Schools Basketball Under-19B Girls Final
Presentation Thurles 76
Colaiste Pobail Setanta 65
Colaiste Pobail Setanta’s Subway Schools Under-19B girls cup final dreams came up just short at the National Basketball Arena on Monday morning as they fell to an 11-point defeat in the decider.
It was Presentation SS that were the first to get points on the board with a fast break lay-up from Anna Dunne in the opening seconds of the game.
MVP Marie Creedon followed suit, and it was her drives to the basket which ultimately proved to be the thorn in the side for Coláiste Pobail Setanta’s defence.
Setanta’s Irish international player Katie Williamson responded with scores of her own to keep the Phibblestown team within reach at the end of the first quarter but Thurles were up five, 14-19.
It was an explosive second quarter start for Setanta with back-to-back threes from both Williamson and Milica Stankovic seeing them turn around a nine-point deficit.
As both sides were tied up at 23 apiece, the tactical introduction of Laura Daly for Pres saw her edge her side out in front once more with a huge three-pointer.
Anna Dunne proved crucial for Presentation as she netted baskets under the board while Marie Creedon’s strong drives to the basket proved troublesome for Setanta.
Despite the huge intensity and energy both sides brought to the quarter, Presentation held a 15-point lead at the end of the third.
Credit is due to Setanta as they never once gave up the fight, scores from Katie Williamson and Teodora Kutijevac saw them claw it back to just eight-points in the final minutes.
However, thanks to the superb offensive display from Creedon and Dunne, Presentation Thurles were crowned winners, 65-76 in the final reckoning.
