Magic 5 Cup wins for Liffey Celtic girls

March 1st and 2nd 2014 was some weekend for the Liffey Celtics basketballers. Going to play in five ladies cup finals was special, but to come through with five cup final victories at U12, U13, U14, U15 and U16 was a remarkable result.

The U12 girls got it underway on Saturday morning at 10am, against a good Templeogue side. It was a closely fought first half, but a strong third quarter from Celtics gave them a gap going into the final quarter where they held out for victory. There followed great celebrations for many of the clubs youngest members. Liffey Celtics U12 team: E. Hilliard, C. Holbrook, M. Doherty, A. Tarrant, C. Masterson, L. O’Dwyer, K. Martyr, L. Browne, C. Mulleady, L. Fallon, F. Akorde, K. Rochford, L. O’Toole.

At 11.30am the U14 girls faced up to Templeogue again. These two teams met in previous finals with only ever a single score between them. Templeogue opened up really well and dominated the first half to lead by seven points at half time. A great fight back from Celtics U14 girls again in the third quarter brought it back to an even game. Some excellent three point shooting and excellent defence won it for Celtics in the fourth quarter. Liffey Celtics U14 team: B. Olaru, C. Bracken, M. Hanlon, N. Masterson, S. Reynor, E. Browne, A. McDermott, M. Stewart, K. Hackett, A. Meekel, J. Onuke, M. Roddy, A. Dowling.

The U16 girls final was next up. DCU Mercy and Celtics have met twice in the league this season with Mercy coming out on top in both. This was another ding dong battle with never more than seven points between the teams and the lead see-sawing between both. With seconds left on the clock Celtics were three points up, but DCU Mercy brought it back to a one point game with a brilliant play. A very tense last four seconds but Liffey Celtics U16 girls held out for a first trophy for this group of players in years. Liffey Celtics U16 team:  N. Kane, L. O’Dwyer, S. Tiernan, C. Mullins, A.Curtin, L. Furtune, M. Dolan, C. Gleeson, C. Smyth, C. Wheeler, H. Hilliard, C. Broderick.

Four O’Clock saw the start of the U15 girls final, this time it was Liffey Celtics versus Oblate Dynamos. The Dynamos had great support playing in their home gym. The girls on these two sides have gotten to know each other very well over the past couple of years in opposition and as teammates on representative teams. Celtics led from the start, and although they got into early foul trouble, they have a bench of great players to rely on to go on to take the cup after another great battle between these two teams. Liffey Celtics U15 team: B. Olaru, M. Hanlon, N. Masterson, L. O’Dwyer, C. Broderick, K. O’Toole, E. Donnelly, S. Walsh, R. Hynes, E. Bowler, J. Kirwin, S. Tiernan.

It all started again on Sunday morning at 10am, this time with the U13 cup final with Liffey Celtics up against Oblate Dynamos again. The Celtics girls had an outstanding first quarter with some great drives, and established a commanding 18 points to 4 lead. The second quarter saw the fight back from the Oblate Dynamo girls and cheered on by a big home support they brought it back to a seven point game going into the last quarter. A great comeback and now both sets of supporters were cheering their girls on. A tense and entertaining last quarter saw each side trading scores but Celtics girls did really well to hold out for a four point victory. A great response from this team after they lost out by a single point in last years final. Liffey Celtics U13 team: F. Akorde, K. Rochford, M. Lalor, A.Bowler, C. Bracken E. Harrington, A. O’Shaughnessy, E. Devine, M. Sherlock, L. Furlong, A.Doherty-Madrigal, Z. Tobin, A. Njonguo, L. McDermott.

In the other finals, KUBS won the U17 girls, while Meteors took the U18 girls cup. In the senior ladies, Malahide won both the Junior and Intermediate cups, while DCU Mercy took the Senior cup.