THE Schools' Basketball Cup finals, which got underway at the National Arena in Tallaght yesterday, produced a trio of enthralling encounters. In the girls' A decider Mercy Heights, Skibbereen bidding to become the first team to capture the trophy two years running were avenged by Presentation Listowel, last year's beaten finalists.
Listowel captain Dara Barrett, who missed a 1995 final through injury, was the difference between the sides, contributing 28 points to her side's 72-63 victory.
Listowel pulled away from Skibbereen midway through the first half when consecutive baskets from the excellent Claire McConnell and a superbly taken three pointer from Maura Buckley gave them 20-9 lead.
Trailing 27-38 at the break, Skibbereen staged a brilliant second half comeback through Michelle Cahalane and they briefly led by a point before Jacinta Egan, Edel Maher, and Barrett put Listowel back in the driving seat. Maher kept her fellow international Paula O'Neill under wraps in the closing stages as Listowel captured the cup at the third time of asking.
In the boys' B final, Sporaid Naomh from Cork had point guard Alan Manning to thank for a 67-57 victory over St Joseph's College, Galway.
St Joseph's, with Colm Gavin and captain John French in fine form, led 16-10 after 10 minutes before their fouling landed them in trouble. Shane O'Donoghue, their tallest player, was the chief culprit and when he was forced to leave the court, Sporaid Naomh's giant centre William Walsh was allowed too space among the St Joseph's defence.
With Manning directing the play. Sporaid Naomh led 33-26 at halftime and never surrendered the initiative in the second period.
The boys' C final pitted a tall, well drilled Carrick on Shannon CS against a skillful Drimnagh Castle CBS. Finesse eventually won through, with the Dublin side prevailing by 40-37 in the day's most exciting contest.
With Joseph Haastrup breaching the Shannon defence at will with a series of mazy dribbles Drimnagh took the early initiative.
But Shannon's Padraig Carroll and James McGowen made their presence felt and posed a constant threat to the Drimnagh defence. Between them they produced 10 first half points to keep their side in contention at 16-21.
Bouyed on by a massive support, Shannon always threatened to overwhelm the Dublin side. ,However, Drimnagh held their nerve and Haalstrup went on to amass a personal tally of 19 points and steer his side to victory.
