Calasanctius College clinch 51-49 win over Mungret CC in All-Ireland Under 19A Girls Schools Cup Final

All-Ireland Schools Cup Final week in the National Basketball Arena opened with a thriller on Tuesday morning as Calasanctius College clinched a dramatic 51-49 victory over Mungret Community College in the Under 19A Girls decider, MVP Cara Cormican producing a stunning three-pointer with 23 seconds remaining to effectively see them over the line.

Mungret, who had been playing catch-up all the way through this title game, threatened to pip their Oranmore opponents when Emer Purtill nudged them in front for the first time with just over a minute to go, but Calasanctius maintained their poise to regain the lead down the stretch.

It was basket for basket throughout the opening four minutes of this decider, Aisling Jordan putting up four early points for Calasanctius, while Méabh Purtill responded in kind for Mungret.

Calasanctius did take the next six to open up a little breathing room, but their Limerick opponents reduced their arrears to two (12-10) by the close of the opening period when Emer Purtill and Abbey Nealon battled through on the inside.

Méabh Purtill had that down to one just over a minute into the second period when she chalked up an ‘and one’, but Calasanctius’ responded strongly with a seven-point run that featured a nice three from Cormican.

Emer Purtill got the scoreboard ticking again for Mungret, and while Calasanctius did remain out in front, a big three by Nealon in the closing 30 seconds of the first half left just four between the sides at the break (27-23).

The Oranmore side were made to work hard to preserve their narrow advantage when they returned to the court, Jordan and Laoise McDonagh making important layups for her side.

But Mungret kept chipping away and when Anna Nealon followed up on Laura Gocek’s bucket with two from the free-throw line, the sides are all square at 34 points apiece.

Cormican did get in for a deuce to help see Calasanctius re-establish a two-point lead (37-35) by the close of the third quarter, but Mungret remained hot on the heels of their Galway rivals, and when Gocek landed two huge shots from downtown, the sides were deadlocked once more at 43 points apiece with just over three minutes left on the clock.

There was no doubting this game would produce a sensational finish, and so it proved, as Emer Purtill nudged Mungret in front for the very first time in the game, only to see Cormican serve up a monster three with 23 seconds to go.

The Oranmore side still had work to do, but when Jordan won a crucial turnover and then drew a foul to take another point from the free-throw line, Calasanctius had done enough to clinch the coveted prize.

Speaking after the full-time buzzer a delighted Calasanctius head coach, Mary Rockall exclaimed “I’m just so proud of the girls. They’ve worked so hard.

“That was a really tough game. Mungret are a great team and they really put it up to us.

“We lost the lead in the fourth quarter, but the girls had the character to come back. I’m just delighted for them” she said.

Quarter Scores: Q1: 12-10, Q2: 27-23, Q3: 37-35, Q4: 51-49

Calasanctius College:

Laoise McDonagh, Labhaoise Keane, Isabelle Schumacher, Karolina Gierzal, Lauren McGranaghan, Cara Cormican, Jessica Ross, Kate Burke (co-capt), Aisling Jordan (co-capt).

Top Scorers: Cara Cormican (14), Aisling Jordan (12), Laoise McDonagh (10).

Head Coach: Mary Rockall

Mungret Community College:

Emer Purtill, Jade You (co-capt), Laura Gocek, Anna Nealon, Jennifer Keane, Niamh Sweeney, Abbey Nealon, Caoimhe Sweeney (co-capt), Kay You, Holly Meagher, Méabh Purtill, Rachel Walsh, Alva Duffy.

Top Scorers: Abbey Nealon (14), Méabh Purtill (13), Emer Purtill (10)

Head Coach: Aoife Donovan 

MVP: Cara Cormican (Calasanctius College)