There was no luck for Galway teams at Monday's schools basketball decider with the Gort Community School falling by 57-38 to an impressive Loreto College Crumlin in the Subway U19 B Schools Cup final.
Favourites for the title, Loreto College Crumlin, having already won the U19C league last year, took control from the start. Superb performances from MVP Claire Quinn Nealon, and Niamh and Ciara White proved to be crucial for the team as they opened up a 7-15.
However it was not all one-way traffic. Ciara Helebert stole the show for Gort, proving crucial on both offence and defence, and was the driving force behind her team’s display.
Loreto, however, continued to dominate as the second quarter got underway. Strong defence kept Gort to just five points for the quarter, while the Dubliners stretched their lead to 27-12 at the break.
Gort never gave up but improved in confidence as the game progressed. They really began to shine in quarter three, with Helebert, Ava Lynskey and Olga Burke all stepping up impressively to meet the challenge. However Niamh and Ciara White and Reanne Devlin were determined not to let Loreto’s lead slide, and added more to their tally to see them into the last leading 22-42.
Gort continued to battle hard in the fourth, with Helebert once more leading the way. Good scoring from Kate Tarpey and Ava Lynskey kept the scoreboard ticking over, but it was to be Loreto’s day.
GORT COMMUNITY SCHOOL: Nicola Quirke, Ciara Helebert (18 ), Sarah Slevin, Kate Tarpey (4 ), Lúsaí Kelleher, Edel Nolan (2 ), Rebecca Smyth, Hannah Keenan, Olga Burke (11 ), Ava Lynskey (3 ), Ciara Della Chiesa, Ellie Edge O’Neill, Jacquie Bergin, Lisa Della Chiesa.
LORETO COLLEGE CRUMLIN : Chelsea Whelan, Rebecca Bohan, Ciara White (6 ), Niamh White (9 ), Reanne Devlin (16 ), Claire Quinn Nealon (28 ), Tara Brilly, Taylor Smith.
