Calasanctius College's dreams of winning a Cup/League double were dashed by Mungret Community College in a gripping All-Ireland Under 19A Girls Schools League Final in the National Basketball Arena on Wednesday.
The 40-38 victory was made all the more sweet for the Limerick side given that they had suffered an equally narrow defeat at the hands of the same opposition in last month’s Under 19A Cup decider.
While Aisling Jordan and Laoise McDonagh served up a combined 26 points for Calasanctius, a superb defensive display, along with a 14-point haul, saw Mungret’s Méabh Purtill pick up the game MVP award.
Mungret were off the mark when Abbey Nealon and Purtill each served up a deuce, and they managed to maintain that early momentum despite Kate Burke getting in for a Calasanctius score.
Indeed, the Limerick side responded with nine unanswered points as Emer Purtill drained two free throws before Jade You, Méabh Purtill and Nealon struck from the floor, the latter serving up a sublime three.
Calasanctius did produce a solid finish to the opening quarter as Jessica Ross and Laoise McDonagh carded buckets to reduce their arrears to seven (15-8).
Mungret managed to keep their opponents at bay throughout the second quarter as Méabh Purtill worked her way in on a couple more occasions and Nealon landed a big score from outside the arc.
Calasanctius, nevertheless, still had their opponents in the crosshairs thanks to crucial scores from Laoise McDonagh, Cara Cormican, Jordan and Burke.
And an eight-point run in the third quarter, all of which came from Jordan, hauled them right back to within just a solitary point of their Limerick rivals.
A timely three by Jade You, along with a deuce from Maéve Purtill, prevented Mungret from buckling and saw them take a delicate 32-26 lead into the final period.
Yet again, Calasanctius, closed in on their opponents, Ross and Jordan delivering in the paint to leave just two between the sides with six minutes remaining.
Emer Purtill chose a good moment to land her first effort from off the three-point line as Mungret again looked to steady the ship.
But, Calasanctius continued to snap at their heels, Laoise McDonagh and Jordan both striking from the perimeter to leave just one between the sides with 22 seconds left on the clock.
The Galway outfit worked desperately to try and win back possession in their bid to garner the chance to level the tie, but Mungret protected the ball vigorously, earning four free throws, one of which was converted by Emer Purtill before the clock ran down.
Delighted at seeing her side prevail in this decider, Mungret Community College head coach, Aoife Donovan said “We were missing six girls because of a school trip that was planned last year and we didn’t even know if we’d have enough to come and play.
“But we happened to have six who were able to come and they just managed to pull it out of the bag. They’re just brilliant.
“But this win is as much about the girls who are away at the moment as the six who are here today, because they’re such a tight-knit bunch.
“Cala’ are a fantastic side. They’ve won the cup and we’ve won the league. Some people might call this revenge, but, in a way, it was fair because the last game was so close as well. I’m just so happy we came out on the right side of it today” she said.
Quarter Scores: Q1: 8-15, Q2: 18-27, Q3: 26-32, Q4: 38-40
Calasanctius College:
Laoise McDonagh, Labhaoise Keane, Isabelle Schumacher, Jessica Ross, Kate Burke (co-capt), Lauren McGranaghan, Cara Cormican, Aisling Jordan.
Top Scorers: Aisling Jordan (14), Laoise McDonagh (12), Jessica Ross (6).
Head Coach: Mary Rockall
Mungret Community College:
Emer Purtill, Jade You (capt), Anna Nealon, Abbey Nealon, Caoimhe Sweeney, Kay You, Méabh Purtill.
Top Scorers: Méabh Purtill (14), Emer Purtill (11), Abbey Nealon (8).
Head Coach: Aoife Donovan
MVP: Méabh Purtill (Mungret Community College).
