On the road for the second Friday on the trot, Mustangs saddled up for the trip to Strokestown last Friday night, to play the defending league and cup champions, Warriors. Warriors were undefeated in the league last season and maintained their undefeated claim until this Mustangs team rode into the Strokestown Sports Complex last Friday.
Although Mustangs had previously beaten the Warriors side in the pre season tournament in Longford, it was always going to be a battle royal. This game was a test of the true mettle of this newly formed Mustang team. Warriors played a very physical game from the tip off and with four players fouled out, they only managed to close out the extra time game with four players on the court. Siobhan Kilkenny was fouled 19 times in this game and went to the free throw line 14 times scoring 22 from 24 free throws.
But despite the best efforts of the Warriors, Mustangs led at the end of the first quarter by 23-19, with player coach Siobhan Kilkenny on 18 points. Kilkenny sustained a shoulder injury at the end of the second quarter and the Mustang squad stepped up with Ciara Griffin scoring a massive 10 points in the third quarter and Mustangs finishing the third leading 58-48. Mustangs battled well collectively throughout this game and the team will have grown together greatly as a result. And although full time saw both sides on 68 points apiece, Warriors could simply not handle the fitness of the Mustangs side in the extra time and Mustangs ran home on a final scoreline of 80-74 with coach Kilkenny finishing on a personal high tally of 54 points which included five three pointers.
Mustang scorers: Siobhan Kilkenny 54pts, Ciara Griffin 14pts, Karen Mulherin 5pts, Sinead Hughes 3pts, Fiona Feeney 2pts, Grainne Flynn 2pts. Mustangs' next game is at home to Mohill in De la Salle on Tuesday, November 7 with tip off at 8.15pm
