Crescent College too strong Presentation Castleisland in All-Ireland U16 'A' Girls Schools League

A hugely impressive defensive performance laid the groundwork for Crescent College Comprehensive’s 52-22 triumph over Presentation Castleisland in Wednesday’s All-Ireland Under 16A Girls Schools League title game in the National Basketball Arena.

Madelyn Hartigan was very effective at both ends of the court for the Limerick side and emerged the game’s top scorer on 16 points, picking up the MVP award for her efforts.

Robyn Walsh, meanwhile, inflicted a lot of the early damage for Crescent as she finished on 15 points with Emma Somers also weighing in significantly with 11 for the winners.

Although it was Presentation Castleisland who were the first to open their account by way of a Laura Noguera Cervantes bucket, Crescent College quickly began to exert a tight grip on proceedings.

Indeed, they kept their opponents scoreless for the remainder of the quarter, during which they served up 11 points, Walsh accounting for all the scores in that surge, which included a superb triple three for the Crescent captain.

Buckets from Somers and Megan Hehir served to carry that momentum into the second quarter for the Limerick side, who pushed their lead out to 17 points (23-6) by the half-time recess.

Walsh served up another deuce before Hehir drained her two efforts from the free-throw line and Hartigan also got in for a bucket.

While Jessie O’Keefe and Ella Greaney did put some more points on the board for Castleisland, the scores were too few and far between for the Kerry team.

They did, however, put up a much improved display in the third, Greaney and Sophia Fleming both striking from the paint while Cervantes landed a nice effort from beyond the arc.

Still Crescent remained well out in front as Somers bagged seven in the third quarter, during which Hehir and Hartigan also added to their tallies.

And, while Castleisland continued to battle away, Crescent signed off with another impressive quarter in which they put up a further 18 points, Hartigan accounting for 12 of those as she really began to make her present felt in the paint.

“Our defence from the start was really effective” remarked Tony Hehir, Crescent College Comprehensive head coach.

“Castleisland are a really good team, but I think they struggled against our defence, and we grew offensively in the game because of that. It really helped us take control of the game.

“This win is huge for basketball in Comp’ and, with Mungret winning earlier today, it’s huge for Limerick basketball to have both the Under 19A and 16A League winners.

“It’s great for the girls coming behind them to see national titles like this coming back to Limerick, so I’m delighted with the win today” he smiled. 

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Quarter Scores: Q1: 11-2, Q2: 23-6, Q3: 34-14, Q4: 52-22

Crescent College Comprehensive:

Emma Somers, Megan Hehir, Éabha Hayes, Muireann Flaherty, Olivia O’Neill, Robyn Walsh (capt), Noella Ryan, Madelyn Hartigan.

Top Scorers: Madelyn Hartigan (16), Robyn Walsh (15), Emma Somers (11).

Head Coach: Tony Hehir

Presentation Castleisland:

Ella Greaney, Katie Crowley, Leah Griffin (capt), Sophia Fleming, Molly Moran, Chloe Collins, Julia Donnegan, Laura Noguera Cervantes, Jesse O’Keefe, Alana Kelliher, Faith Bradley, Emma Mullane, Tessa Reidy, Maria Jones.

Top Scorers: Sophia Fleming (6), Laura Noguera Cervantes (5), Jesse O’Keefe (5).

Head Coach: Miriam Leane

MVP:  Madelyn Hartigan (Crescent College Comprehensive)