Pocevicius lights the way for O’Carolan College in All-Ireland Under 19C Boys Schools Cup

Gustas Pocevicius  struck from everywhere on the court as he amassed 28 points to light the way to a 52-45 success for O’Carolan College over a gutsy Scoil Chaitríona team when the two sides locked horns in the 2024/25 All-Ireland Under 19C Boys Schools Cup decider in the National Basketball Arena in Thursday.

Having, only the previous Sunday, helped Dundalk Ravens to victory over Limerick Celtics in the Under 20 National Cup decider, the O’Carolan captain was back in Tallaght to do the business for his school with another superb display that also earned him the game MVP award.

This victory went some way to assuaging the pain of O’Carolan’s agonising one-point loss to St Kilian’s German School in the All-Ireland Under 16C Boys Cup decider earlier in the day.

But they were certainly made work for it by a Scoil Chaitríona outfit that boasted some big hitters of their own, including captain, Seán O’Móráin who emerged from this hard-fought encounter with 21 points to his name.

O’Carolan hit the ground running in this title game, Pocevicius landing a deuce and Joey Curtis striking from beyond the arc before their opponents opened their account, courtesy of Mark Mac Eochagáin who also served up a three.

The Meath side kept it lit with a further two downtown buckets in quick succession from Pocevicius and Gearoid O’Malley to leave eight between the sides, although Scoil Chaitríona narrowed that gap slightly to five by the close of the first quarter after O’Móráin drained efforts from the floor and free-throw line.

A strong start to the second saw Scoil Chaitríona battle their way back on to level terms at 14 points apiece when Mac Eochagáin delivered buckets either side of a Tadhg Ó Ceileachair deuce.

O’Carolan did get going again when Curtis and O’Malley struck in the paint only to see parity again restored when O’Móráin and Mac Eochagáin responded in kind down the other end of the court.

The Nobber outfit continued to try and break clear, but Scoil Chaitríona were not affording them much distance with only two points separating them at the break, Pocevicius draining buckets from both sides of the arc to see his side 23-21 up heading into the second half.

An eight-point run early in the third, however, did see O’Carolan take a grip on proceedings Pocevicius making three from the free-throw line, while O’Malley picked up the same amount with his effort from range.

Scoil Chaitríona continued to battle hard to stay in touch, but a buzzer-beating three from Pocevicius dealt them a heavy blow as O’Carolan ended the third with an 11-point advantage (42-31) and their supporters very much in full voice.

But the Dublin side, who were themselves backed by strong support, were never going to throw in the towel and reduced their arrears to five with 1.21 left on the clock, Ó Ceileachair finding the target from both sides of the arc.

O’Carolan, however, regained their poise down that stretch as the two team captains Pocevicius and O’Móráin exchanged threes before the former took two from the free-throw line to ensure victory for his side.

“We came up against a very good Scoil Chaitríona team, but the lads dug deep” remarked O’Carolan College head coach, Jonathan Irwin.

“There’s only two club players on our team, but the rest of the lads have really risen to the occasion.

“We’re relying on lads who just have that grit and determination, just true O’Carolan College spirit that just pushed them through in the end” he said. 

Quarter Scores: Q1: 14-8, Q2: 23-21, Q3: 42-31, Q4: 52-45

O’Carolan College:

Ciaran O’Hare, Gearoid O’Malley, Aaron Lanney, Gustas Pocevicius (capt), Eoin Gilsenan, Ronan Cassidy, Lukas Pocevicius, Daithi McGovern, Andrew McGovern, Leon McGovern, Joey Curtis, Diarmuid O’Malley, Sean Gillespie, Daire Lynch.

Top Scorers: Gustas Pocevicius (28), Gearoid O’Malley (12), Joey Curtis (7)

Head Coach: Jonathan Irwin

Scoil Chaitríona:

Tadhg Ó Ceileachair, Oscar Ó Giollagáin, Oscar Ó Broin, Seán O’Móráin (capt), Mark Mac Eochagáin, Leo Canoine, Dara Ó Cinnéide, Ryan Ó Raghallaigh, Jacob MacAdam, Bailey Mac Liam, Darragh O Muirí.

Top Scorers: Seán O’Móráin (21), Tadhg Ó Ceileachair (11), Mark Mac Eochagáin (11)

Head Coach: Tanya Ní Uiginn 

MVP: Gustas Pocevicius (O’Carolan College)