Cahir Junior Boys Basketball team reach All-Ireland Final
On Wednesday the 3rd of February, the junior boy’s basketball team played against St. Geralds Castlebar in the All-Ireland Semi Finals, in Tallaght. The boys had adrenaline flowing through their blood as they entered the NBA hall, and they were determined to win. They were going to give it their all and have no regrets. This is exactly what they did. Dragosh Marginean, Lukas Kairys, Patryk Kowaleski, Mohamed Ismail and Jack Conway started off in the first Quarter and played with ferocity. Dragosh, Lukas and Mohamed defending the basket and taking the ball from their opponent time and time again. Patryk and Jack drove the ball to the basket and scored. At the end of the 1stquarter we were winning 8-6 points.
During the second quarter the scores came closer and closer together. Dominik came on subbing for Mohamed and scored repeatedly. At the end of the second quarter the scores were tied 18-18 points. Castlebar were gritty and came back at the Coláiste. In the third quarter we were determined to create a gap between the scores. Mohamed came back onto the court subbing for Dragosh and we scored basket after basket leaving the final score at the end of the second quarter, 28-20 points to us.
The final quarter was a gripping one. Everyone was on the edge of their seats. After losing Jack to five fouls, Dragosh came back on resuming his position. Our opponents crept up behind us and with 1:30 minutes left the scores were 32-30 points to us. That minute and a half is one the junior boys’ basketball team will never forget. The Coláiste Dún Iascaigh supporters were on their feet roaring, chanting, hitting their bodhráns, hearts racing. Lukas, Dragosh, Dominik, Mohamed and Patryk defended their basket knowing that if the other team scored, it could be the end for them. The most nerve wrecking part of the last minute were the free throws our opponents got. Our supporters made as much noise as they could; our players held their breaths and luckily they missed both free throws. Now two seconds remained left in the game. The buzzer went off and we leapt to our feet, roaring and cheering. The players on the court hugged and cheered in disbelief that they had won. Super coach, Damien Byrne was ecstatic. By the end of the game Dominik had scored 15 points, Patryk 6 points, Lukas 4 points, Jack 4 points and Mohamed 3 points. And so after three years of trying Coláiste Dún Iascaighs junior boys’ basketball team did not only make it to Tallaght; they’ve made it to the All Ireland Finals.
By the end of the game Dominik had scored 15 points, Patryk 6 points, Lukas 4 points, Jack 4 points and Mohamed 3 points.
Team members: Dominic Mlynczak, Adrian Bernacki, Lukas Kairys, Patryk Goluszka, Ciarán Power, Dragosh Marginean, Patryk Kowaleski, Daniel Moga, Jack Conway, Ian Halpin, Dawid Merta, Mohammed Ismail
Colaiste Dun Iascaigh vs Scoil Ruain, Killenaule – Ladies Junior League Basketball 02/10/2015
Cahir’s first match of the season was against their biggest rivals Killenaule but this year Coláiste Dún Iascaigh have a very strong team and were setting out to beat them. The atmosphere was very tense between the two teams to begin with but that soon disappeared. Cahir started off brilliantly with Emily O Donovan (TY) winning the ball for Cahir in the throw up but unfortunately losing the ball for travelling. Cahir retrieve it shortly afterwards but lose it again. Killenaule then got a scoring chance but missed. Cahir get possession again and a foul on Christina Delaney (3rd yr)resulted in Cahir bring awarded 2 free shots. Christina missed the first but scored the second. Shortly after Killenaule also got 2 free shots, they missed both but came back with a basket. Neither of the teams scored after that in the 1st quarter. The score after the first quarter was 2:2. The game started off again after the 5 minutes but it looked like the break was in Killenaule’s favour as they were quick to score a basket. Thankfully Rachel Doyle (TY)scored a brilliant basket straight after. Next Cahir got awarded 2 free shots but sadly missed both. The score at half time was Cahir 6 – 3 Killenaule. The next quarter started off brilliantly for the Coláiste with Rachel O Donnell (TY)scoring after just being put on. She then scored another brilliant basket shortly afterwards from a very awkward angle. Victoria Kopak (2nd yr) then came on for Christina and scored a wonderful two-pointer. Killenaule shortly afterwards call a time out to regroup themselves as Cahir were on fire. The game resumed with Killeanaule scoring a basket immediately but Cahir reacted with a fantastic basket by Andrea O Donnell (TY).
The last quarter of the match started great for Cahir with Victoria scoring a lovely basket. Sarah Burke (TY) then scored a cracker of a basket making it 16-10. Rachel Doyle then returned to the court and scored a basket using a brilliant layup. Killenaule then take yet another break which helped them to get another basket once play resumed. But Rachel Doyle scored yet again. Immediately afterwards Rachel O Donnell scored an impressive basket. After a long period of time Killenaule scored but it was too late for the Scoil Ruain team to come back. Colaiste Dun Iascaigh won their first ever league match in 10 years with the final result Cahir 26 – Killenaule 16. Congratulations to Cahir and their coach Ms A. Maher, all of their hard work has paid off. Hopefully this is the start of a new trend.
Report by Caoimhe Quinn
