St. Mary’s U-18 girls travelled to Limerick on Sunday last to contest the quarter final of the women’s U-18 cup.
Their opponents were Limerick Celtics and it was a game worthy of super league status from both a scoring perspective and from the performances by both teams.
The first quarter was closely contested, Celtics Ganoy Malod registering the first score of the game but St. Mary’s top scorer, Emma Kerin was quick to respond.
Celtics had a considerable height advantage which made it difficult for the St. Mary’s girls to win rebounds.
Celtics Steals Converted
Some early steals by Celtics were converted and they led 13 points to six with three and a half minutes on the clock.
Less than a minute later, St. Mary’s, now displayed some great team work throughout, had reduced the gap to a basket as the sides continued to exchange scores.
Emma Buckley, assisted by Abbie Mahony, kept St.Mary’s to within a point of their opponents.
Ganoy Malod and Lucy Devoy put the home side back up by three before a free throw followed by a basket from Ciara Casey ensure that the sides finished the first quarter level on 25 points a-piece.
Emma Kerin, Emma Buckley and Shauna Tangney showed great leadership throughout the quarter and indeed all through the game.
Turnovers Costly for St.Mary’s
Scores were exchanged early in the second quarter but a series of turnovers cost St. Mary’s and Celtics pushed ahead again. Scores from Emma Kerin, Ciara Casey and Hanna Herlihy kept St. Mary’s in touch but they trailed by eight mid-ways through the quarter.
St. Mary’s went through a short spell where the shots simply would not fall while Celtics continued to build on their lead.
The score-board read 52 points to 38 at the half time interval.
Dying Minutes Comeback
Rachel Murphy opened the third quarter with a free throw and Emma Kerin, who was outstanding for her side, added the next two scores.
However, Lucy Devoy, who was the stand out player for Celtics, continued to perform well and with two minutes and twenty seconds on the clock Celtics lead by 21 points.
St. Mary’s, determined not to let it go easily, made a huge comeback in the dying minutes of this quarter. With 35 seconds to go they had it back to 12 points having outscored their opponents 20 points to 22.
Reducing the Gap
Now the score-board read 72 points to 60 as the sides entered the final 10 minutes. A huge final quarter performance from all players saw St. Mary’s reduce the gap as the clock ran down.
Scores from Emma Kerin, Abbie Mahony and Hannah Herlihy all contributed to getting it back to a three point game at one stage.
Celtics went back up eight but again Abbie Mahony and Shauna Tangney came up trumps.
A three from Emma Kerin with just 11 seconds on the clock left just five points between the sides but again Lucy Devoy hit two from the line to secure a seven-point win for Limerick Celtics.
Super-league Scoring
The final score was one worthy of a super-league game as the score-board read: Limerick Celtics 90 St. Mary’s 83.
Top scorers for St. Mary’s were: Emma Kerin 42, Abbie Mahony 10, Hannah Herlihy 9.
Limerick Celtics: Lucy Devoy 32, Amy Buckley 28, Ganoy Malod 11.
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