What performances from the Girls’ basketball team as they powered their way to victory in the Liby Dynamites Girls basketball tournament! Coaches Anne and Ms Lambert were thrilled as their young charges showed skill, courage and determination to win this competition for the first time ever.
They recorded victories over St, Francis, Bay Estate, Realt na Mara and St. Columcille, Tullydonnell to advance to the semi finals. Here they faced an impressive Dulargy outfit who had some outstanding players on their team. However, the girls weathered a late comeback from the Penninsula outfit to record a 12-8 win and advance to the final. Here they would play the all-conquering St. Oliver Plunkett’s Blackrock who had brushed aside Bay Estate in the other semi final.
The decider proved to be a classic. Favourites, Blackrock, pressured early on but somehow the Dromiskin girls kept a clean sheet and broke away on a number of occasions to open up a six point gap at half time.
After the break St Oliver’s roared back and with two minutes left levelled the game to leave the Dromiskin supporters nervously expecting the worst. However, the girls responded with another basket from Caoimhe and it looked as if we had our hands on the trophy. But with time almost up the never say die Blackrock team somehow conjured up a late equaliser. Extra time beckoned!
Three minutes was what was allotted and we all wondered who would crack first. This was end to end stuff with heroic tackling and heart breaking near misses. However, with a minute to go, it was the Dromiskin girls who finally broke the deadlock with another Caoimhe special. The tension was too much to bear but, somehow, as the seconds ticked away we held out and there was joy unconfined when the hooter finally blew.
Well done to captain Caoimhe, Vanessa, Jenna, Amber, Emma, Kerry, Julie, Katie O, Katie T, Tara, Orla and Aoife. Special mention to coaches Anne and Ms Lambert for all their hard work and encouragement during the year. There was a huge cheer when Caoimhe was awarded MVP and an even louder roar from supporters when she and the team were presented with the winners’ trophy by Liby Dynamite coach Brendan Mc Coy
Losing coach Mr Sean Moraghan paid a lovely tribute to the girls and commented on the excellent competition. Sadly this was Mr Moraghan’s last tournament as he retires this summer after 36 years teaching and coaching in Blackrock.
Many thanks to Liby Dynamites for organising this annual event. It continues to go from strength to strength and is a credit to all concerned.