SMGS U16 Boys qualify for All Ireland Quarter Finals.💪🏼

On Monday 14th January, Scoil Mhuire gan Smál hosted an U16A boys basketball qualifier tournament in Parochial hall, Gurranabraher.  Four teams competed with one team progressing to the All-Irelandquarters.

Game 1 – SMGS 56, Gael ColáisteChiarraí44

SMGS held the lead from the get go in this game but it wasn’t until late in the fourth quarter that the game was made safe.  CiaránDunlea opened the scoring with 2nice buckets before the Kerry outfit answered with two of their own.  Our outside shooting wasn’t working out, must have been the early morning, this game tipped off at 9.30am, so the boys workedhard inside.  Ruairi O’Mahony chipped in with two fine scores and Matthew McCarthy put on a master class of driving the lane scoring 5 baskets in a row, thus putting SMGS 18-11 to the good at the end of the first quarter. 

The second quarter saw the SMGS lead cut to 4 points with the boys finding it hard to break down Gael Coláiste’sdefence.  Craig Hoare kept the scoreboard ticking over for the hosts with a brace.

The second half started brightly for SMGS with Irish International Jack O’Leary controlling matters from the point.  The team were now showing good form in attack, with James Gabriel landing a monster 3 one of the highlights of the quarter.The boys worked really hard as a unit in defence, limiting the opposition attack to 8 points for the quarter. The quarter finished 42-31 to SMGS

In the final quarter Isaac Eroutteh dominated the boards both defensively and offensively, contributing 12 points in the process, thus ensuring SMGS came away with victory.  Final score SMGS 56 – Gael Coláiste, Chiarraí 44

Game 2 – SMGS 59, St Olivers CC, Drogheda 50

This game could be dubbed the ”Isaac Eroutteh Show”.  What a performance by the big man. 27 points and 29 rebounds.  Isaac was unstoppable in offence and a rock in defence.  Ably assisted by Matthew and Jack, SMGS ran more comfortable winners than the final score line suggests.

Game 3 – SMGS 65, ColáisteÉanna, Dublin 55

With both teams having won their previous two games, it all came down to this.  The visitors, with Irish International Milo Herbst in their ranks had performed exceptionally well all tournament.  A fascinating matchup ensued between Howe and our own O’Leary and McCarthy, with all 3 players proving very effective at both ends of the court.  As the game developed, SMGS battled really hard to gain the upper handand ran out eventual winners 65-55

Our boys can be really proud of their perfomances and we as a school salute you on the way you carried the SMGS flag today and throughout the campaign.

Onwards and upwards now to the All-Ireland quarter finals to be played later this months in the NBA in Tallaght

Squad;Matthew McCarthy(Capt), Jack O’Leary, Isaac Eroutteh, Ruairi O’Mahony, Ciarán Dunlea, James Gabriel, Craig Hoare, Cian Kelly, Michéal Carey, Chulainn Gough.

Coach : Mr. J. O' Sullivan

• Tournament Commisioner: Mr. Niall O’Connell

• Table Officials: Mark Maguire & Eli Lenihan

• Asst Coach: Kelvin O’Donoghue

• Also a big thank you to Alice, Amy, Aaliyha and Danielle for all your help on the day.