Image: St Paul’s
St Paul’s Basketball Club’s stunning victory over Swords Thunder to clinch the National League Division 1 title at the weekend was a wonderful occasion for all involved but, for one Killarney star player, it was an extra special achievement that brought golden memories flooding back.
Lynn Jones was the joint captain of James Fleming’s all-conquering side and she played a real leader’s role in the emphatic 71-48 to win the title and seal promotion to the superleague.
What makes it all so incredible is that the big win comes a full 21 years after Lynn skippered St Paul’s to another national title when she led the Killarney girls to the All-Ireland Under 19A title against Presentation, Thurles at the same venue, the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.
Then a sprightly teenager full of ambition and now a mother of three approaching her 40th birthday, Lynn has never lost that will to win and she provided the inspiration for her side to write another glorious chapter in the club’s history books.
Elated St Paul’s coach James Fleming paid a special tribute to the veteran of the team in the immediate aftermath of the victory over Swords.
“We won our first cup here 21 years ago with Lynn as captain of the under 19 team and to see her at 39 or 40 years of age winning another title in the National Basketball Arena is just superb,” he said.
While the coach acknowledged that her playing career was now approaching an end, he said he hopes she will stick with it for another year and it will come as no great surprise to her fans if Lynn Jones is there to lead St Paul’s into superleague action next season.
As her opponents well know, it’s hard to be keeping up with the Jones.
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