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Previewing the Finals

Boys A Final
Westbrooks Trio to make History
Girls A Final
All-Tipp Clash
B Finals
C Finals

Right: Half-time entertainment in the Arena. The winners of this competition were StJoseph's of Cluny, St Mary's Moyderwell, Presentation Thurles,Oatlands CBS and Sacred Heart Drogheda.

Finals Day

St Fintan's, Sutton coach Jerome Westbrooks with sons, from left,
Michael, Aaron, Isaac, who are all on the team, and Eric hoping
for their sides 3 in a row against North Mon, Cork.

Girls A Final
The "Mighty Midlands" was a phrase coined some years ago to signal the emergence of the Midlands region as a powerful force in girls basketball. It certainly applies to this year's girls A Cup where three of the four semi-finalists included Midlands schools, i.e. Moyne Community School, Presentation Thurles and Scoil Ruain, Killenaule. Loreto Foxrock completed the line-up. In the first semi-final Scoil Ruain overcame Loreto, Foxrock. This was a repeat of last year's B final where Scoil Ruain once again came out on top. In the other semi-final Thurles, with home advantage beat Moyne. So last season's All-Ireland league winners are through to the final.

Thurles have been quietly and efficiently overcoming tough opposition on the road winning in Presentation Listowel and Mercy Waterford and also beating last year's bogey team for them, St.Brigid's Killarney, at home in the quarter final. They are coached by the experienced Martin Hehir. This means that the Girls A Final is an all-Tipperary clash between Thurles and the new kids on the block, Scoil Ruain of Kilenaule. Scoil Ruain are looking for an interesting double having won the B Cup last year. Their team line-up includes two nieces of big Niall Quinn, the Ireland and Sunderland striker. Let's hope Niall's nieces show the same form he has been displaying for his club recently. Their first five is packed with Internationals. The Healy sisters playing in the post positions will make life very difficult for Thurles. Anne Marie Healy plays for the Irish Junior Team under coach Ger Tarrent while her younger sister plays for the Irish Cadette team under coach Grace O'Sullivan. They will shortly be competing in the Four Countries International Tournament.

And as if they weren't getting enough international experience, their coach Sean O'Regan is assisting Des O'Sullivan in the next Irish Cadette Programme. Not too many people argue with Coach O'Regan as he is reputed to be a kickboxing champion of world distinction!

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B Finals
St. Joseph's Cluny, Dublin meet Our Lady's Castleblayney in the Girls B Final. St. Josephs of Cluny, Dublin have shown good form, beating Colaiste Dun Iasaigh, last year's C Cup winners, on their way to a home semi-final meeting with St. Mary's Tralee. St. Mary's had a great away win in the quarter final to Ard Scoil Bruff who had been playing well and were fancied also for this year's title. However St. Joseph's proved too strong and have advanced to the final. With Irish international Julie Devine in their line-up, Josephs must fancy their chances. However, Castleblayney are coached by the shrewd Gerry Smyth. Gerry's passion and commitment for the game is legendary and he can certainly motivate his team to success. Already this season he has reached the league cup final where interestingly they overcame St. Josephs in their group. This will give Castleblayney the edge. Our Lady's Castleblaney beat St. Joseph's Rochfordbridge in their semi-final.

The Boys B final features two teams at opposite ends of the country - a Kerry school and a Donegal school. St. Mary's Moyderwell, Tralee are coached by Mick Cullotty. His son, Liam, is their star player having top scored in many games and having received the MVP award on more than one occasion. St. Mary's have been very impressive to date, both at home and away. They come up against St. Eunan's, Letterkenny coached by Paddy Dunne. They have experience of playing in the Arena having been defeated in last year's B final losing out to St. Laurences of Loughlinstown. In their semi-final they overcame a very impressive Carrick-on-Shannon CS who had won three away games to progress this far.

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C Finals
In the Girls C final Sacred Heart Drogheda come up against Christ King, Cork. Sacred Heart are coached by Bernard Vesey who is well known in athletics circles in the area. This will be their first time playing in a cup final in the Arena. Sacred Heart Drogheda have been the dark horses in the Northern Section recording some fine wins. In the semi-final they had an impressive away win over Cnoc Mhuire, Granard. The Southern section of this competition has been dominated by Cork schools with three of the four quarter-finalists from the Cork region. This set up an all Cork semi-final between Glanmire Community College and Christ King College with the former having the home advantage. However the away team prevailed on the day. Amanda O'Regan is their outstanding player. In a first round game against Colaiste Mhuire from Crosshaven, Amanda scored a massive 57 points. This appears to be a record for points scored by an individual player in a girls cup game.

In the Boys C final St. Nathy's Ballaghdereen face Dublin side, Oatlands College. St. Nathy's College have been impressive to date. Their coach Frances Dunne has done trojan work in the school. Oatlands College Dublin with home advantage overcame St. Aloysius College, Athlone in their semi-final. Oatlands have had some impressive high scoring wins on their way to the final. They have a strong panel that includes Paul Griffin who plays for the Dublin Minor football and hurling teams. They are coached by Irish Cadet coach Pat Carey who will bring all his experience to bear on what will be a hard fought final.

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Killenaule Celebrate

The Scoil Ruane, Killenaule team celebrate their victory over
Thurles. Bank Of Ireland Schools Cup, Girls 'A' Final, Scoil
Ruane, Killenaule v Presentation Thurles, National Basketball
Arena, Tallaght, Dublin.

The banners were made, the chants learnt and the two teams fit. These two Tipperary schools, Scoil Ruain Killenaule and Presentation secondary Thurles, were ready to face anything - except maybe each other. The atmosphere was electric at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght for the Bank of Ireland Girls "A" Basketball final. The two schools had been selected from over 600 Schools but now a winner had to be decided. Both teams overcame tough opposition in the semi-finals with Thurles defeating Moyne while Killenaule beat Loreto Foxrock. Killenaule were out to win an impressive double having won the "B" finals last year.

Their line-up, including the talented Healy sisters, were not about to go easy on Pres, who won last years "Time Out" Cadette "A" and Senior "A" finals. On the day luck went Killenaule's way, who were first to score a basket. Presentation found it difficult to get into the game until finally, after seven minutes, Faye Hartigan scored with a blistering two-pointer. The first-half continued in the same way with scores being exchanged from both teams. The half-time score was 23 points to 18 in favour of Killenaule.

In the second half Killenaule began to dominate, much to the alarm of the Thurles supporters in the Arena. But despite brilliant displays from co-captains Faye Hartigan and Aine Staunton backed up by Grainne O' Dwyer and Amanda Fennessy for Thurles, the cup went to Killenaule. Even an appearance from a third year group of 'cheernuns' failed to lift Presentation's spirits. The final score was 29-43 with the "Most Valuable Player" award going to Killenaule's Irene Codd, who scored 11 points. So the final is over for another year. But the rivalry between these two schools remains. As soon as the Pres followers arrived back in Thurles there were faithful cheers and talk of next year's final. You may think that is a bit of a presumption, but don't worry, the Presentation Thurles girls will be back. . . . but next time to win!

Written by: Emma Keaveney (Second year), Presentation Secondary Thurles

Pictured above: Teresa Cleary, Scoil Ruane in action against Faye Hartigan (10) Presentation Thurles. Photo: Brendan Moran/SPORTSFILE

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Nathy's Boys Win Cup

Forget the San Siro stadium, Wembley or even Croke Park. The place to have been in February was the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght, Dublin. For St. Nathy's College Ballaghaderreen it was a day that will hold a prominent position in the history of the school and for the squad of sixteen players, a day that they will relive over and over again. It was the day they realised their childhood dreams of not only playing in the famed arena but, more importantly, becoming the 2001 All-Ireland Schools Basketball champions. It was also a day that Frances Dunne (Team Coach) received her just reward for the contribution she has made to basketball in the school. As you know behind every great team lies a great coach!

The long journey from Ballaghaderreen was instrumental in increasing the excitement and anticipation of the hundred supporters who arrived to the arena proudly sporting the green and white of Nathy's College. The squad took to the court looking fit, agile and clearly psyched. An eruption of sound from the Nathy's supporting entourage singing (and shouting) chants showed the team they were 100% behind them as they battled to take on Oatlands College, Mount Merrion, Dublin. For the Ballaghaderreen side it was more than luck on that day as the arena was host to the most talented squad that Nathy's has produced in a long time and after a tremendous opening there was no stopping the team.

The sheer drive and determination of the boys was evident as they led by 14 points after the first quarter. Captain fantastic Joe McCann was alert and energetic on court and scored 14 points in the first half. Oatlands never managed to edge in front of St. Nathy's but there was a period late in the second half when we began to question the endurance and stamina of our boys. In particular Martin Gallagher of Oatlands was a constant threat to our defence. Our worries, however, were short-lived. The boys battled on showing supreme determination and eventually came out the victors winning 56 - 51. Further honour was brought to the team when Sean McDermott scooped the Most Valuable Player Award. By the time we were coming west of the Shannon day was giving way to night and we were met by the glow of blazing bonfires all the way into Ballaghaderreen. In the town the team and its mentors were greeted with rapturous applause. All those who made the journey up to Tallaght were rewarded with a display of high quality basketball, played cleanly and competitively.

It is clear to see that the Nathy's boys are back in town and the west is most definitely awake. This June only three of the team will be bidding a sad farewell to the school. Hence, it is hoped that next year Nathy's will continue their winning ways. With the lethal combination of a superb, dedicated coach, a focused squad and loyal fans there to encourage every step of the way, basketball in Ballaghaderreen is definitely on the up!

Pictured above: Derek Barrett, St. Nathy's College, Roscommon, in action against Glenn Browett, Oatlands College, Dublin. Photo: Brendan Moran/SPORTSFILE

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Results

Boys A Final St. Fintans Sutton 66 M. Westbrook 20, I. Barrett 18 North Monastery 52 B. O'Neill 15, G. O'Neill 13 MVP: M. Westbrook	Boys B Final St. Eunan's Letterkenny 63 K. O'Neill 27, D. Leech 10 Moyderwell Tralee 52 W. O'Riordan 13, L. Cullotty 9
Boys C Final St. Nathy's College 56 J. McCann 21, S. McDermott 16 Oatlands College 51 M. Gallagher 17, R. Egan 10 MVP: Sean McDermott	Girls A Final Scoil Ruain Killenaule 44 A. O'Dwyer 12, T. Cleary 11 Presentation Thurles 29 G. Dwyer 12, M. Bourke 6
Girls B Final Our Lady's Castleblayney 52 A. Casey 22, S. Hayes 12 St. Joseph's Cluny 45 J. Devine 18, L. Scully 10	Girls C Final Sacred Heart Drogheda 49 G. Nulty 21, K. Byrne 8 Christ King College Cork 56 A. O'Regan 44, F. Cummins 10 MVP: A. O'Regan

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