Coláiste Oiriall will meet Coláiste Mhuire Gan Smál, Blarney in the Division B Under-16 Girls’ Basketball All-Ireland League semi-final during the first week of March at a venue yet to be decided after winning all their three matches convincingly in the Play-Off tournament in the

Inchicore Sports Centre, Dublin last Saturday. Ar an Satharn tháinig gach rud le chéile agus d’imir gach duine ar dóigh cé go raibh beirt den phainéal in easnamh.

The girls won the place in this tournament after coming runners-up in the Northeast Regional final to Dunshaughlin Community College. Their subsequent comprehensive win against Rathmore College from Belfast in a preliminary game secured them their place in the play-off tournament on Saturday against Teresian College, Dublin, Presentation De La Salle, Bagnelstown and Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise. The girls were very much the underdogs having only been promoted from the “C” league the previous year.  Thaispeáin na cailíní sa chéad chluiche in eadán Scoil Chríost Rí an t-ocras agus an ciocras a bhí orthu chun an turnaimint a bhaint.

Coláiste Oiriall led for most of the opening game and weathered a comeback from Scoil Chríóst Rí when they subjected the Monaghan team to intense full court presses. Eimear Corri from Portlaois was unstoppable under the boards and she contributed 12 points in the first half. Morgan Nic Cionna got things underway for the Monaghan girls with a steal and she finished with a fine lay-up. Amy Ni hAmaill excelled in the first half with 14 points of her own.

Coláiste Oiriall handled the full court pressure well and punished Scoil Chríost Rí with countless fast break scores. Maeve Phelan from Portlaoise found her outside shooting rhythm, and quickly added six points to her tally. Celine Ni Fhailigh capitalised on the dominance of Niamh Ni Chiarnán and Lynda Ni Ghiolla Mhicil on the defensive boards and contributed 13 points to play. Bhí luas níos miolle ag an chluiche sa cheathrú deireanach ach bhuaigh cailín’I Choláiste Oiriall go furasta leis an scór 59 bpointe in aghaidh 37 bpointe.

The Coláiste Oiriall girls were to have no break in the tournament and had to warm up immediately for a game against home side, Teresian College. Receiving particular attention from the Coláiste Oiriall defence was international star Rachel Leahy who never managed to shake free from her defender for long enough to contribute any score to play in the opening quarter. In contrast, Morgan Nic Cionna swished 8 points from the baseline and Alison Ni Ghiolla Bhríde shot an outside shot. D’fhág seo Coláiste Oiriall chun tosaigh 18-5 ag deireadh an chéad cheathrú.

The game turned decidedly towards Teresian in the second quarter with many tired Coláíste Oiriall players finding themselves in foul trouble. Rachel Leahy was clinical from the free throw line. However as Coláiste oiriall raised the defensive intensity once more it seemed to help them find their shooting rhythm. A balanced offensive assault from the Monaghan side saw five players score in the period as they leaped into a 10 point lead heading into the second half. Tugadh isteach roinnt ionadaithe agus ghlac Coláiste Oiriall smacht ar an seilbh.

The introduction of Sarah Nic Cionna and Kate Nic Eachaidh reinforced the defensive strength of Coláiste Oiriall and with Clodagh Ní Ghiolla Cearra pressuring the ball in the front court, Coláiste Oiriall controlled possession. The final scoreline of 51 – 35 in favour of Coláiste Oiriall was flattering given the intensity of the day. Dáiríre ní léiríonn an scór deiridh an choimhlint ghéar a bhí idir an dá fhoireann.

In the final game Coláiste Oiriall capped off a day to remember by defeating a gallant Presentation De La Salle, Bagnelstown. The result looked seriously in doubt in the first quarter when Presentation DLS Bagnelstown came out of the blocks much quicker and an early onslaught of baskets from Aine Dooley propelled the opposition into a  10 – 0 lead. For the Monaghan side scores were hard to come by and when Niamh Ni Chiarnáin was forced to the bench on foul trouble it looked like there could be an upset on the cards. Coláiste Oiriall’s Morgan Nic Cionna and Lynda Ni Ghiolla Mhicil found that Presentation DLS was vulnerable by penetrating the baseline and both players accrued 14 points to settle the team. Bhí údar dochais anois ag cailíní Mhuineacháin agus d’éirigh cúrsaí níos fearr agus níos fearr dóibh.

The spark for Coláiste Oiriall came in the second quarter after a monstrous rebound from Niamh Ní   Chiarnán which she converted as she was fouled. She was successful from the free throw line. Next time down the court the Lynda Ni Ghiolla Mhicil, now brimming with confidence, pulled up from a long range and swished a two. The momentum was now with the Oiriall side and they never looked back. Níor amharc siad siar ina dhaidh sin agus bhí bua ag teacht.

Celine Ni Fhailigh and Codagh Ní Ghiolla Cearra contributed further baskets and Amy Ní Amaill was top scorer of the entire play off tournament. The All Ireland semi-final now awaits the girls as they will play Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál, Blarney, Co. Cork at a neutral venue. Imreofar an cluiche sin le linn na seachtaine ag tosú 3 Márta ag ionad atá le socrú go fóill.

We congratulate the Coláiste Oiriall girls and their manager, Múinteoir Annette Ní Thuathail on this success and wish them well in the remainder of the competition. Comhghairdeas leo. The road to the All-Ireland semi-final nó an bealach fada crua go dtí leathchraobh na hÉireann do fhoireann cailíní cispheile Choláiste Oiriall faoi 16:

North East Regional League

Coláiste Oiriall 36 v 11 Loreto Navan

Coláiste Oiriall 28 v 23 Dunshaughlin Community School

Coláiste Oiriall 44 v 28 Mercy Ballymahon

Coláiste Oiriall 28 v 21 Scoil Mhuire, Longfort

Regional final

Defeated by 6 points by Dunshaughlin Community School

Preliminary game

Colaiste Oiriall 47 v 27 Rathmore College Belfast

Play-off tournament

Coláiste Oiriall 59 v Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise 37

Coláiste Oiriall 51 v Teresian College, Dublin 35

Coláiste Oiriall 62 v Presentation De La Salle   Bagnelstown 38

All-Ireland semi-final            

Coláiste Oiriall v SMGS Blarney, Cork

Dunshaughlin Community School v St Mary’s Mallow, Cork

All-Ireland final

Coláiste Oiriall or Blarney V Dunshaughlin or Mallow