Carrigtwohill CC lift U19 ‘B’ Girls All-Ireland Schools Cup after 47-33 triumph over Coláiste Dún An Rí

Carrigtwohill CC are the U19 ‘B’ Girl All-Ireland Schools Cup champions, after defeating Coláiste Dún An Rí 47-33 at the National Basketball Arena on Wednesday. Ireland underage international Lucy Walsh scored 29 points on her way to MVP for Carrigtwohill.

The first quarter entirely belonged to Walsh, scoring 14 of Carrigtwohill’s 18 points, including six points inside the final minute of the quarter. Two free-throws followed by a fast pull-up on the elbow and then capped off by a superb lay-up off the backboard finished off a big opening period, as Carrigtwohill took an 18-8 lead into the second quarter.

Dún An Rí came roaring back in the next period, opening the quarter with a 9-0 run. including a superb cut and finish by Karina Urbanivicute, to bring the game back to three points, at 18-15, with three minutes gone in the period. A tough shot from the free-throw line from Aoife Kennedy then brought Dún An Rí to just one-point behind midway through the quarter.

 Coláiste Dún An Rí's Karina Urbanivicute battling for possession with Carrigtwohill's Sophia Mulcaire

Carrigtwohill bounced back well and finished the second period strong with a Walsh three extending the lead to ten points at 27-17 with a minute to go. They would take that lead into the half-time interval.

Carrigtwohill started fast in the third quarter, with six points from Maya Finn-Hannon and Walsh giving them a 33-17 advantage in the first minute of the quarter. Urbanivicute hit a quick three in the corner for Dún An Rí midway through the third to make it 33-20. Urbanivicute then hit her second three of the quarter with 15 seconds left on the clock to make it a 12-point game at the end of the third with the score at 37-25 heading into the final quarter.

Walsh and Finn-Hannon continued their stellar performances as a duo for Carrigtwohill in the final quarter, with Finn Hannon hitting a corner three followed by finish inside from Walsh to give Carrigtwohill a 42-28 advantage with four minutes to go.

Walsh would then end the game with free-throws to ensure Carrigtwohill bring home the win 47-33 to crown Carrigtwohill U19 ‘B’ Girls All-Ireland Schools Cup winners.

Quarter Scores:

Q1: 8-18, Q2: 9-9, Q3: 8-10, Q4: 8-10

Game Score:

Q1: 8-18, Q2: 17-27, Q3: 25-37, Q4: 33-47

Coláiste Dún An Rí: Aoife Kennedy, Cáit Hughes, Millie Burns, Karina Urbanivicute, Amy Monaghan, Katherine Higgins, Sarah McAvinney, Erin Shannon, Helena Reilly, Sophie Carroll, Alana Gogarty

Top Scorers: Karina Urbanivicute (11), Erin Shannon (11), Cáit Hughes (4)

Carrigtwohill CC: Lara Balanzin, Rachel Barrett, Sophia Mulcaire, Maya Finn Hannon, Sonia Balanzin, Emily Bernard, Caroline Dobish-Spangler, Claire Crowley, Ellen Cashman, Ella Behan, Lucy Walsh, Angie Jubril

Top Scorers: Lucy Walsh (29), Maya Finn Hannon (16), Sophia Mulcaire (2)