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Basketball News by Eamonn Keogh
U14 DIVISION 2 PLATE FINAL St Paul’s 31 Cougars 17 THIS match was a repeat of the U-12 Plate final two years ago with local rivals Cougars providing the opposition for St Paul’s again. Cougars got off to the better start in the first few minutes of the opening quarter but great defence by Aisling Stack, Jade Potts and Eve Crowley along with baskets from Holly Power and Tara Donnellan brought St Paul's back. The second quarter got off to a lightening start with the introduction of Katie O'Connor and Jess Leahy superb in defence while Clodagh Sheehan, Ellen Kennedy and Ashling Stack were superb under the basket and took their scores well to give for St Pauls a 17-5 lead at the end of the first half. Cougars responded in the third quarter but Ellen Kennedy, Nicole Cronin and Sarah McGrath were dominant under the boards while Saoirse Dorrian and Caelyn O'Grady were also outstanding. St Paul’s continued to stay in control and with Cougars in foul trouble, St Paul's led by nine points at the end of the third quarter. The fourth quarter was played in high tempo. St Paul’s defence ensured they kept their lead and they dominated the closing stages to finish deserving winners in a good contest that was well supported by a large crowd. BASKETBALL CLINIC St Pauls Basketball Club will be
hosting a basketball clinic in Killarney Sports & Leisure centre on Thursday and Friday, February 23 and 24, with a selection of great coaches. St Paul's head coach Muharem 'Muki' Vugdalic will lead the clinic and he will be assisted by Irish International senior players Amy Waters and Niamh Dwyer. Club coaches James Fleming, Shane Horgan, Kate Donnellan, Padraig Weldon and Elizabeth Switzer will also assist with the clinic and more coaches are expected to be announced in the meantime. The clinic will run from 10am to 2pm on both days for players aged from 6 to 14. The participation cost is €25 per child and there will be reductions for additional family members. It is €40 for two children and €50 for three children from the same family. Places are limited so please contact 087-2583383 ASAP to book a place. Registration forms can be returned to Killarney Sports & Leisure Centre before Monday, February 20. CONDOLENCES St Paul's extend sincere sympathy to the family of the late Pat O'Connor, Rathanane, Kilcummin, Killarney. Padraig O’Connor (son) is coach of the St Paul’s U12 Boys team and Paul Sheehan (son-inlaw) coaches the U-16 girls team. CONGRATS Congratulation's to Dr Crokes on their All-Ireland semi-final victory and best wishes in the final on St. Patricks Day.
The St Paul's team that defeated Cougars in the Kerry Basketball Board U-14 Plate final at Presentation Gym, Killarney last Sunday. Front from left are Tara Donnellan, Jess Leahy, Eve Crowley, Jade Potts (captain), Holly Power, Clodagh Sheehan, Katie O Connor. Back from left are Kate Donnellan (Coach), Caelyn O'Grady, Saoirse Dorrian, Ashling Stack, Ellen Kennedy, Nicole Cronin, Sarah McGrath, Jason Stack (Coach).
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Killarney Advertiser 17.02.17
Teams descend on west Kerry for 28th Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé KERRY clubs are well represented in The Lidl Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé 2017, the famed club Gaelic football tournament and festival which takes place this weekend (February 17-19) in Comórtas HQ at Páidí Ó Sé’s pub in Ventry and various GAA venues across the Dingle Peninsula. Some 32 teams in all compete from 13 counties as well as teams from the UK and the United Arab Emirates in ladies and men’s senior, intermediate and junior competitions. For Kerry Gaelic football enthusiasts there is plenty to catch the eye with Kerry’s An Daingean, Milltown/Castlemaine, An Ghaeltacht with player/manager Marc Ó Sé and Waterville taking part in the Dermot Earley senior men’s cup which also includes 2016 Laois county senior champions Stradbally, Kildare’s Sarsfields, Dublin’s Fingallians and 2016 Wexford senior county finalists Glynn-Barntown. Kerry's Keel, Annascaul and Lispole are up against Meath’s Dunderry, North Cork side Knocknagree and Sligo’s St. John’s in The Boars Head intermediate men’s cup and Valentia Island are flying the flag in the junior men’s cup against Cavan’s Shannon Gaels, Cork’s Ballinacurra and also the Dubai Celts. Four Kerry ladies club teams line
out over the tournament weekend with Corca Dhuibhne and Na Gaeil in the intermediate cup against Mayo’s Burrishoole who are going for three in a row at the Comórtas along with Cavan’s Gowna Ladies, Baile Bhuirne’s Naomh Abán and Cork's Clonakilty. Dingle Ladies and Clounmacon GAA are in the four-team junior ladies cup against Liverpool’s John Mitchels and Dublin’s Lucan Sarsfields. The senior ladies cup has current Dublin senior league champions Ballyboden St Enda’s, Boardsmill of Meath, current Louth county champions Stabannon Parnells and Wicklow’s Bray Ladies. The football festival, which is also supported by Grant Thornton, Lee Strand Milk, Fáilte Ireland and Kerry County Council Tourism Unit, has attracted over 13,000 club players since it began in 1989 and is a big boost for tourism in the area with over 1,800 bed nights created over three nights. This year, as well as nightly music and entertainment in Comórtas HQ at Páidí Ó Sé’s pub, there will also be a special excerpt from a John B. Keane play hosted by the late playwright and author’s son Billy Keane on Sunday evening in the pub. Full details are available on www.paidiose.com An Daingean and Kerry All-Star Paul Geaney with Kerry and Corca Dhuibhne footballer Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh keeping their eye on the ball at Dingle Marina ahead of the Lidl Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé 2017.