Yesterday was a great day for Maree and Moycullen as both teams won National Cups at the National Basketball Arena. Moycullen won the Mens U18 Cup Final for the first time beating Belfast Star 68-59 while Maree won the Womens Division One Cup beating Ulster University Elks 81-76.
Maree: 82 Ulster University Elks: 76
Maree - Womens Division One Cup Winners 2018/19
Unbeaten in the league this year, Maree came into the Division One women’s final as favourites. Early on the weight of expectations didn’t look to be affecting the Westerners as they settled early with good scores from Claire Rockall and Dayne Finn. Elks though came into the game with confidence having pushed Maree close earlier in the season. The opening minutes saw both teams trade baskets as they settled into the game and at the midway point of the first the Elks led by the narrowest of margins 11-10. Jenna Kaufman was having success inside and was proving a difficult matchup for Maree as they maintained their one point advantage to the end of the first. The second quarter was hugely positive for Patrick O’Neill’s team as they exploded to life in the first five minutes. Aoife Callaghan was shooting well from the outside as Elks raced into an eight point lead with just four minutes to go in the first half. The experience of Maree showed late in the first half as they went on a crucial run led by Catherine Connaire and Dayna Finn to tie the game at 41 points apiece going into halftime.
The momentum of the game continued to swing back and forth in the third quarter. As Maree initially took control Maree answered with a huge 9-0 run behind three consecutive three pointers from Enya Maguire and Aoife Callaghan as the Elks stormed into a 53-48 lead. Any thoughts that Maree would lay down though were answered emphatically by Dayna Finn as she came up with a number of big plays to regain control for Maree. A big inside move by Kollyns Scarbrough was met with a transition score for Finn and the game was finely balanced heading into the final quarter as Maree led 62-59.
Tension was building in the fourth quarter as both teams were making big plays defensively. Maree had opened a five point lead and were threatening to open a lead before Seana Harley-Moyles hit a big two pointer to reduce the gap. With five minutes remaining a huge and one play by Elks American Kollyns Scarbrough narrowed the gap to just two at 68-66. Scarbrough then struck again just a minute later with a huge assist to tie the game. Looking for someone to take control of the game, Maree found joy through former Super League player Fiona Scally who had a huge three point play to give Maree a three point lead. Scarbrough wasn’t done yet though and yet another and one by the Elks American tied the game yet again with just three minutes remaining. As the game reached the closing stages Claire Rockall and Dayna Finn took control with eight points that gave them a six point lead with just a minute to go. Aoife Callaghan wasn’t going to go down without a fight and a huge three pointer by the Elks number 10 had the lead back to just three. After a miss by Elks Catherine Connaire controlled the crucial rebound and nailed two free throws to seal Maree’s first Senior women’s National Cup on a scoreline of 82-76.
MAREE: Carol McCarthy (5), Dayna Finn (29), Claire Rockall (16), Orlaith Walsh, Maggie Byrne (6), Catherine Connaire (13), Nicola O’Connell, Eveann Kennedy, Alison Blaney (4), Clodagh McGrail, Laoise Walsh, Sacra Mannion, Fiona Scally (9)
ULSTER UNIVERSITY ELKS: Enya Maguire (5), Erin Maguire (7), Seana Harley-Moyles (6), Kollyns Scarbrough (18), Jenna Kaufman (10), Nichola Rafferty (2), Aoife Callaghan (26), Ruth Neil, Erin Bracken, Eimhear Morris, Alex Mulligan (2), Abigail Rafferty
MVP: Dayna Finn (Maree)
Adrian O'Neill reports..
https://galwaybayfmsports.podbean.com/mf/play/rx97cd/MAREE_V_ELKS_FT.mp3
MVP Dayna Finn of Maree, right, celebrates with team-mate Carol McCarthy after the Hula Hoops Women’s Division One National Cup Final match between Maree and Ulster University Elks at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght, Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Moycullen 68 Belfast Star 59
Moycullen - U18 Mens Cup Winners 2018/19
Moycullen have claimed their first ever Hula Hoops U18 Men’s National Cup after a huge, 59-68 victory over Belfast Star. Star pulled ahead at the beginning of the game but it was a superb third quarter performance from Moycullen and MVP Paul Kelly that led them to victory.
Star started at a quicker pace than their Galway counterparts, with CJ Fulton picking up nine early points for his side. Moycullen fought back at Star’s lead and were able to get within a point before Star built a small lead, once again. Fulton was on the mark in the first, only missing one shot, as his team led 18-14 going in to the second. Moycullen were instantly boosted when Iarlaith O’Sullivan made a dagger of a three to take the lead in the second and once James Connaire made a tough contested shot, Star coach Ger Ryan called a time out to gather his team. Fulton and Moycullen’s Paul Kelly were the stars of their team in the second, as they controlled the pace of the game while on offence, Moycullen leading 29-34 at the half. Moycullen started the second half with the upper-hand as Kelly drove to the basket, every opportunity he had. Daniel Arimoro was impressive on the boards for the Galway side and the fast break was working a charm, with Kelly and Connaire leading the way. Despite Star’s effort, the third quarter was dominated by Moycullen, as they led heading in to the fourth, 43-56.
The fourth quarter saw scores traded between the teams, with Kelly and Connaire on the mark for Moycullen, while Fulton and Adam Ryan hit shots for Star. While Star made their best efforts to claw back at the lead, it was Moycullen that came away with the win, 59-68, and the Hula Hoops U18 Men’s National Cup.
BELFAST STAR: Christopher Fulton (24), Denis Price, Ryan Scott (2), Jack Summersgill (10), Conn Doherty (4), Conor Ryan (7), Cormac O’Rourke (5), Conor McDonnell (6), Niall Hurson, Conor Cooke (1).
MOYCULLEN: Paul Kelly (18), Iarlaith O’Sullivan (3), James Cummins (5), James Wall, Daniel Arimoro (10), James Connaire (15), Cormac Croke, Eoin O Reilly, Aaron Kiernan (6), Gerard Davoren (6), Tommy McNeela (5), Mairtin O’ Conghaile.
MVP: Paul Kelly (Moycullen)
Adrian O'Neill reports...
https://galwaybayfmsports.podbean.com/mf/play/kc5jhx/MOYCULLEN_BASKETBALL_FT.mp3
Moycullen players celebrate with the cup following during the Hula Hoops Under 18 Men’s National Cup Final match between Belfast Star and Moycullen at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght, Dublin. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
