Kildare Town win 62-53 against Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh to win U19 ‘B’ Boys All-Ireland Schools Cup

Kildare Town clinched the U19 ‘B’ Boys All-Ireland Schools Cup beating Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh 62-53 at the National Basketball Arena on Wednesday. Charlie Dunny led the way with 21 points on his way to the MVP award for Kildare Town.

In the first quarter, Kildare Town started fast, they had a 7-2 lead with just over two minutes gone thanks to two quick scores from Grantas Piekus.

An Spioraid Naoimh responded in a big way, with three consecutive threes made in a minute by Joshua Barry, Fionan Nagle and Hugo Medina, giving them an 11-10 advantage with four minutes to go. As the quarter winded down, Medina and Nagle made a free-throw each to send An Spioraid Naoimh into the second quarter ahead 19-15.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Basketball Ireland (@basketball_ireland)

Kildare Town bounced back in the second period, David Cajocaru hit a three on the wing to cut the deficit to two-points, at 23-21, with five minutes left in the period.

In the last 90 seconds of the quarter, a Cillian Ajimokun finish inside, followed by Dunny scoring a layup through contact with 30 seconds left gave Kildare Town the edge at 31-30 going into half-time.

Dunny and Ajimokun continued their scoring form in the third quarter, with five Dunny points and a great pass to Ajimokun under the rim in the space of a minute, which gave Kildare Town a 38-34 advantage midway through the third.

The third would end with Charlie Twomey recovering a loose ball and finishing at the rim with 20 seconds left and An Spioraid Naoimh would go in to the final quarter down just six points, trailing 43-37.

 Kildare Town's Charlie Dunny celebrating on the court in the U19 'B' Boys All-Ireland Schools Cup final in the National Basketball Arena

Both sides started the fourth quarter trading baskets, with a Nagle three being answered with a Dunny three to make it 46-40 to Kildare Town with two minutes gone in the fourth.

As the final quarter wore down, Kildare Town started to stretch away with five points in the final 30 seconds. Piekas’ finish off the backboard was followed by Ajimokun scoring inside and making a free-throw to give Kildare Town a nine-point victory.

Quarter Scores:

Q1: 15-19, Q2: 16-11, Q3: 12-7, Q4: 19-16

Game Scores:

Q1: 15-19, Q2: 31-30, Q3: 43-37, Q4: 62-53

Kildare Town: Konrad Bors, Riccardo Garofalo, Zachary Sobkowicz, Gabriel Corcodel, Liam Flynn, Charlie Dunny, Cillian Ajimokun, Grantas Pickus, David Cojocaru, Joel Frost, Caleb Frost, Gabriele Garofalo, Alex Farnan, Joshua Obembe, Unubold Oyunbold,  

Top Scorers: Charlie Dunny (21), Cillian Ajimokun (13), Grantas Pickus (11)

Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh: Josh O’Shea, Ryan Otto, Evan O’Connor, Fionan Nagle, Joshua Barry, Sean Walsh, Hugo Medina, Diarmuid Coffey, Charlie Twomey, Luke Ryan

Top Scorers: Fionan Nagle (22), Joshua Barry (10), Hugo Medina (8)