Maree lose U18 Nat Cup Semi-final

Maree’s bid to win a third successive Under 18 National Cup ended with a 64 – 53 loss to St Mary’s Castleisland in Neptune Stadium Cork, on Saturday January 16th. It was a game the defending champions could have won, but it was hard to begrudge the Kerry team their win. In summary, Mary’s defense got the better of the Maree offense, and the Galway team’s shooting, on the day, was that fraction off. At 6’7”, Padraig Lucey was a significant asset to Mary’s, despite the usual huge haul of rebounds by Maree’s Ken Hansberry. His team-mate Ciaran Harte had easily his best outing of the season, and Maree Captain Colm O’Hagan was his all-action self, but it was not enough on the day. Two of the Maree starters – Pádraig Burke and Enda Walsh, will be underage for the next two Under 18 campaigns, as will many of the rest of the squad, so the Maree banners should be evident in the National cup for several seasons yet. A hamstring injury ruled another Maree 15-yearold – Tomas Mitkus – out of the semi-final, but he too will have two further opportunities in the Under 18 National Cup.

Maree were the quicker out of the blocks in the game, through O’Hagan, before Lucey replied for Mary’s. Hansberry wasn’t long putting his mark on the game for Sean Conroy’s charges with a critical offensive board, getting fouled and draining one for two from the free throw line. A big block shot by Padraig Lucey on the next defensive position for St Marys marked a battle between the two big centres. A team effort from St Mary’s put the Kerry side in the lead at the end of the first quarter 13-11. It didn’t take long before Maree restored parity and their confidence was evident by Hansberry’s beautiful pass inside to the industrious Enda Walsh. St Mary’s refused to panic and struck a much needed lay-up in transition from Con O’Mahony. A much needed basket by Ciarán Harte followed by a huge block from Hansberry kept Maree in the game. However, Lucey continued to dominate in the paint at both ends of the floor and his influence helped his side to a 28 - 20 lead at the half.

Mary’s extended their advantage to 11 points at the start of the third quarter, courtesy of a strong three-point play from Cahill. Maree through Harte and further good work from Walsh and Pádraig Burke cut the lead to one mid-way through the period. There followed two offense in which Maree had chances to take the lead, and perhaps push on to win. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen and the door was shut by the Kingdom outfit, who took a 42 - 38 lead into the final period. A basket from Colm O’Hagan reduced the arrears. However, it was becoming increasingly difficult to shake off a resilient Mary’s and once they regained a nine-point lead they never looked back and Maree’s “three-peat” bid was over.

Team; Colm O’Hagan (11), Ken Hansberry (11), Ciarán Harte (13), Enda Walsh (9), Pádraig Burke (6), Éanna Malone (3), Paul Jacobsen, John Evans, Cormac Shields, Tomas Mitkus, Dónal Greene, Alan Dempsey
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Maree U18 men power past St Vincent’s in National Cup quarter-final

Maree’s quest for a Men’s Under 18 National Cup three-peat remains alive, following a huge win in their Quarter-final tie with Dublin League leaders, St Vincent’s. The Oranmore-Maree side won by a whopping 47 points, before a large and enthusiastic home support. Their ultra-aggressive man-to-man defense shocked the Dubliners right from the jump-off and, with captain Colm O’Hagan stealing the ball for fun, Maree raced to an awesome 27 – 5 lead at the end of the first quarter. Vincent’s had no answer inside to the power of the shifts put in by the 6’5” big men Ken Hansberry Tomas Mitkus and Enda Walsh, nor the pace of guards O’Hagan, Ciarán Harte and Padraig Burke. At the half, Maree’s lead was 52 – 14, the result already beyond doubt.

St Vincent’s tried everything; a full court man-to-man press failed to slow Maree down. A switch to zone slowed the home team a little, but not for long. The sheer intensity of the Maree game broke the Dubliners early, and it wasn’t until the fourth quarter that the home side relented into a zone, then a 3 – 2 defense. Apart from the performances of 17-yearolds O’Hagan, Hansberry, Harte and Paul Jacobsen, the Maree coaches had to be particularly pleased with the showing of 15-yearolds, Mitkus, Burke, Walsh, and Éanna Malone and 16-yearolds Dónal Greene and Alan Dempsey. Cormac Shields was injured and didn’t play. Maree took the third quarter 19 - 8, then eased up to share the fourth 11 – 11, and win the game emphatically 80 – 33.

Maree; Pádraig Burke (15), Tomas Mitkus (18), John Evans (dnp), Alan Dempsey, Éanna Malone (7), Ciarán Harte, Paul Jacobsen (2), Colm O’Hagan (7), Cormac Shields (inj), Dónal Greene (2), Ken Hansberry (19), Enda Walsh (10).
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League table for U-18 Mens Venue 3 - Galway
Team                   P      W      L      P+      P-      P+/-       Pts
Maree                  3       3       0      240     168    72          9
Eanna                  3       2       1      205     160    45          7
Tolka Rovers         3      1        2      229     197   32           5
Limerick Lakers    3       0        3     107     256   -149        3

Saturday 26th September 2009
Maree 88 (51) 32 (16) Limerick Lakers
Eanna 76 (37) 54 (22) Tolka Rovers
Maree 69 (30) 66 (39) Eanna
Tolka Rovers 105 (49) 38 (30) Limerick Lakers
Sunday 27th September 2009 
Maree 83 (48) 70 (36) Tolka Rovers Oranmore More
Limerick Lakers 37 (24) 63 (32) Eanna Oranmore More
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Maree Under 18 Boys get to final Michael Heffernan Memorial tournament Cork

On Saturday September 12th, Maree defended the Michael Heffernan Cup in Cork. They did themselves proud, getting to the final, where they had to give way to a very good Éanna side from Dublin. Maree’s played Neptune first, working hard to win 41 - 38. There were 4 pools of three, the top two going on to quarter-finals. The Tramore game would be critical. At the half, Maree trailed by 8, but went on to win 42 - 37. The quarter-final opponents were Glanmire, and Maree won big 54 - 19, to set up a semi-final clash with Demons. On the other side of the draw, Moycullen were amongst those who lost out, the other semi-finalists being Ballincollig and Éanna. Maree played a super game against Demons, winning 56 - 40. Éanna however, proved the better team in the decider, and took the cup 47 - 32.
Maree; Colm O’Hagan, Ken Hansberry, Ciaran Harte, Enda Wlash, Éanna Malone, John Evans, Ronan O’Donnell, Dominic Czabo, Alan Dempsey, Pádraig Burke, Brian Kelly (inj).