League and cup double for Moyler U19s

MOYLE Park College made it a league and cup double, adding the U19 ‘B’ All-Ireland League trophy to their Pinergy U19 ‘B’ All-Ireland Schools Cup win earlier this season.

The Clondalkin side had to dig deep, eventually seeing off St Michael’s College Listowel 67-52 at the National Basketball Arena.

Both teams went score for score to start the contest, energising a packed crowd in the process.

Michael O’Connor and Irish 3×3 U17 international Jake Mullins orchestrated the Moyle Park offense.

O’Connor found his range from three, finishing as the game’s top scorer with 25 points, 12 of those coming from beyond the arc.

Mullins meanwhile stacked up the assists through some smart drive and kick plays.

18-14 in Moyle Park College’s favour after the first quarter.

Moyle Park didn’t have it all their own way in the first half though.

St Michael’s College Listowel upped the tempo in the second period, rebounding very strongly before unleashing Luke Sheridan and Darragh O’Keefe to great effect.

The half ended with back-to-back baskets from Mikey Kelly and Darragh O’Keefe, completing a turnaround for the Kerry school, which would leave them 32-28 to the good at the break.

The third quarter belonged to the Clondalkin side.

Jake Mullins took over, scoring 9 of his 16 points at crucial moments.

In truth it was a 13-2 run between 5:06 and the end of this quarter which St Michael’s coach Lorraine Scanlon will look back on ruefully.

Her team were never able to fully regain momentum despite a spirited effort.

Buoyed by an animated crowd, St Michael’s College fought to reduce the 13-point deficit that had amassed by the end of the third.

Jack Chute’s jumper with just over three minutes left on the clock cut the gap to 9 points, but they couldn’t make any further inroads as time expired.