Moyle Park College complete U19 'B' All-Ireland Schools league and cup double

Moyle Park College made it a league and cup double, adding the U19 ‘B’ All-Ireland League trophy to their Pinergy U19 ‘B’ All-Ireland Schools Cup win earlier this season. They had to dig deep, eventually seeing off St. Michaels College Listowel 67-52 at the National Basketball Arena. 

Both teams went score for score to start the contest, energising a packed crowd in the process. Michael O’Connor and Irish 3x3 U17 international Jake Mullins orchestrated the Moyle Park offense. O’Connor found his range from three, finishing as the game’s top scorer with 25 points, 12 of those coming from beyond the arc. Mullins meanwhile stacked up the assists through some smart drive and kick plays. 18-14 in Moyle Park College’s favour after the first quarter.

They didn’t have it all their own way in the first-half though. St. Michaels College Listowel upped the tempo in the second period, rebounding very strongly before unleashing Luke Sheridan and Darragh O’Keefe to great effect. The half ended with back-to-back baskets from Mikey Kelly and Darragh O’Keefe, completing a turnaround for the Kerry school, which would leave them 32-28 to the good at the break.

The third quarter belonged to Moyle Park College. Jake Mullins took over, scoring 9 of his 16 points at crucial moments. In truth it was a 13-2 run between 5:06 and the end of this quarter which St. Michaels coach Lorraine Scanlon will look back on ruefully. Her team were never able to fully regain momentum despite a spirited effort. 

Buoyed back an animated crowd, St. Michaels College fought to reduce the 13 point deficit that had amassed by the end of the third. Jack Chute’s jumper with just over three minutes left on the clock cut the gap to 9 points, but they couldn’t make any further inroads as time expired.

The day belonged to Moyle Park College, their second trophy of the season, completing a 15-0 record as a result.

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Quarter Scores:  

Q1: 18-14

Q2: 10-18

Q3: 23-8

Q4: 16-12

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Top Scorers: 

Moyle Park: Michael O’Connor (25), Jake Mullins (16), Rokas Liucvaikis (16).

St. Michaels College, Listowel: Luke Sheridan (16), Darragh O’Keefe, Mikey Kelly, Jack Chute all (10).

Moyle Park:

Nicholas Dinca, Dara Rafter, Rokas Liucvaikis, Michael O’Connor, Janis OSS, Jake Mullins, Arturs Kornejevs, Jamie Conway, Dainius Mika, Aidan Quinn, Ridhwan Atoro, Michael Agbomere, Roberts Dremakovs, Claude Hemedy, Oskars Ravejs.

Coach: Alan Gregg

Ass. Coach: Carmel Roche

St. Michaels College, Listowel:

Jack Sheehy, Joe O’Connell, Dermot O’Brien, Mike Galvin, JD Cotter, Luke Sheridan, Jack Chute, Eoghan Dowling, Ben Carey, Aidan Chute, Mikey Kelly, Darragh O’Keefe. 

Coach: Lorraine Scanlon

Ass. Coach: N/A