Front from left: Danni Reidy, Rachel Ryan, Nicole Downey, Aoife Dunlea, Gemma Kearney and Emma O’Regan. Back row: Aoife Nolan, assistant coach; Siofra O’Shea, Ciara Ryan, Shauna Ahern, Sarah O’Sullivan, Ellen Collins, Labhaoise Walmsley, captain and Liam Culloty, coach.
Third quarter blues for Team Tom McCarthy’s
Team Tom McCarthy’s hosted table toppers Maree in Castleisland on Saturday last. Denise Dunlea opened for the home side hitting a big three.
By Liz Galwey, PRO
A good defence by the St. Mary’s side prevented the visitors from shooting twice inside the first three minutes.
St. Mary’s led 21 points to 10 at the end of the first quarter.
Performance Upped
Maree stepped up their performance in the second quarter outscoring the home side by five points with huge contributions coming from Claire Rockall, Catherine Connaire and Carol McCarthy.
St. Mary’s new signing Mia Hopkins had a great second quarter hitting 12 of the side’s 21 and setting up several other scores to see her side lead by six at the interval.
Maree took control in the third quarter outscoring the home side by 11 and taking a five point lead going into the final 10 minutes.
There for the Taking
Maree increase their lead early in the final quarter but a basket and bonus from Hopkins brought it back to five again. This was short lived as Rockall added five unanswered points before Dunlea and Hopkins reduced the gap once again.
It was still there for the taking with five minutes on the clock but Maree kept their lead to take the game and remain unbeaten in the league so far this season. Final Score: Team Tom McCarthy’s 69 – Maree 78.
Team Tom McCarthy’s: Mia Hopkins, 30, Denise Dunlea, 16, Lorraine Scanlon, 15, Meabh Barry, 4, Cliona Coffey, 2, Mary Herlihy, 2.
Maree: Claire Rockall, 31, Catherine Connaire, 21, Carol McCarthy, 15, Alison Blaney, 6, Maggie Byrne, 6.
Team Tom McCarthy’s next game is at home on January 5th when they tip off against Portlaoise Panthers at 6.30pm in Castleisland.
U-20s: Panthers Make Cup Semi Final at St. Mary’s Expense
St. Mary’s U-20 girls took on Portlaoise Panthers in the quarter final of the National Cup at the weekend.
Led by team captain Labhaoise Walmsley the Castleisland side started strong netting five points courtesy of Shauna Ahern and Nicole Downey inside of the first two minutes.
Physical Advantage
The visitors’ first score came from the free throw line and from here on they were unstoppable.
The visitors’ physical advantage made it difficult for St. Mary’s to defend and, as the quarter progressed, they pushed ahead by 10 points with strong performances coming from Sarah Fleming, Gillian Wheeler and captain Claire Melia.
Visitors Dominated
A huge performance by St. Mary’s Siofra O’Shea in the second quarter saw her register nine of the sides eleven points for the quarter but once again the visitors dominated hitting 23 leaving the half time score at 25 to 47 in favour of Portlaoise.
Both of the final quarters were more evenly balanced but the gap was too much to close and Portlaoise booked their place in the semi-final in January.
Final score: St. Mary’s 50 – Portlaoise Panthers 73.
St. Mary’s: Siofra O’Shea, 21; Labhaoise Walmsley, 11; Shauna Ahern, 6; Sarah O’Sullivan, 6; Nicole Downey, 3; Siobhan Collins, Danni Reidy, Gemma Kearney, Emma O’Regan, Rachel Ryan, Aoife Dunlea and Ciara Ryan.
Portlaoise Panthers: Claire Melia, 18; Lisa Blaney, 14; Sarah Fleming, 11; Gillian Wheeler, 9; Ciara Byrne, 7; Amy Byrne, Shauna Dooley, 5; Hannah Collins, 2; Jade Burke, Jasmine Burke, Caoimhe Foynes and Shauna Mulhall.
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