THE Senior A girls basketball team from Colaiste Ide agus Iosef in Abbeyfeale play in the All Ireland Under 19 Schools Cup Final this Thursday. The final tips off at midday in the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght, with All Ireland Schools League champions Holy Faith Clontarf providing the opposition.
The Abbeyfeale team has reached this highest level of schools basketball following wins over Mercy Secondary School (Waterford), Mounthawk (Tralee) and an 66-59 win over favourites St. Vincents (Cork) in the semi-finals. Despute the presence of three Irish internationals, St Vincents were not able to stop Colaiste Ide agus Iosef from reaching the final.
The Abbeyfeale team is not short of internationals either, with Sorcha McNulty and Aislinn O’Connell both having appeared for Ireland at under-16 level. School trainer Clare Sheehy, who is assistant coach to the Ireland under-16 squad, said of this year’s team: “Despite small numbers, they are one of most committed squads ever. They never miss training”.
Sisters Leanne and Tina Mangan, along with Eilis Dillon, have all played at county level for Kerry. The three girls have previously won All Ireland medals in schools basketball. They are joined on the court this Thursday by Laura Broderick, Katie O Connell and Sarah Curtin.
