Successive AIG U16 All-Ireland Club titles for Limerick Celtics, as Sligo and Queens also reign supreme

The celebrations will continue for Limerick Celtics, Sligo All-Stars and Queens BC this morning, as they took home silverware from the AIG U16 Girls All-Ireland Club Championships in Gormanston on Sunday afternoon - with Celtics making it back-to-back 'A' titles at this grade in an overtime thriller. 

Limerick Celtics - 'A' Division

Sligo All-Stars - 'B' Division 

Queens BC - 'C' Division

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A precursor to the 'A' final took place in the final Group 1 contest on Saturday, as the then unbeaten Limerick Celtics and Dublin Lions faced off for top spot in the table. Both had dispatched St. Mary's and Portlaoise Panthers respectively in their previous two games - setting up the winner take all game which lived up to expectations. Trailing by three entering the fourth quarter, Dublin Lions co-captain Aoife Courtney came out hitting a big three to bring her side level - initiating an 11-3 run that would see Lions leapfrog Celtics and take a five-point win over the defending champions. 

Hard fought wins against Cavan Eagles, Meteors BC, Glanmire BC and Kilkenny Stars in the knockout rounds set up the rematch for 4:30pm on Sunday and once more, both teams served up an incredible game. 

Overtime was required to seperate them. Lions co-captain Aoife Courtney showed her leadership skills on the big stage - hitting 11 points to go with nine points from Klaudija Brence, seven points by Mia Dunne and five through the club's other co-captain Avie-Leigh McGonagle. It just wasn't enough though. Emma Ryan's clutch three with just under two minutes to go in regulation brought the game to the extra period, where Limerick Celtics managed to take over. 

A 7-1 run, started by top-scorer Robyn Walsh and culminating in another three-point dagger from Ryan, proved to be the difference. Siun Kelly, Megan Hehir and Emma Somers also made big contributions as the club made it successive AIG U16 Girls AICC titles. 

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The Sligo All-Stars side which won the AIG U16 Girls All-Ireland Club Championship in Gormanston, Co. Meath on Sunday afternoon. 

Sligo All-Stars had to overcome adversity in the group stages as they took the 'B' Division title back to the North West. A 62-17 success over Donegal Town to start proceedings on Saturday was the bright spot, as they would slip to defeats against eventual 'A' Division semi-finalists Kilkenny Stars and a tough 35-34 loss to Limerick Sport Huskies to leave them in third-place in the standings at the close of play on day one. 

A rematch with Huskies awaited in the last eight - where 20 points from Lile Kelly and a further nine by Blaithin O'Meara saw them advance on a 44-29 scoreline. That duo combined for a 36 point haul at the semi-final stage, as All-Stars saw off another rival from the West, Maree BC by 12-points to reach the decider against a strong Brunell BC outfit.

The Cork club has survived tough knockout games against Clare Comets and Portlaoise Panthers to reach the final. Saoirse O'Driscoll, Ava O'Mahony and Elllie Horgan were crucial on that run and they were to the fore once more - combining for 27 of the team's 34 point total in the final. It was to be Sligo All-Stars day though. Kelly took over from the outset on her way to a 26-point total including a trifecta of three-pointers. Femi Osho, Abby Giblin and Blaithin O'Meara also showed up big in the boxscore as they ran out 48-34 victors. 

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Katie Napier was the star of the show for Queens Basketball Club in the 'C' Division Final as she struck 21-points in their success over Donegal Town. Alice McAdam added a further 14-points for the winners, while Amy Doherty, Romy Byrne and Elsie McAllister registered 10-points, five points and four points respectively for Donegal. 

Both teams had strong performances in the knockout rounds - Donegal Town had the honour of taking down last year's champions Athlone BC 38-23 at the semi-final stage, while Queens knocked out Longford Phoenix and Tramore BC en route to the final.