Schools

Mar 02 2022

Wins for St Michael’s Listowel, Rathmore GS and Gortnor Abbey in Schools League Finals

There were wins for St. Michael’s Listowel, Rathmore GS and Gortnor Abbey on day two of the Schools League finals at the National Basketball Arena on Wednesday.

St. Michael’s Listowel claimed the U16C Boys Schools League title, defeating Kishoge 60-44.

The Kerry school led 18-10 at the end of the first and stretched their advantage to 11 my half-time, 32-21. They never looked back after that, captain Darragh O’Keeffe top scored for the victors on 23 points on his way to claiming the MVP, while Luke Sheridan (13) and Dermot O’Brien (9) also kept the scoreboard ticking over.

John Carlos Estrella kept Kishoge in contention with a 26 point haul, while Calum Bruce shot 9, and Michee Bueno had 4.

The U16B Schools League final there was joy for Belfast’s Rathmore Grammer School, who defeated Skibbereen 55-38. It was a cagey opening, Skibbereen captain Ruairi Collins converted one of his two free throws to make it 11-8 with three and half minutes to go in the first quarter, but Rathmore pulled away after that, leading 18-10 by the end of the quarter and it was 32-20 at half-time. Jacob Byrne racked up 26 points for the victors and picked up the MVP for his efforts, while Tom Kearney had 11 and Eoghan Sherry 10.

Skibbereen’s standout was Finn Brickley on 20 points, while Sean Connolly scored 9 and Ruairi Collins 5.

In the U19B Boys Schools League Final, it was Mayo’s Gortnor Abbey who emerged 64-39 winners over Limerick’s St Munchins.

Gortnor Abbey, who are coached by former Ballina player and Basketball Ireland Hall of Fame inductee Liam McHale, had another McHale to the fore on the court – nephew Matthew McHale scored 23 points to earn the MVP award.

It was a cagey opening first quarter, Gortnor Abbey just 11-8 in front, but just as with the opening two finals, it was the second quarter where the gap opened up and it was 34-21 by half-time.

Guiu Julian Guiard (17) and Conor Barrett (14) also played pivitol roles in Gortnor Abbey’s win, while for St Munchins their scoring was headed by Patryk Pejowicz (18), Reece Barry (8) and Liam Price (7).