Coláiste Ailigh defeated Laurel Hill 48-27 in the U19B Girls final of the Pinergy All-Schools Cup yesterday at the National Basketball Arena.
Shannon Ní Chuinneagáin scored an incredible 33 of the Letterkenny sides 48 points to deservedly win MVP.
It’s been a successful period for Ní Chuinneagáin, who also was recently named December’s MissQuote.ie Division 1 player of month playing for LYIT and she again showcased why she’s making waves in the National League.
Coláiste Ailigh led 16-6 at the end of the first quarter and 26-8 by half-time and appeared to be coasting to victory.
But the Limerick side roared back into the contest winning the third quarter by 10 points to close the deficit to 28-20 by the beginning of the fourth quarter.
A Ní Chuinneagáin fastbreak and layup made it 34-20 in the third minute of the fourth quarter. But again Laurel Hill responded and made it 36-25 at midway point in the quarter.
However, it was to be Coláiste Ailigh’s day, a neat layup under the basket from Ní Chuinneagáin moved the score to 46-27 and their win was wrapped up by a fastbreak layup from Shauna Ní Uiginn in the final seconds, as it finished 48-27.
Shannon Ní Chuinneagáin having received the award for Most Valuable Player
Coláiste Ailigh: Aoife Ní Mhurchadha, Shauna Ní Uiginn, Megan Ní Chearnacháin, Annie Nic Giolla Iontóg, Sinead Nic A’tSaoir, Shannon Ní Chuinneagáin, Clodagh Ní Shíoráin, Kayleigh Nic Aonghusa, Michaela Ní Gallachoir
Top scorers: Shannon Ní Chuinneagáin (33), Shauna Ní Uiginn (9)
The team celebrating with family, trainers and teachers
Laurel Hill: Alexa McInerney, Emily Dickinson, Hollie O’Neill, Safia Moumand, Jana Zundel, Roisín Ryan, Angel Alfred, Lisa Hegarty, Olga Kyrychenko, Diane Boco, Eva Kiely, Nika Ivcevic, Ava Rainsford, Warda Abbasi
Top scorers: Jana Zundel (10), Hollie O’Neill (7), Emily Dickinson and Roisín Ryan (4)