PADRAIG HARNETT reflects on a very busy week on the Kerry basketball front which saw the under 14 girls of Killarney Cougars make their mark, Tralee Imperials impressing, Gneeveguilla overcoming Rathmore and Castleisland edging out St Paul’s Killarney at under 12 level
IT was a good week for Killarney Cougars on the basketball courts with wins in the Kerry Airport sponsored under 14 girls’ Division 2 and Division 3 but the boys’ under 12s went down to St Mary’s.
In the under 14 girls’ Division 2 the Killarney side were 60-36 winners over Rathmore Ravens but the game was close until the final quarter when the Cougars’ strong finish proved too much for a younger Ravens side.
Lucy O’Sullivan, Anna Whyte and Katie O’Driscoll had big games for the Cougars while Abbie Herlihy and Mia Reen were the key scorers for the Ravens.
The under 14 girls were 49-25 point winners at home to St Joseph’s. The Killarney girls put in an impressive performance against the Duagh side in the Presentation Gym. Ruby Gaffey and Brook Lynch were in top form for the Cougars while Margaret Dore and Julia Lane were the best for St Joseph’s who trailed 24-11 at the break.
St Mary’s put in the better finish to extend a lead of four points at the start of the fourth quarter to end up winning by 13-12
In the boys’ game, Cougars, who went down 22-35, were best served by Dylan Bowler, Fionn Doyle and Feargal Murphy while, for the winning Castleisland side, Glen O’Sullivan, Adam Tangney and Noah Fitzgerald powered them to the win.
In other games the Tralee Imperials under 14s were busy defeating St Joseph’s 62-58 after being 31-20 ahead at the break.
They then saw off St Annes away 51-31. The first quarter was very tight with the Farranfore side leading 9-8. Tomas Kennedy drove the Tralee side on in the second quarter and they opened a 12 point lead, 26-14, by the break. The coach was able to run his bench in what turned into a 20-point win, 51-31.
They ended their week with a 69-42 point win at home to KCYMS and Darragh Foley and Conor Buckley were the best on the night for KCYMS.
Gneeveguilla BC took on TK Cobras in Rathmore in the Kerry Airport under 14 boys winning 39-30, having led 22-11 at the break. Topping the scoring charts for the Gneeveguilla were James Doyle on 15 with Gavin Barry ending on nine and both Darragh Dennehy and Jonathon Del Torre scoring six. For the Cobras, Maurice O’Donoghue and JJ O’Sullivan also hit six points each.
In the under 12 girls’ Division 3, Ballybunion Wildcats made the trip to Dingle a winning one when they defeated TK Chorca Dhuibhne 22-11. Abbey Ní Allarain and Caoimhe Ní Chiobhain led the scoring for the winners.
The clubs met again in the under 14 girls’ Division 3 and here it was TK Chorca Dhuibhne who took the win 34-26. They were 16-10 up at the break but had to survive a Ballybunion fightback.`
Castleisland’s St Mary’s proved to be too strong for Killarney’s St Paul’s in the Kerry Airport sponsored under 12 boy’s clash. The home side led 14-0 after first quarter and there was no way back for St Paul’s.
In the end St Mary’s won easily with point guard Mark Curtin leading their scoring with 13. Kyle Buckley and Freddie Murphy both ended with eight points.
In the senior section of the Kerry Airport Leagues Rathmore Ravers were 40-30 winners away against
St Anne’s with the game played in the Killarney Community College. There were two games in the under 18 Division 2 Pool 1 when Caherciveen defeated Glenbeigh Falcons 63-44 in the South Kerry derby played in Colaiste na Sceilge while, in Rathmore, the home side were 75-54 over St Bridget’s.
In the women’s Division 3 Pool A, Team Kerry Cobras 1 kept the points at home with a 38-29 point win over Gneeveguilla in the Causeway School Gym.
There was one game in the Kerry Airport under 18 girls’ Division 1 Cup. St Mary’s were too strong for TK Bobcats winning 75-33 in the Castleisland Community Centre.
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