Girls Basketball Success – Match Reports

The 15th of March was a memorable day for our 1st and 2nd year basketball teams. We headed out eagerly to the Basketball Arena in Tallaght to face Mount Sackville and Drogheda respectively, in the finals of the SSA Dublin Schools League.

First up to play, at 9.30am, were our nervous but well prepared 1st years. Mount Sackville looked ready and able but it didn’t put off our 1st years. They started off well, finding their feet on unfamiliar territory. The first half was low scoring but high in excitement. The girls kept calm heads and were leading, but Mount Sackville were close behind. As we went into the second half with fresh faces, the nervousness had calmed down, and the confidence all the girls showed was a credit to them. With a lot of nail biting from the coaches, Ms. Gallagher and Ms. Nolan, and loads of chanting from our supporters, the 1st years never looked back as they took the win deservingly, 16 – 12. The match was followed by the award ceremony where the Captains Hannah Gallagher and Lorna Gallagher received their plaque and brought it home again to Coolmine. Ieva Uysniauskaite and Ann McDonald got MVP players of the match. We are very proud of our 1st years in their fight and sportsmanship they showed. For most of the girls it was their first ever season of basketball. WELL DONE GIRLS!!!!

Our 2nd years were up at 12.00 pm. It was tough for them waiting around especially after the 1st year win. The pressure was on. These girls are no strangers to finals and victories! They won the league last year and were back again with just as much fight in them. Led by their Captain Emma Devitt in their warm–up they looked like they meant business. They stepped up onto the court for a serious battle. There was a feeling of determination from our 2nd years as Drogheda have been basketball rivals throughout the season. The match started off slowly as there were plenty of scoring attempts, but the ball just wouldn’t sink into the basket. Drogheda had two great players that seemed to run the show. They started scoring great baskets that even our senior team couldn’t have stopped. Our girls fought hard and the scores started to rise for both teams. At half time the coaches, Ms. Gallagher and Ms. Nolan, had a team talk, which consisted of trying to over-mark their good players. The girls went out and played defence like the Kilkenny hurling team and did us so proud. They fought until the end, keeping their heads up even though they were trailing behind. Unfortunately they lost to Drogheda but the way they fought will keep them as winners in our memories of the Arena Tallaght, March 15th 2007. To go up a division and reach the finals in one season is a tremendous achievement. WELL DONE GIRLS!!!

Many thanks to Toyosi Yakub, Meliha Gogic, and Lara Gentry for their expert time and score keeping for our games throughout the season. Thank you girls – you were a great help. Thank you also to Ms. Gallagher and Ms. Nolan for giving up their Tuesdays to help the girls in training and their games. It is very much appreciated.

Finally, thanks to the girls who trained all season with the teams. Your dedication has been noted and try-outs for next season should be a breeze for you after all your hard work this year!