Fr Mathews Basketball Cork

The U12A girls faced Skibbereen this Saturday and won by 37-11. It was a great game a few of our star players were Lauren Falvey with 12 points, Caitlin Dunlea with 8 points and Sarah Geaney who stepped up game her to the level of 6 points and was instrumental in setting up a lot of the other baskets that were scored. All in all it was the way they played as a team that really won the game for them, defending so well that Skibbereen didn't score at all in the second and third quarter.

In an exciting U11B league game against Neptune at the Stadium last Saturday evening, Fr. Mathews boys emerged victorious in extra time by a slim 2 points margin at 29-27. The first quarter ended at 10 - 5 with Fr Mathews in control. But a spirited fight back by Neptune in the second and third quarters resulted in them taking a 2 point lead into the break. In a nail biting final quarter both teams exchanged excellent to end all square 27 - 27 at the hooter. Fr. Mathews got the vital score in extra time to win the tie and set up a play off game on Tuesday evening to decide league placings. Jack O'Sullivan was most valuable player and there were notable performances from Aaron Healy and Kevin O'Sullivan. Attached picture is Fr Mathews U11 Red team that won over Neptune at the weekend.

The U11A Boys were busy with two games last weekend. The pick of the two was an exciting Saturday morning clash with Ballincollig at the Parochial Hall. Two baskets apiece from Eoin Barrett and Liam Harris saw Fr Mathews open up a 6 point lead in the first quarter and, with some excellent driving play and scores from Sean Noonan and Daniel O'Keeffe, they extended the gap to 14 points in the second quarter. Ballincollig rallied and pulled back to within 4 points early in the third quarter before Fr Mathews took control again with 7 unanswered points including scores from the free throw line from Jack O'Mahony and David Curtin. Fr Mathews were 8 points clear entering the final quarter but Ballincollig had not given up. They slowly closed the gap to 5 points before scoring 6 without reply to take the lead for the first time in the match. Two free shots from Daniel Condon and Owen Connolly pushed Fr Mathews ahead but Ballincollig scored a final free shot to push the game into a 3 minute over time period. Ballincollig made the only score to win the match 34 - 32. In their other game, the boys went down 23 - 31 to Crosshaven at Crosshaven.

Three Fr Mathews teams were involved in Top Four Championship games at the Parochial Hall on Friday 16th March.

The U13 boys continued their impressive season with a comprehensive 41 - 12 win over Carrig na bhFear. Fr Mathews started well and early scores from Shane Kingston, Darragh Keane and Klaus Ozolins provided a 7 point cushion at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter continued in the same vein with Sean Keating, Shane Dawson and Glenn Williamson keeping the scoreboard ticking over. Fr Mathews moved up another gear in the third quarter and opened the gap to 26 points. Carrig na bhFear fought hard but were never able to withstand the power of the Fr Mathews squad. The team are now looking forward to an U13B Top Four Championship title to go with their U13B League and County Championship titles.

The U11A boys were very unlucky to lose out to Neptune in a highly dramatic finish. The sides were closely matched throughout the game and Fr Mathews went into the final quarter one point up. Neptune equalised and then went ahead by two, Fr Mathews responded with scores from Jack O'Mahony and David Curtin to regain the lead but Neptune again scored twice to go ahead by two. As the clock ticked down, Curtin scored again to level the game. Ten seconds on the clock and a last gasp drive from Neptune resulted in a foul and two free throws to Neptune. Fr Mathews coach, Pat Connolly, called a time-out to settle the side. On resumption, the Neptune shooter stepped up to the line and missed the first shot. Tension heightened. The shooter missed the second free throw but Neptune won the rebound and scored the vital basket to win 25 - 23.

U-13s Clinch Championship

Fr Mathews met Blue Demons in the Cork County Championship Final in the Parochial Hall last Saturday. With the teams currently first and second in the league, this game was expected to be a hard fought and exciting contest and it did not disappoint.
Fr Mathews opened the scoring when Shane Kingston drove to the basket but was fouled while attempting a lay up. He coolly drilled both free throws. Demons replied with a lay up before Shane Dawson restored the lead for Fr Mathews. The outstanding score of the first quarter came from Darragh Keane, a reverse hook shot under the board, that put Mathews 6-4 ahead.

With 90 seconds on the clock, the game was tied, 11-11, but Fr Mathews excellent point guard Keane made two steals, scored a 12 foot jump shot and made 2 free throws to send Mathews in 4 points up. The pace of the game cranked up another notch in the 2nd quarter. Both teams defended intensely in the early stages before Sean Keating opened scoring with a superb jump shot from 14 feet. Excellent defence from Glen Williamson was followed by a superb drive to the basket by Josh O’Sullivan for 2 points and a bonus free throw to put the team in red 18-12 ahead. At this stage the excellent Klaus Ozolins made his first impact with a score from close in. As the game evolved he was to become one of the key players on the court. Both teams traded points driven on by determination and the very vocal encouragement from the large crowd. The half came to a close with two fast breaks from Williamson and Ozolins opening the gap to 12 points, 30-18.

Demons came flying out of the blocks for the second half with an excellent score from a tough lay up under pressure from Shane Kingston. Sean Keating set up Ozolins once again but two scores from Demons cut the lead to 10 points. Fr Mathews, however, had the upper hand with Keating, Keane, Williamson and Ozolins dominating in all areas of the court. Keating’s link up play with Ozolins was almost telepathic as he set his forward up for two excellent baskets with precision cross court passes which split the Demons defence. The quarter ended with Mathews in front 40-29.

The intensity of Demons' play into the 4th quarter took Fr Mathews by surprise and they scored the first two baskets of the final period. With just 7 points in the difference, Demons fans sensed a comback and both sets of fans rose to encourage their teams. However, a clever time out by coaches Ronnie Verdonschot and Paul Manning settled the team and on the resumption two shots from Keating and Ozolins restored the lead to 11 points. The game was sealed just a minute later when Ozolins, proving a real handful under the boards, scored from close in and a Sean Keating steal and drive from a Demon attack secured a further 2 points. At 47-35, with just over two minutes remaining, the game had slipped away from Demons. Darragh Keane continued to control the game from the point and his short jump shot and free throw opened the gap further. A short lay up by Ozolins from a magnificent cross court pass by Keane made it 53-35. There was only time for each teams to score a basket before the final buzzer.

Congratulations to the Fr Mathews team, each and every one of whom did the club proud, and to Blue Demons for their part in an excellent Championship final.

U-9 Girls Tournament

Fr Mathew's hosted a very successful U9 Girls tournament at Douglas Community School last Saturday 24th Feb. Over 90 girls from four clubs: Brunell, Blue Demons, Carrig Na bhFear and, of course, Fr Mathews, took part in what proved to be a very exciting and enjoyable tournament. The large crowd of vocal supporters added to the party atmosphere in the hall. For many of the girls it was the first experience of competitive action but few were overawed by it all. Each of the seven, evenly matched, teams played three games, at the end of which the tournament was declared a draw. Thanks must go to the club committee members, coaches and parents who gave their time to organise it all.

U11A Boys Victorious

The U11As boys had a convincing 53 – 21 home win over Blue Demons on Saturday 3rd Feb. Fr. Mathews intentions were made clear from the start when a fiercely determined Colm Barrett broke down a Blue Demons attack and moved up court to score, cancelling out an earlier Blue Demons effort. Scores were tit for tat through the first two quarters but two baskets from Sean Noonan just before half time gave Fr Mathews a 4 point lead. The home side stepped up a gear in the third quarter and baskets from Owen Barrett, Jack O’Mahony, Owen Connolly and Daniel Condon took Fr Mathews into a commanding 12 point lead without reply. It was a great team performance and valuable contributions from Danny O’Keeffe, Kevin Breen and David Curtin meant that the game was a foregone conclusion well before Liam Harris scored the final basket to make it 53 – 21. Coach Pat Connolly’s half time tactics contributed to the comprehensive victory.