Colmcille’s see off brave Castle for schools title
ST COLMCILLE’S Com-munity School saw their first-year basketball team raise the Dublin Schools title following a 36-18 point victory over a brave Drimnagh Castle outfit in the Oblate Hall on Friday.
The Castle, who saw their second-years also just miss out on their respective county title after an agonising 34-31 point loss to Luttrellstown CC, were well in contention through the first half of this contest.
Indeed, while Thomas Nolan hit the first score of the game for Colmcille’s, Drimnagh responded with a number of excellent scores from Captain Greg Marinkovic while Riad Arif worked hard under the boards and Oisín Rooney was excellent in defence.
Yet the Knocklyon side began to get on top in the second quarter with some great attacking play from Oisín Byrne.
At the other end Brad Dijon was dominating the offensive and defensive boards planting two great scores to keep The Castle within touching distance.
Yet Colmcille’s, led by Captain Thomas Nolan who made an excellent three-pointer, began to turn the screw and ran in some easy scores on the fast break through point guard Andrew Moran.
Matters grew worse for Castle when they lost big man Sam Moore to injury, as Nolan, Cian Dunne, Connell McGlynn and Andrew Moran racked up scores for the eventual winners.
Meanwhile in the second-year final Drimnagh Castle, led by Captain Christian Michelena, made a great start and took the lead against Luttrellstown.
Callum Scully was on the end of two assists from the skipper, but their opponents responded with some excellent scores to level it at 10-10 by the end of the first quarter.
Abel Ikhageubor got into early foul trouble and that would come back to haunt Drimnagh Castle who remained tied with their rivals 14-14 by the halftime break.
In the third quarter Conor Barry excelled in defence for Drimnagh who, nevertheless, began to struggle under the pressure of a full court press that helped Luttrellstown into an eight-point advantage late in the fourth quarter.
Still Castle kept battling with Michelena nailing a massive three to leave as much between the sides, but they were unable to completely close the gap as Luttrellstown exacted revenge for last year’s defeat.
Also in action were the St Colmcille’s second-year girls basketball team who were beaten by a solitary point by Coláiste Cois in their decider.
The team were missing players due to school exchanges and despite superb performances by Emma Mullins, Hannah Byrne, Alannah Mongey, Sarah O’Connell, Lucy Horan and Abbey Stacey, they were unable to get the better of a Cois side they had beaten previously in their campaign.
Still the team has qualified for the All-Ireland playoff in Kerry this Saturday, but will again be understrength because of a timing clash with Féile.
