ARCHIVES!
Gradually, the Maree Basketball Club Archive Section will take shape. It will include - along with Maree material - old Calasanctius schools, Oranmore-Maree Community Games, Inter-Area, Inter-Regional and International stories, photos, links etc. Here goes! June092010
Community Games - 2002
Oranmore-Maree basketballers in Mosney
We went looking for the teams around the chalets in Mosney on Sunday at 5 or so that sunny evening . We adults – coaches and managers - were all still awash with adrenaline, perspiration and satisfaction. The mighty 30 boys and girls of Oranmore-Maree were jubilant. Contested three of the four national finals; under 13 boys and girls and under 16 girls and won two of them! Two gold and one silver. A wonderful crowd of supporters, too. Parents, relatives, friends – many of them veterans of several “campaigns” by now. It seemed like half the parish had come. All of them were hitting the road back to the West, hoping to avoid Slane concert traffic. The basketballers weren’t leaving until the next day, Monday, which was going to be a long day – more on that later.
But where were they? Competitors everywhere, excited, all bursting with youth and energy. The colours. Black and Amber. Blood and Bandages. Sky Blues. Lillywhites. All 32 counties. Mixing. Lolling in the sun. Rambling. Running. Making plans for the last disco. In and out of the chalets, up and down between the rows, sun beaming, a smattering of asylum seekers - for whom Mosney is home for now – looking on bemused. Where were our kids?
They’d been so good up to then. It would be a shame if mischief took over; messing, wrecking chalets, throwing stuff around. Terrible to end on a sour note.
Try the take-away, and the games arcade. Maybe they’ve split up into twos and threes. Back to their circles of friends. They’d been so solidly together for the whole weekend, each team roared on by the other two – thank God they’re good basketballers, Samantha Mumba and Westlife are safe from most of them! Only natural that they’d come down from that united high and start doing their own thing. But where were they?
Mosney and the Community Games. Bacon and Cabbage. Apple pie and cream. Inseparable surely, although the future is in doubt apparently. It shone for the whole weekend. A perfect setting. Vast grounds. Running track – and of course Oranmore-Maree was involved there too, in fact we had to use walkie-talkies to keep the show on the road, especially for those running and playing basketball. The ballroom that was, basketball arena that is. Unique; a games arcade off one corner, a fast food joint and coffee shop off another! Not too far either from the pub, opening only at night to allow coaches, managers and “ofeeshalls” from the various provincial and county “comet–ease” to unwind and swap tales, usually tallish ones.
Easy to get lost though. A hell of a big place. Gobsmacking how it all works, and all done on a voluntary basis. Tony Lee and Breda Power running the Galway show. God knows how many decades of experience between them. Tony hunting and gathering extra chalets, beds, linen, you name it, deep into the Friday night. Breda making and dishing out badges and I.D. and getting the paperwork right.
On the Monday, when we got back, Mayor Val Hanley at the station and delighted for all of the Galway competitors and then,….the cavalcade! Some of the younger ones prefer the cavalcade to the medals! The bonfires, the horns blaring, the waves and cheers along the streets and roads, going as far as the gym in the basketball heartland of Maree, the big screen and the big party in Tí Ghearóid’s (some of the kids think his first name is Tí).
But back to Mosney and Sunday evening and the search for the kids. We found them fairly fast. All together still, kicking a ball around on one of the big open spaces. Every one of them. Why were we worried at all? Didn’t we know they were all-for-one and one-for-all. Oh – the games themselves? Were they good? You had to be there!
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'More News Feb '04
Historic triple All-Ireland “A” Silver for Calasanctius
At the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght on Wednesday and Thursday, February 2nd and 3rd, Calasanctius College Oranmore again made schools basketball history. Having contested all four All-Ireland schools A semi-finals on January 18th, the school contested three of the finals - under 16 boys and girls and under 19 boys. No school has ever has ever done this before.
Sadly, all three teams came away with silver but also with much pride. It wasn’t for lack of effort and commitment. The players were superb and there was fantastic support from Principal Elizabeth Hannon and her staff, the hordes of supporters, the travelling parents, the cheerleaders and the students who put on the half-time shows. It’s official; right now, Calasanctius is the strongest basketball school in Ireland.
All-Ireland Under 16 A Girls Final Wednesday February 2nd
The under 16 A girls final was against Presentation Listowel, These two fantastic teams battled it out to the finish. Captain Aoife Bannon was huge in the first half, steady under immense pressure as she scored from outside the key. The first half was nip and tuck. At one stage in the third quarter, the Oranmore girls were leading by 10. A big three-pointer from Listowel just before the buzzer kept the Kerry girls in touch for the final quarter. Then they launched their comeback. Despite the best efforts, particularly of Claire Rockall, Calasanctius just came up short, 48 points to 44. Scorers for the Calasanctius girls were Claire Rockall 15, Colleen McInerney 12, Aoife Bannon 11, Nicola O’Connell 3, Edel Fahy 3.
All-Ireland Under 16 A Boys Final February 3rd
Perhaps the most highly fancied of the three Calasanctius finalists, the under 16 boys faced St. Brendan’s Killarney. Jack Conroy
All-Ireland Under 19 A Boys Final February 3rd
These were the heroes of the finals, without a doubt. Calasanctius were up against St. Fintan’s of Sutton, the hottest of hot favourites, expected to devour the Oranmore boys, after clinically dismissing Coláiste Éanna in their semi-final. Fintan’s raced into a big early 18 – 2 lead and the game looked dead in the first quarter. But Calasanctius hung on. Four or five times in the game, it looked all over. Fintan’s went 10 or more points ahead and looked like streaking away. Each time the Oranmore boys would claw their way back with do-or-die defence and spectacular scores – the men they couldn’t hang! Astonishingly, deep in the final quarter, Calasanctius had the lead down to 6 and had possession of the ball. Liam Rockall had fouled out but such was the will-to-win, that the fight continued unabated. Fintan’s won all right, but they won hanging on, cocky at the start, alarmed throughout and relieved at the end. Wrong to single out a Calasanctius hero but has Peter Finn ever played better? Top scores for Calasanctius were Daniel Finn 20, Peter Finn 18, Conal Lambert McMichael 17, Darren Callanan 11.
All-Ireland Semi-Finals, January 18th
What an unforgettable day this was, two weeks before the finals, with Calasanctius contesting All-Ireland A Semi-Finals at Under 16 and 19 A, in both boys and girls.
The under 16 boys started off the day by beating the strongly fancied St. Fintan’s of Sutton by 59 to 50. Jack Conroy
The squad; Darren Callanan, Darren Shaughnessy, Jack Conroy
Next up, the under 16 girls took on the might of Holy Faith Clontarf. The Oranmore girls won convincingly, by 45 points to 21. Colleen McInerney grabbed 17 points, Claire Rockall helped herself to 12 and Nicola O’Connell got 7. The squad; Aoife Bannon, Colleen McInerney, Louise Noone, Edel Fahy, Ruth Kelly, Nicola O’Connell, Claire Rockall, Lisa O’Farrell, Christina Brennan, Carol McCarthy, Clare Lyons, Katie Harrison and Ailbhe Costello.
The under 19 boys then took on their Mayo neighbours, St. Gerald’s of Castlebar. After a shaky first few minutes, Calasanctius took control and cruised to a big 66-44 win. Daniel Finn topped the scoring with 24 points, Peter Finn notched 14, Conal Lambert made 8, Darren Callanan got 7, Liam Rockall was good for 6 and Conor Leyden and Darren Shaughnessy chipped in with 4 each. The squad; Liam Rockall, Danny Finn, Peter Finn, Conal Lambert, Conor Leyden, Andrew O’Connell, Darren Callanan, Darren Shaughnessy, Ciarán Considine, Jack Conroy
It was three played and three won as the under 19 girls took to the floor to play the great Coláiste Íosagáin, who won the under 19 league and cup double in 2004. The Oranmore girls struggled from the beginning and at one stage were 32 – 16 down. Then a great fight-back began, the deficit being cut to just 6 points with two minutes to play. A couple of agonising Oranmore misses, and a rattled and relieved Iosagáin team held out to win 45 – 36. For Calasanctius, Niamh O’Hagan scored 18, Claire Rockall 8, Hannah Coen 5 and Elaine Comer 4. The squad is; Elaine Comer, Hannah Coen, Rachel Clarke, Niamh O’Hagan, Ruth Burke, Colleen McInerney, Claire Rockall, Edel Fahy, Aoife Bannon, Nicola O’Connell, Ruth Kelly and Lisa O’Farrell.
Classy Under 19 girls bounce back in Thurles and go on to take Bronze in Dublin
Just five days after the heartbreak of their cup semi-final defeat, the under 19 schoolgirls team headed off to Thurles on Sunday January 23rd, to their league play-off tournament. Could Niamh O’Hagan, Hannah Coen, Elaine Comer, Rachel Clarke, Ruth Burke, Aoife Bannon, Edel Fahy, Nicola O’Connell and Colleen McInerney shake off the Tallaght blues? First up were Holy Faith Clontarf. Calasanctius won by 54 – 33 (Niamh O’Hagan 24, Hannah Coen 13, Colleen McInerney 10). Then it was Skibbereen, who had give Coláiste Íosagáin a tough came earlier in the day. Again, the Calasanctius girls prevailed, running out 45 – 39 winners (Niamh O’Hagan 11, Colleen McInerney 10, Hannah Coen 7, Rachel Clarke 6, Elaine comer 5). So the under 19 show were back on track, with a national “A” semi-final against Belfast school Our Lady and St. Patrick’s, at the Oblate Gym in Dublin on Sunday February 6th. Unfortunately, that is where there progress ended, as they lost out by 52 points to 43. However, Calasanctius added an All-Ireland A League Bronze to their A Cup Bronze – not a bad haul for the season. Scorers were Niamh O’Hagan 17, Colleen McInerney 9, Hannah Coen 7, Rachel Clarke 6, Elaine Comer 3
Under 16 Boys take League Bronze
On Sunday February 6th, just 3 days after their Cup Final in Tallaght, Calasanctius hosted an under 16 A boys league tournament, with the winner going forward to contest the national league final. This was the first such tournament held in the new school gym and all were delighted with the facilities. The school teams involved were Coláiste Choilm of Ballincollig (Cork), St. Brendan’s Killarney (Kerry), St. Benildus (Dublin), Ballyfinn (Longford), St. Fintan’s of Sutton (Dublin) and Calasanctius. The Oranmore boys played Ballincollig first and ran out easy winners, 42 – 24. Darren Shaughnessy hit 14 points, Jack Conroy
Next up were St. Benildus, who came with impressive form. They went into an early lead but were pegged back by Calasanctius who finished the first quarter down 18-14. An on-fire Darren Shaughnessy, with 10 second quarter points, hauled Calasanctius into a 29-27 lead at the half. Calasanctius won 53 – 46. Scorers; Darren Shaughnessy 23, Darren Callanan 18, Ciarán Considine 7, Shane Finn 3, Cathal Finn 2.
The Final was against St. Fintan’s of Sutton, who had just put St. Brendan’s to the sword. The Dubliners 1-3-1 zone defence troubled Calasanctius from the word go and at the half, the Oranmore boys were 27 – 15 down. They still trailed by 10 at the end of the third, in which Darren Shaughnessy hit 10 points. Despite a monumental fightback to level the game in the final quarter St. Fintan’s pulled away to win 53 – 46. The Calasanctius boys added an A League Bronze to add to their A Cup silver.
Scores; Darren Shaughnessy 24, Darren Callanan 10, Jack Conroy
Under 11 Girls Jamboree!
On Thursday, December 30th, Maree Basketball Club hosted an under 11 girls basketball jamboree. Sixty players from all over the county invaded the Community Centre in Maree. The clubs involved were Maree, Beagh, Oughterard, Corrib and Claregalway. Sergeant John Gormley was put on alert and all Garda leave was cancelled! Seriously though, tomorrow’s champions were in Maree.
West of Ireland Under 13 Boys Club Tournament
On the weekend of January 15th and 16th, Maree hosted the 2005 West of Ireland Invitational under 13 boys tournament. The teams competing were Tolka Rovers and Notre Dame (both from Dublin) Blue Demons and Ballincollig (both from Cork) Claregalway, Oughterard and two Maree squads.
The Maree A squad was Shane Geoghegan (captain), Colm O’Hagan, Brian Kelly, Christy Bannon, Fiachra Burke, Ronan Burke, Shane Maughan, Ronan O’Donnell, Cormac Folan, and Cathal Hannon. The young Maree B squad was Cormac Shields, D. Considine, J. Caulfield, P. O’Donnell, Eavan Finn, N. Eames, Seán McInerney, E. Walsh, A. Dempsey, N. Geoghegan and Donie Greene.
Maree A won through to the final, after a tough semi-final against Ballincollig (Shane Maughan 8, Shane Geoghegan 4, Colm O’Hagan 4, Brian Kelly 4, Ronan Burke 2). Notre Dame won the other semi-final, overcoming Tolka Rovers in a dour affair. Maree got off to a great start and the final result was never in doubt. The Dublin boys couldn’t cope with the speed, aggression, determination and sharp-shooting of the Maree boys, particularly Colm O’Hagan, who ran out easy winners (Colm O’Hagan 13, Brian Kelly 4, Christopher Bannon 2, Shane Maughan 2, Shane Geoghegan 2).
West of Ireland Under 15 boys Club Tournament
St. Mirren of Scotland were the headline team in the Maree West of Ireland Invitational for under 15 boys on Sunday and Monday, January 1st and 2nd 2005. Also taking part were Killester and St. Vincent’s of Dublin, Kilcock, Blue Demons and Ballincollig from Cork, Moycullen, Castlebar and two Maree teams. A feast of top-quality basketball was served up over the two days. A gallant Maree A side lost out by 2 agonising points to Kilcock in the semi-final. Ballincollig went on to beat Kilcock in the final.
Maree win Cork County Board Invitational Boys Under 14 Tournament
On Saturday, January 22nd, at 6 a.m., the Maree under 14 boys headed off to the Cork Invitational Tournament, keen to cement their claim to be the best under 14 team in the land. They had already won the Maree West of Ireland Invitational Tournament held on December 4th and 5th. A further incentive for the boys was the prospect of a third Cork under 14 win in a row for Maree.
First opponents were Bantry, winners of the 2004 under 13 Community Games. A Maree win by 16 points. Next were Carrigaline, who went under by 19 points. In the quarter-final, Moycullen were overwhelmed by 30 points. The semi-final was against Ballincollig, the Maree boys battling through to win by 15 after a shaky start. Meanwhile, ominously, Blue Demons had swept all before them to earn the other final spot and were up for the battle.
Maree versus Blue Demons of Cork, in Cork, in front of noisy Cork spectators. A tough and tense game. Captain George Rahmani forced to sit out for over half the game with a knee problem. Maree ahead by 6 in the third quarter but then hauled back to be one down going into the final quarter. Would they buckle? No way! The Maree boys dug deep and came out on top, 40 –37. Home with the cup at 11 p.m! Take a bow George Rahmani, Con Crowley, Liam Conroy, Conor Foley, Ian and Ross Lynskey, Colm O’Hagan, Brian Kelly, Colin Harty, Christopher Bannon and Fiachra Burke.
Maree Women
Maree women had their biggest showdown of the season to date when they played the only other unbeaten side in the Galway league – Cuba - on Tuesday January 25th. Whereas the Maree side has an average age of 17, the Cuba team is older, taller, stronger and much more experienced. Despite this apparent disadvantage, Maree raced into a 10-2 lead and never looked back. Aggressive help defence, with Maeve Conroy
Maree Men
Maree men continue to impress. Their record is now 6 wins and one loss and they top the table. The only loss was to Moycullen away, having beaten them at home. Claregalway, NUIG, Gort and Crescent have all fallen to Maree. The squad includes Martin Forde, Gary Harty, Brian Cannon, Steven Molloy, Sandor “Alex” Fulpesi, Éamon Grealish, Danny Finn, Peter Finn, Andrew O’Connell, Darren Shaughnessy and Jack Conroy
Maree Basketball Club goes for Sports Capital grant
We all remember the excitement in 2004, when we were tipped off that Maree were to be successful in their application for a Sports Capital grant to upgrade the facilities in Maree Community Centre. And then the devastation when it turned out that there was no grant. If at first you don’t succeed, ….. All are on board to give it another go. Just look at Claregalway, Oughterard, Gort, etc. If ever a Community Centre and Basketball Club deserved a helping hand, surely Maree does. The Centre in Maree is going morning, noon and night, seven days a week. Built before grants were either fashionable or profitable, always looking for ways to say “yes” instead of excuses to say “no”. As for Maree Basketball Club, it is now one of the very top clubs in all of Ireland. Watch this space.
Galway Juvenile leagues in brief
Under 12 girls played 1, lost 1
Under 13 girls played 3, won 3
Under 14 girls played 3, won 2
Under 15 girls played 5, won 5
Under 16 girls played 3, won 3
Under 12 boys played 2, won 2
Under 13 boys played 3, won 3
Under 14 boys played 1, won 1
Under 15 boys played 2, won 2
Under 16 boys played 2, won 2
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2004 Galway County Finals
Winning Captains Edel Fahy (U15), Darren Callanan (U15), Nicola O'Connell (U14), Carol McCarthy (U13), Ailish O'Reilly (U12), Liam Conroy (U13), Colm O'Hagan (U12), Mike Rockall (U14)
BASKETBALL ROUNDUP September 2005
Tallaght, Tallinn, Gent, Glasnevin, Mosney, Massachusetts, Sligo, Sullivan County NY, Botrvgrad (!) Bulgaria, Luxembourg, East Stroudsburg PA, Castlecomer. All of these places have been touched by our basketballers since the last “Basketball Roundup”. Read on!
Rockall and McInerney in girls’ European Championships in Estonia
Joe Shields (coach), Claire Rockall and Colleen McInerney (players) and the writer went to Tallin, Estonia on July 20th, with the Irish 1989 team, to the European Championships. Just two weeks before Tallinn, the team played in a pre-European quadrangular tournament in Slovenia, along with the host country, Israel and Bosnia-Herzegovina. It paid off big-time.
The Irish party stayed in the Dzingel Hotel, along with seven of the other 15 teams - England, Slovakia, Israel, Portugal, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Austria and the hosts, Estonia. The basketball games were played in the 190-metre-long indoor sports complex at Audentes University. Built in 2003, this facility, in a city of 400,000, in a country of 1.6 million with an average monthly wage of €600, would put Ireland to shame. We may be income rich, but we are still infrastructure impoverished. Oh, and there are two other complexes as big and as good in Tallinn. For the rather interesting last three of the ten days that the teams stayed at the Dzingel, these 96 girls were joined by hundreds of boxers from every country you ever heard of in Europe, as they gathered in Tallinn for the European under 21 championships.
The results were;
Ireland 69 Portugal 44, Estonia 54 Ireland 49, Ireland 59 Bosnia-Herzegovina 54,
Germany 74 Ireland 52, Ireland 39 England 69, Slovenia 60 Ireland 61,
Ireland 50 Sweden 70, Slovenia 63 Ireland 60.
The victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina assured Ireland of a top-eight finish, the first such for any Irish team since the 1980’s. Claire Rockall played in eight games and Colleen McInerney in four. Rockall averaged 8 points per game, as well as an amazing 6.5 rebounds. The ever-athletic McInerney scored 10 points overall, and took 5 rebounds.
Well done to the girls and also to Basketball Ireland 2005 Coach of the Year, Joe Shields, who devoted more than 80 days to this team over the last two years, all in an entirely voluntary capacity. Thanks too to Deirdre Williams and Oranmore Pharmacy for sponsoring the medical supplies for the trip to Estonia.
Shaughnessy and Callanan in boys’ European Championships in Bulgaria
Darren Shaughnessy and Darren Callanan, both of Calasanctius College and Maree Basketball Club, did themselves proud by representing Ireland at the boys 1989 European Championship in Botrvgrad, Bulgaria, to which they headed off on July 28th.
The results were;
Macedonia 69 Ireland 84, Ireland 64 England 87, Cyprus 72 Ireland 47,
Ireland 74 Estonia 69, Ireland 58 Netherlands 50, Hungary 67 Ireland 53,
Ireland 52 Finland 78, Austria 59 Ireland 61, Ireland 54 Czech Rep 59.
Each of the local boys played in all 9 games. Darren Shaughnessy was particularly impressive against Estonia, scoring 7 points (19 in the championships overall) and going 100% from the floor. Darren Callanan pulled down 5 rebounds in both the Austria and Netherlands games, and 22 in the championships overall.
Maree Basketball Club is now registering players for the new season. Contact one of the coaches or committee members now!! Don’t delay!
Captain Michelle Fahy to lead Ireland against Sweden, Estonia and Luxembourg
The Irish women’s team faces a big challenge on Saturday September 17th in the National Basketball Arena Tallaght. They take on the might of Sweden in a must-win European Championship game. Oranmore’s Michelle Fahy is team captain and is well aware of what is at stake. “Last year we played Estonia and Luxembourg at home and beat them. Sweden away was hard. They had two big post players, experienced pros who have been playing for years - they are tall; 6’3”, 6’4” - and we lost by 25.” This year, explained Fahy, Ireland play Sweden here and the other two teams away. “We go into a training camp in Limerick on September 9th. Then we head to Dublin on the 16th. We play Sweden the next day, then we fly to Tallin to play Estonia on the 20th. From there we head to Luxembourg for a game on the 23rd .” Twenty-four year-old Fahy played professional ball in Sweden last season. “I picked up an ankle injury at the end and it took a while to settle, so I’ve only been able to play one game of camogie this summer.” Rumour has it that there is interest in professional basketball teams in both Spain and Hungary, for the services of the fabulous Oranmore player in the 2005/6 season.
Silver in Mosney for mighty under 13 Boys
Two of the four Oranmore-Maree Community Games teams won their way to Galway titles and contested the Connacht finals in Sligo on Saturday July 23rd. The unfortunate under 16 girls lost out to the Roscommon champions, in their semi-final. Unfortunate because they were missing Claire Rockall and Colleen McInerney, who were on international duty in Tallinn at the time. On top of that, Carol McCarthy picked up an injury in the last training session and had to sit the game out. The final straw was an injury to Nicola O’Connell during the semi-final. The girls were left to ponder a lot of “what ifs”. That’s life. Well done to Claire Rockall, Colleen McInerney, Nicola O’Connell, Lisa O’Farrell, Carol McCarthy, Ailbhe Costello, Sarah Riordan, Ruth Kelly, Clare Stenson and Christina Brennan.
The under 13 boys were a real battling outfit this year and it showed all the way through Sligo, to Mosney itself. The team of Enda Walshe, Brian Kelly, Fiachra Burke, Shane Geoghegan, Ronan O’Donnell, Niall Eames, Eavan Finn, Dónal Greene, Padraig Burke and Sean McInerney went to the Connachts having fought their way past Moycullen in the Galway final.
In their semi-final, they knocked out the Mayo champs, Charlestown. Then they took the Connacht title with a big win over Kiltoom-Cam of Roscommon. So, for the sixth year in a row, Oranmore-Maree was represented at the National Finals in Mosney, on the weekend of August 26/27/28. The usual “horde” of players, coaches, parents, brothers and sisters travelled to support the boys.
The semi-final was against the Donegal and Ulster champions, East Letterkenny. Oranmore-Maree prevailed by 25 – 21. Saturday was a recovery and preparation day. Then came Sunday and the final against the Community Games specialists, and champions of Kerry and Munster. Castleisland had beaten the Meath and Leinster champions Duleek well in the other semi-final. Despite the battling spirit for which they have become famous, the Oranmore-Maree boys went down 32 – 25. Still, Community Games silver was a fantastic achievement. It was celebrated in Ti Ghearóid’s the following Wednesday and thanks yet again to the Mulrooneys for their continuing support. Well done to all and to coaches Joe Burke and John Finn; memories to store up, and medals to treasure.
Oranmore-Maree boys win gold and silver with Galway in All-Irelands
In the National Basketball Arena Tallaght, on Saturday September 3rd, Galway contested two All-Ireland Inter-Area Board finals, at boys under 14 and under 16. Maree Basketball Club was well represented on the two squads. Galway under 14s went into their final as under-dogs, Ulster having easily disposed of their semi-final opponents Dublin by double scores, three weeks earlier. Meanwhile Galway got past Kerry 56 – 42 in their semi-final in UL on August 13 (Con Crowley 23, Conor Foley 13, George Rahmani 11, Liam Conroy 5, James O’Brien 4).
Ulster jumped into an early 4 – 0 lead, but Galway replied with 6 points from Con Crowley and four each from George Rahmani and Liam Conroy, to lead 14 – 6 at the end of the first quarter in which Dylan Cunningham was tireless in defence. In the second quarter, 9 points in a row from Conroy, and baskets from Rahmani and Conor Foley, saw the Westerners maintain their 8-point lead at the half, 27 – 19. The third quarter was a high-scoring affair, each side grabbing 21 points. For Galway, Con Crowley led the way with 13, Foley adding 6 and Conroy 2. Galway went into the last quarter leading 48 – 40. Ulster put on a full-court press and twice narrowed the lead to 3. However, great defence from Colm O’Hagan and a further 12 points from Conroy, 2 from Rahmani and 4 from Foley, steadied the ship and saw the Galway side safely home and All-Ireland champions, with a final scoreline of 66 – 54.
Galway; Dylan Cunningham, Liam Conroy (27 points MVP), Michael Evans, Conor Foley (12), James O’Brien, Ian Lynskey, George Rahmani (8), Ross Lynskey, Colm O’Hagan, Con Crowley (Captain, 19), Colin Harty. Coaches Seán Conroy, Richie Finn.
Galway under 16s went into their final after an outstanding performance in beating a very strong Kerry side 91 – 55 in their semi-final in Athea Limerick, on August 16th (Darren Shaughnessy 20, Darren Callanan 17, James Loughnane 16, Jack Conroy 13, Ciarán Considine 10, Shane Finn 9, Cathal Finn 6). Dublin were the heavy favourites however, their team boasting the bulk of the international team that played in the European championships in Bulgaria earlier in the summer. The first quarter was Dublin’s, and ended 12 – 4, with Darren Shaughnessy and Darren Callanan each hitting 2 points for Galway. The second quarter saw the taller Dublin team race to a big lead. Cathal Finn with 5 points, and Shaughnessy, Jack Conroy, Callanan and James Loughnane with 2 each, saw the Galway side go in 32 – 17 down at the half. Galway rallied in the third, and briefly looked like they could cause a huge upset, outscoring the Dubs 17 - 14. However, in the last quarter, Dublin upped the tempo again, and run out 65 – 42 winners.
Galway; Darren Callanan (Captain, 8 points), Andrew Brennan, Darren Shaughnessy (12 points MVP), John Egan, Ciarán Considine (2), David Lee, Jack Conroy (7), Shane Finn, Cathal Finn (7), James Loughnane (4), Chris McNairney (2), Mike Rockall, Eoin Maxwell. Coaches Seán Conroy, Richie Finn.
Maree 1991 boys in Belgium
Maree 1991 boys were delighted to be invited to play in the International Melle Tournament and headed off from Shannon, via Charleroi, to Gent in Belgium, on Thursday August 18th. The travelling party comprised Oliver Foley and Sohail Rahmani (managers), Seán Conroy and Mary O’Hagan (coaches) and players Brian Kelly, Conor Foley, Fiachra Burke, Liam Conroy, Ross Lynskey, Con Crowley, Ian Lynskey, Christopher Bannon, George Rahmani, Colm O’Hagan and Colin Harty. The Belgian hospitality was wonderful, with each team assigned a “buddy” for the duration of their stay, and people-carriers available for all trips between the team’s HQ at the Holiday Inn, and the Bloso sports complex, where the games were played. Gent itself is a lovely city with a medieval flavour to its downtown area – well worth a visit. Maree were playing up a year, as the tournament was for 1990 and 1991 boys. Despite this, they acquitted themselves extremely well, just missing out on a semi-final slot, following a one-point defeat in their third game. On the Monday, the boys spent a great day at the Walibi theme park outside Brussels. Travelling, accommodation and budgeting arrangements were handled by Judith Kelly, to whom a big “thank you” is extended. Bedankt / Merci and roll on 2006?!
Details;
Persbratten Oslo 64 – Maree 46 (Liam Conroy 17, Conor Foley 15, Con Crowley 8, Colm O’Hagan 4, George Rahmani 2)
Maree 57 – Melle Gent 28 (Con Crowley 21, Conor Foley 17, Liam Conroy 9, George Rahmani 4, Ross Lynskey 4, Colm O’Hagan 2)
Sheffield Sharks 39 – Maree 38 (Con Crowley 15, Conor Foley 12, Liam Conroy 7, George Rahmani 2, Ian Lynskey 2)
Maree 47 – Ulster 56 (Liam Conroy 18, Con Crowley 13, Conor Foley 7, George Rahmani 5, Colm O’Hagan 3)
Final; Wevelgem Belgium 62 Persbratten Oslo 58.
1990 girls tunes up with pre-season tournament in Castlecomer
Kilkenny was the venue for a pre-season tournament on the weekend of August 27/28. It was a high-quality event, with Meteors, Glanmire, UL, Castlecomer, Killester, Kilkenny, New Inn and Maree.
The Maree team for the event was Claire Rockall, Lisa O’Farrell, Claire Lyons, Clare Stenson, Caitriona Foley, Christina Brennan, Ailbhe Costello, Carol McCarthy and Aisling Finn.
Glanmire, with their three 6-foot “towers” Valerie O’Driscoll, and the O’Reilly twins, Orla and Sinéad, beat Maree 47 – 32 in their first game. Our girls then beat New Inn 49 – 34, and also got past Kilkenny 56 – 34. The semi-final on Sunday was against Meteors of Dublin, with Maree going down narrowly 34 – 30. Glanmire won the final. The tournament will pay dividends to the Maree and Calasanctius teams in the season to come, no doubt.
Maree boys win one-day triangular event in Glasnevin
Galway, Dublin and Shropshire came together for the second year in a row, in a pre-season triangular boys event that saw Maree, St. Vincent’s and Shropshire Warriors play a round-robin on Sunday August 28th. The Maree squad was Daniel Finn, Peter Finn, Shane Finn, Ciarán Considine, Jack Conroy, Mike Rockall and Liam Conroy.
Maree won both games. First up, they beat St. Vincent’s 76 – 60 (Daniel Finn 18, Jack Conroy 8, Peter Finn 27, Shane Finn 4, Ciarán Considine 11, Mike Rockall 3, Liam Conroy 5). Next up for shaving were Warriors, who went down 74 – 57 (Daniel Finn 20, Jack Conroy 10, Peter Finn 26, Shane Finn 2, Ciarán Considine 7, Mike Rockall 2, Liam Conroy 7). Happy out, happy home.
Maree Basketball Club secures €70,000 Lotto grant
On Thursday July 21st came the great news that the Maree Basketball Club Sports Capital Grant application to the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism had been successful. Last year’s disappointment is now behind. Many thanks to Frank Fahy T.D. for the many meetings, the advice and the support.
The Maree Community Development Association will work with the basketball club, through a joint Hall Committee-Maree Basketball Club Lotto project group, to progress the work. Watch this space!
Invasion of America
Peter Finn (Leaving Cert ’05) spent three weeks in summer playing with the New England Colonials in their annual tour of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, Connecticut and Vermont. They played 20 games in all, a fantastic experience by all accounts.
Two more Leaving Cert ’05 basketballers have made even bigger moves west. Hannah Coen has departed to up-state New York. She will attend a preparatory school - Sullivan County Community College - and play intervarsity basketball there for two years. Meanwhile, Niamh O’Hagan has also hit the States. She is gone to the high school in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania and will play basketball for that school for a year.
Well done
Congratulations to all of the basketballers who did big exams this summer and especially to those who are about to launch into the world of third-level and of work, both locally, around the country and abroad. Hopefully, your involvement in basketball over the years will stand to you. Mens sana in corpore bball!
Wanted! Coaches, Managers, etc – low wages, free abuse!
Ask not what your basketball club can do for you; ask rather what you can do for your basketball club (apologies to the late JFK).
Success breeds success but it also creates new challenges, such as providing enough coaches etc for the growing number of kids in the parish who want to play hoop. Maree Basketball Club would be delighted to welcome into the fold new coaches, referees, managers, drivers, kit people, you name it. The club would be happy to send new volunteers to coaching/refereeing courses etc. As well as that, new recruits will be “mentored” – no one will be asked to take a team by themselves, until they are good and ready. Why sit by the fire all winter, wearing out the TV clicker, when you could be involved in the Maree Basketball movement?! Go for it. Let the new season begin! Contact details; Eileen Graham-Finn 087-4188697, Seán Conroy 086-2616046.