St Nathy's College Ballaghaderreen (Roscommon) 23

Kinsale Community School (Cork) 30

IT was another close encounter for the under 19C girl’s basketball league final between St Nathy’s Ballaghadereen and Kinsale Community School in the last game of the day in Tallaght yesterday. 

It was clear from the start this was going to be a defensive game with both teams setting up in zone and clogging up the lane on every drive. 

Kinsale started the brightest and some great post work and offensive rebounds from vice-captain Lorraine Collins gave Kinsale an early lead of 10-7 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second St Nathy’s captain Sasha Lavin continued to lead her team adding another two points to her three from the first quarter. 

Amy Doorey also added a big three pointer to keep St Nathy's within touching distance. 

However, scores from under 16 Geraldine Tyner and another two points from Collins ensured Kinsale finished the half with a 17-12 lead.

The third quarter started as the second ended with both teams playing very defensive. 

Several fouls sent both teams to the line but neither team could make the other pay with a number of missed free-throws ensuring a low scoring quarter. 

Lavin continued to be the focal point for St Nathys adding another 4 points in the third. 

St Nathy's defence finally started to box out Collins and deny her the ball in the post but it was Arianna Price who drove Kinsale on. 

Price had a number of steals which were very important as most of them denied St Nathy's from pushing the ball in transition. 

Price was also a force on the offensive end, hitting three points in the third including a lovely jump shot from the elbow. 

Both teams finished with seven points each in the third ensuring Kinsale held on to the lead of 29-14.

The fourth saw the lowest scoring quarter of the game with only a handful of scores.

Tyner added another score for Kinsale showing she is well able to handle herself at this level. 

Lavin once again tried to drag her team back into the game, but it was Arianna Price who made sure Kinsale would not lose the lead they had held onto from early in the first quarter. 

Another steal in transition and another left-handed jump shot from Price ensured the league cup was heading to Cork. 

Kinsale ran out winners of the under 19 C girls league on a score line of 30-23.

St Nathy's, Ballaghadereen: Amy Doory 3, Arianna Cahill, Sasha Lavin 10, Jessica Fenney, Lisa Powell 4, Hannah Brett, Holly Heald 6, Aine Moffatt, Scarlette Reid, Katie Flannery, Katelyn Regan.

Kinsale Community School: Millie Allman, Ava McCarthy, Dara Tyner, Lilly Patton, Fiona Keating 3, Arianna Price 9, Jessica Corkery, Aoife O’Leary 2, Geraldine Tyner 6, Orlagh O’Mahony, Emma Casey, Lorraine Collins 10.

MVP: Lorraine Collins, Kinsale Community School.