Presentation Kilkenny overcome OLSS Castleblaney challenge to secure All-Ireland Under 19A Girls Schools Cup Final crown

An impressive 21-point haul from game MVP and Presentation Kilkenny captain Gemma Lawlor helped Presentation Kilkenny secure the All-Ireland U19A Girls Schools Cup crown after they overcame tough opposition OLSS Castleblaney, securing a 49-46 win at the National Basketball Arena.

OLSS Castleblaney took an early two-point lead but a back-to-back two and three pointer from Aoibhin Dunphy had Presentation Kilkenny going into the first timeout of the game with a 5-2 lead, Gemma Lawlor added two points at the end of the quarter to give Presentation Kilkenny a 7-2 advantage entering the 2^nd quarter. 

Presentation Kilkenny began to pull away in the 2^nd quarter, with Aobhin Dunphy and Gemma Lawlor at the forefront of the scoring – allowing their side to enter the halfway mark with a 13-point lead, 21-8. 

OLSS Castleblaney mounted a comeback in the early stages of the 3^rd quarter, with captain Niamh Flanagan scoring 13 points, including two 3-pointers. This proved not to be enough as Gemma Lawlor matched the intensity with nine points of her own.

OLSS Castleblaney attacked strongly in the last quarter, led by Niamh Flanagan’s 14 points, although it was not enough to put them back in front. Gemma Lawlor hit a three-pointer towards the end of the game which secured the win for the Kilkenny side.

Presentation Kilkenny Head Coach Puff Summers was delighted with the win,“It means everything, I’m a little emotional here at the end. Obviously to win on the final day and everybody is happy about this but they don’t understand what goes into this, especially the 6th Year girls who’ve been there from Day 1. To be a part of it with my own daughter being part of it [too], it’s unreal.”

 

Quarter Scores: Q1: 2-7, Q2: 8-21, Q3: 25-41, Q4: 46-49

 

OLSS Castleblaney:

Aoibhe Clarke, Niamh Kelly, Niamh Flanagan, Edel Murphy, Alison Gilliand, Katie Glynn, Ashlinn Hughes, Laura Grimes, Dervla Cawley, Aimee Donnelly, Kellie Murtagh, Mia Gorman, Tara Reneghan, Anabelle Bogue, Aimme Hughes.

Head Coach: Zoe Brady

Top Scorers: Niamh Flanagan (29), Katie Glynn (11), Alison Gilliand (4).

 

Presentation Kilkenny:

Lucy Coomey, Aoibhin Dunphy, Gemma Lawlor, Clodagh O’Neill, Valerija Dovbijenko, Roisin Leahy, Aoibh Lawlor, Ruby Egan, Tara Kovarova, Kaitlyn Summers, Aoibheann Walsh. 

Head Coach: Puff Summers

Top Scorers: Gemma Lawlor (21), Aoibhin Dunphy (15), Clodagh O’Neill (5).

MVP: Gemma Lawlor

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