determination and nerves of steel were the name of the game in the final quarter, with Maria Hurtado Romero netting a vital basket for Killiney midway and Hannah Rourke adding six points.
When Siobhan Fitzgerald drove through the Castlerea defence to score, it looked like Killiney had it won (36-34) but Sandra Keane had other ideas and coolly put the ball up to send the match to overtime.
Overtime was another tense affair, but Castlerea had the momentum now and key steals from Keane and good rebounding by O’Rourke set them up for important scores at the other end to win 45-40 in the end.
Teams
Castlerea Community School: Lisa O’Rourke (18), Megan Keaveney, Sandra Keane (15), Holly Hopkins (2), Tara Keane (2), Fiona Kilkenny, Clodagh McFadden, Ailish O’Rourke, Clara Neary (6), Laura Fannon (2), Ciarri Harkin.
Holy Child Killiney: Siobhan Fitzgerald (4), Zahra Farrington, Hannah Murphy (19), Amy Mahon, Niamh Doran, Kate Hogan (4), Emer Morton, Lauara Desmond, Abbie Tyrell, Suzanna Winkelmann (9), Lia Moloney, Pilar Hurtado Romero, Maria Hurtado Romero (4), Carmen Hurtado Romero.
MVP: Sandra Keane (Castlerea Community School)
You can watch the match in full here: