All Ireland Silver Finalists 🏀🥈
Thursday May 3rd 2018
Our 1st year girls did themselves, and their school very proud today. We travelled to the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght to play their semi final first against Sacred Heart Secondary School, Tullamore.
From the start, the girls went in strong and determined to secure their place later that day in the final. Baskets from Saoirse Breen, Michelle Ugwah, Orla Humphreys, Abbie Babington and Kate Sexton were all crucial in securing our place in the final. Great defensive plays from the rest of the team, cheering from our supporters and a great display of teamwork meant SMGS went through to the All Ireland final with a final score line of 47 - 27 to SMGS!!
Top scorers for our semi final was Saoirse Breen with 18pts and Michelle Ugwah 14pts.
ALL IRELAND FINAL:
Later in the afternoon, we faced a strong and determined Cork side - St Aloysius Carrigtwohill - In the All Ireland Final.
SMGS had a tough 1st quarter, and it took the girls a while to settle back into their game. Despite our tough defensive line, St Al’s persevered and scored a few baskets in the 2nd quarter which meant SMGS had some work to do to catch up. The 3rd and 4th quarters saw our girls come out fighting and closed in the scoreline difference down to be defeated by a narrow 5 baskets.
The final scoreline was 52 - 42 to Aloysius Carrigtwohill.
SMGS Blarney are All Ireland Silver Medalists and we could not be prouder of the girls teamwork and dedication all year to training!
Top scorers for the final: Orla Humphreys 16pts, Saoirse Breen 13pts and Michelle Ugwah 11pts.
Thank you to our supporters who travelled up today to cheer us on and kept spirits up for the day.
Special thanks to our two TY Coaches Laura Kelleher and Emma Murphy for helping to train the girls and traveling the matches.
Thank you to our coaches Ms Martin and Ms Foley for training the girls all year, and their dedication to the team.
Back L to R: Ms Foley, Emma Murphy, Ciara O Neill, Ellie O Keeffe, Niamh O Leary, Kate Sexton, Eva Hornibrook, Abbie Babington, Laura Kelleher, Ms Martin.
Front L to R: Niamh Barry, Sarah Healy, Michelle Ugwah, Abby Grace, Georgia Glasgow, Saoirse Breen (c), Orla Humphreys (c), Orlaith Savage, Lily Costello, Sarah Kiely, Miriam Murphy.