Tralee Magic turn up the heat in second half to edge East Cavan Eagles 61-53 in Ken Clarke Under 20 National Cup decider

A big second half performance saw Tralee Magic turn a six-point deficit into an eight-point victory (61-53) over East Cavan Eagles when the two sides locked horns in the Ken Clarke Under 20 Women’s National Cup Final in the National Basketball Arena on Monday.

Game MVP, Mary Kate Smith and Muireann Tehan combined for 23 points and 15 rebounds, while Holly O’Brien also finished in double digits with 11 points for Tralee, who crucially managed to restrict their opponents to eight in the third period.

That increased intensity in defence was very much needed to counter the colossal threat posed by Emma Tolan, who still managed to record a superb double double of 27 points and 17 rebounds, along with four assists for Cavan on the day.

The two sides went toe-to-toe for much of this game, Cavan opening up a four-point lead by the end of the first quarter, during which Tolan and Laura McFarland, together, chalked up 11 points, with four from Kelly Fitzgerald and a Priya O’Donovan treble keeping Tralee very much in touch.

Tolan maintained a steady supply for Eagles in the second quarter, while Caitlin Carroll also picked up some valuable buckets and rebounds to help propel their side six points up (31-25) by the half-time interval.

Yet Tralee set about working their way back in the second half, opening the third quarter with an eight-point run that included timely scores from Holly O’Brien.

A free throw from Sinead Kelly got Cavan motoring again, signalling the start of a huge arm wrestle that saw the sides deadlocked two more times in that penultimate period, with only a free-throw from Tralee’s Mary Kate Smith separating them heading into the final quarter (40-39).

Tolan went off in the fourth, putting up 11 points to help keep Cavan very much in the reckoning as they drew level at 45 points apiece with just over seven minutes remaining.

But Tralee managed to hold their nerve over the closing minutes, helped no end, by some solid scoring from O’Brien, Tehan, O’Donovan and Emily Flynn that saw them open up a little breathing room down the stretch.

“That was a very tough struggle” admitted Tralee Magic head coach, Tomás O’Hanlon after the game.

“We came up really as underdogs I felt, but we had a lot of work done over the last few months. I thought our defence throughout the whole game was outstanding.

“To hold that really good Cavan team to 53 points, I think gave us a chance to win it and we’re just so happy going home to Kerry having won this one” he said.

 

Quarter Scores: Q1: 12-16, Q2: 13-15, Q3: 15-8, Q4: 21-14

Game Scores: Q1: 12-16, Q2: 25-31, Q3: 40-39, Q4: 61-53 

Tralee Magic:

Orla O’Mahony (0), Holly O’Brien (11), Rachel Creedon (4), Niamh Collins (0), Lucy O’Donnell (0), Grace Lucid (3), Muireann Tehan (12), Mary Kate Smith (11), Anna O’Sullivan (0), Kelly Fitzgerald (6), Emily Flynn (6), Priya O’Donovan (8).

East Cavan Eagles:

Alicia Bourgoin (0), Cora McDonnell (2), Agota Budrikyte (0), Ciara Brady (2), Katelyn McElhinney (6), Emma Tolan (27), Caitlin Carroll (8), Eabha Hayes (0), Sinead Kelly (4), Kayleigh O’Dowd (0), Laura McFarland (4). 

MVP:  Mary Kate Smith (Tralee Magic)