Fitzgerald’s overtime winner sees St. Flannan’s College pip St. Attracta’s in All-Ireland Under 16C Girls Schools League Final

It proved the most dramatic close to the opening day of the All-Ireland Schools League Finals in the National Basketball Arena on Tuesday, as a late bucket from captain, Covenant Joy Fitzgerald saw St. Flannan’s College clinch a thrilling 41-40 victory in the Under 16C Girls Final, breaking the hearts of a gallant St. Attracta’s team.

The decisive score took Fitzgerald’s total on the day to 18 points and saw her scoop the MVP award, as St. Attracta’s were left nursing the pain an extremely tough loss.

Rachel Frain equalled Fitzgerald’s game-high tally for Attracta’s, whose captain, Siofra McGuinness also served up some huge buckets on her way to a haul of 17, but they just fell short, as Fitzgerald made the most of a crucial offensive rebound to see her team prevail.

A free-throw from Fitzgerald, along with a Derrin Healy deuce, had St. Flannan’s out of the traps first in this final, but it was Attracta’s who led by the narrowest of margins (8-7) at the close of the first quarter.

Again St. Flannan’s made the brighter start when they returned to the court, Aine Omoifo and Fitzgerald propelling them back in front, but Attracta’s remained right on their heels.

Two buckets from Frain and another deuce from McGuinness had the game tied up again, and while the latter edged the Ennis side ahead again, Frain got in right on the buzzer to leave the contest on a knife-edge at 16 points apiece at the break.

Five unanswered points in the third quarter through Nicole Brett and McGuinness saw Attracta’s retake the lead.

And while Fitzgerald got St. Flannan’s moving again with points from the floor and free-throw line, it was the Sligo side who took a 25-21 cushion into the final period.

With two-and-a-half minutes gone in the fourth, St. Flannan’s were facing a five-point deficit, but they began working their way back as Derrin Healy, Aine Omoifo and Fitzgerald all struck from the paint to see the Clare side overtake by three with just 42 seconds left on the clock.

That, however, was still enough time for McGuinness to produce a speculator three and send the game to overtime.

Again St. Flannan’s nudged in front when Omoifo landed another basket and one from the free-throw line, but St Attracta’s hit back through Orlaith Scanlon and McGuinness to move two ahead with 32 seconds remaining.

The Ennis side was, however, handed a lifeline when Omoifo drew a foul and went to the line with nine seconds to go, converting the first of her two free throws.

And, while her second rolled off, Fitzgerald was perfectly placed to mop up the rebound and put it back for a dramatic winning score.

“I went through a rollercoaster of emotions in that game, but I’m absolutely delighted for all the girls” said Darren Scully, St. Flannan’s College head coach.

“They’ve worked so hard over the whole year and I had full belief, and they had full belief in themselves, that they could win this game.

“We’ve talked a lot about the mental game, about how we don’t ever want to drop our heads and how we want to keep going, because we know we’re good enough to win any game.

“Big players step up at big moments and I knew we had a lot of big players out there, and any one of them could have stepped up. It was just in that moment, Covenant was the one.

“St. Attracta’s are an excellent team and to beat them, and the way that we did it, it was the perfect end to our season at Under 16” he smiled.

 

Quarter Scores: Q1: 7-8, Q2: 16-16, Q3: 21-25, Q4: 33-33, P5: 41-40

 

St. Flannan’s College:

Sophie Nagle, Aoibhinn McMahon, Sara Teodorowicz, Covenant Joy Fitzgerald (capt), Kayla Moylan, Kadi Diallo, Derrin Healy, Aine Omoifo, Caoimhe Ryan, Chloe McArdle.

Top Scorers: Covenant Joy Fitzgerald (18), Aine Omoifo (9), Derrin Healy (6).

Head Coach: Darren Scully

 

St. Attracta’s Community School:

Kate Taaffe, Sarah Kelly, Siofra McGuinness (capt), Nicole Brett, Alannah Murtagh, Rachel Frain, Amy Vesey, Emer McGuinn, Maebh Kelly, Orlaith Scanlon.

Top Scorers: Rachel Frain (18), Siofra McGuinness (17), Nicole Brett (3)

Head Coach: Anne Brett

 

MVP:  Covenant Joy Fitzgerald (St. Flannan’s College)