GLANMIRE COME OUT ON TOP VS U20s DART KILLESTER

Team Montenotte Hotel Cork’s ( Glanmire )quest to capture both the Under 18 and Under 20 National Cup titles for the second consecutive year took another giant step when they reached the Under 20’s final overcoming Dart Killester in the semi final.

Following his sides win Manager Mark Scannell, who manages both underage teams remarked on his teams achievements: “It’s just brilliant again, they’re a fantastic bunch of girls. I love coaching them because they’re brilliant and they work very hard and they just don’t know how to lose or want to lose and Orla O’Reilly is a fantastic player.”

The Cork girls took an early lead before Dart Killester fought back with two quick three pointers courtesy of Aisling Sullivan and Shauna O’Connor to take a grip on the game but superb free throwing from Team Montenotte’s Orla O’Reilly, who scored an incredible 34 points, left it honours even at 14-14 at the end of the first quarter.

O’Reilly continued to add to her points tally before Dart Killester responded when O’Connor hit four consecutive free throws to leave a basket between the teams. Midway through the quarter the teams were level at 27-27 apiece before O’Reilly and her colleague Aine McKenna’s fantastic solo effort left the Cork team 39-36 to the good at the break.

Team Montenotte stretched their lead thanks to an excellent three pointer from Sinead O’Reilly but Dart Killester clawed back the deficit through exceptional scores from Hannah Frasier and Elaine Stone to head into the final quarter trailing 50-54.

However, the Cork team broke away and built up a ten point lead early in the quarter. However a hat-trick of three pointers courtesy of Sullivan and Louise Gray got Dart Killester back in the game. But once again Orla O’Reilly’s sublime play around the boards and fantastic offensive play from captain Jessica Scannell and McKenna along with their team were well worthy of their win.