OLSS vs Kilkenny Final

Heartbreak for our u19 girls basketball team as they lose out by 1 basket in the All Ireland Cup Final.

It was a very proud day on January 16th as our U19 girls captained by Niamh Flanagan 6th year, set off at 6:30am to the national arena in Tallaght for their All Ireland Final. This is the first time in 20 years that our school have reached an U19A final and there was great excitement around the school in the lead up to the game. Having defeated reigning champions Virginia in the semi-final in December, the girls now faced a tough opposition in Presentation Secondary School Kilkenny. Almost 400 supporters from our school travelled to the game and many more family and friends from the wider community.

When the game started the girls took an early two-point lead but a back-to-back two and three pointer from Aoibhin Dunphy had Presentation Kilkenny going into the first timeout of the game with a 5-2 lead, Gemma Lawlor added two points at the end of the quarter to give Presentation Kilkenny a 7-2 advantage entering the 2nd quarter. 

Presentation Kilkenny began to pull away in the 2nd quarter with Aobhin Dunphy and Gemma Lawlor at the forefront of the scoring – allowing their side to enter the halfway mark with a 13-point lead, 21-8. OLSS had many opportunities but failed to convert them to scores.

OLSS mounted a comeback in the early stages of the 3rd quarter, with captain Niamh Flanagan scoring 13 points, including two 3-pointers. This proved not to be enough as Gemma Lawlor matched the intensity with nine points of her own. The girls having been down many times in games previous to this did not drop their heads and fought hard until the very end. Niamh Flanagan but on a strong offensive display and added 14 points to the board. With 43 seconds left, OLSS where down by 10 but staged a late charge but eventually ran out of time and where beaten by 3. Final score OLSS 46 Kilkenny 49.

On return to school the girls were greeted by the whole school who lined the halls and applauded them through the building. A very disappointing result for the girls, especially our 6th Years who have contributed so much to Basketball in OLSS over their time here.

The girls should be very proud of an unbelievable achievement to reach an A final and special mention to the wonderful supporters who drove the girls on throughout the game.

Quarter Scores: 

Q1: 2-7, Q2: 6-14, Q3: 17-20, Q4: 21-49

OLSS Team:

Aoibhe Clarke, Niamh Kelly, Niamh Flanagan (Captain), Edel Murphy, Alison Gilliand, Katie Glynn, Ashlinn Hughes, Laura Grimes, Caoimhe Kelly, Dervla Cawley, Aimee Donnelly, Kellie Murtagh, Mia Gorman, Tara Reneghan, Anabelle Bogue, Aimme Hughes, Eimear O Neill, Mary Kate Black

Coaches: 

Zoe Brady and Catriona O Doherty

Top Scorers: 

Niamh Flanagan (29), Katie Glynn (11), Alison Gilliand (4).