Maree will face Templeogue in the National Cup Final at end of Jan.
Men’s Under 18 Semi-final; Maree 53 Dublin Raiders 51
Saturday morning, just twelve hours after the Under 20 game ended, six of the Maree players lined out in the Under 18 Semi-final against Dublin Raiders. This was a great contest, and kept both sets of supporters on the edge of their seats throughout. Maree fans were easy to spot and easier to hear, with distinctive Tee-shirts, a sea of white towels flourished at every opportunity, and cheers and chants to beat the band; it had to be worth a few points in the end. From the start, Maree looked the more dangerous on the fast break, whereas Raiders looked to have more options in the half-court offense. Raiders were evidently acutely conscious of the threat posed by big Enda Walsh, and their attention to defending him gave opportunities to Maree’s shooting guards, particularly Cormac Shields, who hit his side’s first 5 points. Maree led 15 11 at the end of the first quarter. Raiders came right back however, tying the game at 15 – 15 and, despite 5 from Craig Hansberry, went on to take a 31 – 28 half-time lead, through good dribble penetration and shot selection in the paint. The 7-point turnaround looked ominous. In the third, Maree’s Pádraig Burke began to really increase the tempo, bringing the ball up the floor at pace, and scoring his side’s first 6 points. Maree hit 14 and held Raiders to just 5, to make it Maree 42 Raiders 36 going into the fourth. The Bray side, to their credit, never gave up, and the last 5 minutes was a story of relentless Raiders pressure against unyielding Maree defense, with Eavan Finn exemplary. Walsh fouled out in the last seconds, but Maree held out and advanced to the National Final with a 53 – 51 win. They will face Templeogue, comfortable 76 – 62 winners over Swords in the other Semi-final.
Maree U18 Men; Enda Walsh (14), Pádraig Burke (17), Joseph Henry, Eavan Finn (3), Seán Moran (1), Cormac Shields (9), Craig Hansberry (9), Ryan Murray, Oisín Galvin.
BI Mens U-18 National Cup Quarter Final
Maree : 80 (Half Time: 36)
Killester : 42 (Half Time: 19)
Top Scorers
Maree : T Mitkus 26; P Burke 17; E Walsh 16
Killester : P Sullivan 11; M Deegan 10; L Givens 7
Pool Games: 24th/25th September:
Maree 74 vs Moycullen 43 Maree 66 vs St Vincents 31
Maree 73 vs Lisburn City 44 Maree 77 vs UCD/Marian 34
Saturday morning, just twelve hours after the Under 20 game ended, six of the Maree players lined out in the Under 18 Semi-final against Dublin Raiders. This was a great contest, and kept both sets of supporters on the edge of their seats throughout. Maree fans were easy to spot and easier to hear, with distinctive Tee-shirts, a sea of white towels flourished at every opportunity, and cheers and chants to beat the band; it had to be worth a few points in the end. From the start, Maree looked the more dangerous on the fast break, whereas Raiders looked to have more options in the half-court offense. Raiders were evidently acutely conscious of the threat posed by big Enda Walsh, and their attention to defending him gave opportunities to Maree’s shooting guards, particularly Cormac Shields, who hit his side’s first 5 points. Maree led 15 11 at the end of the first quarter. Raiders came right back however, tying the game at 15 – 15 and, despite 5 from Craig Hansberry, went on to take a 31 – 28 half-time lead, through good dribble penetration and shot selection in the paint. The 7-point turnaround looked ominous. In the third, Maree’s Pádraig Burke began to really increase the tempo, bringing the ball up the floor at pace, and scoring his side’s first 6 points. Maree hit 14 and held Raiders to just 5, to make it Maree 42 Raiders 36 going into the fourth. The Bray side, to their credit, never gave up, and the last 5 minutes was a story of relentless Raiders pressure against unyielding Maree defense, with Eavan Finn exemplary. Walsh fouled out in the last seconds, but Maree held out and advanced to the National Final with a 53 – 51 win. They will face Templeogue, comfortable 76 – 62 winners over Swords in the other Semi-final.
Maree U18 Men; Enda Walsh (14), Pádraig Burke (17), Joseph Henry, Eavan Finn (3), Seán Moran (1), Cormac Shields (9), Craig Hansberry (9), Ryan Murray, Oisín Galvin.
BI Mens U-18 National Cup Quarter Final
Maree : 80 (Half Time: 36)
Killester : 42 (Half Time: 19)
Top Scorers
Maree : T Mitkus 26; P Burke 17; E Walsh 16
Killester : P Sullivan 11; M Deegan 10; L Givens 7
Pool Games: 24th/25th September:
Maree 74 vs Moycullen 43 Maree 66 vs St Vincents 31
Maree 73 vs Lisburn City 44 Maree 77 vs UCD/Marian 34
