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EMYVALE
U16 Girls
Weekend February 5th
Sunday Feb 6th: Under 16 Girls.
Lisburn 33pts Donagh 25pts.
Lisburn got revenge for an earlier defeat to Donagh in Monaghan and remain at the top of the table and odds on to win the under 16 league. This was certainly a game of two halves with Donagh very strong in the first 2 quarters, taking a 10pt lead into the half time break but it was all Lisburn in the second with Donagh scoring a measly 3pts in the whole of this half, this was very disappointing for both girls and coaches who know they are better than they are playing at the minute.
Alanah O Donaghue, Aislinn McPhillips, Andrea Rafferty, Shauna McCarron and Emile McKenna were the first quarter starters and they played very well. The game started off slowly and lacked a little life but then it was 11.30 on a Sunday morning. The Donagh defence worked hard and did well against the big no 42 who must have been about 6ft tall but inevitably she scored a number of baskets and free shots. The girls played well in offence too and Donagh shaded this quarter. Alanah and Emile hit two baskets each and Andrea and Aislinn got one each. Donagh led by 12pts to 9pts.
The second quarter was a great one for Donagh and they played really well, the on court girls were Katie Curley, Megan Ward, Casey Treanor, Laura McCarey and Harriet O Connor. The defence was brilliant and restricted the home side to just 3pts, the workrate was excellent. In offence Casey probed well and was fouled constantly, she hit 4pts two of them from free shots. Laura who had a brilliant quarter scored a 3 pointer and a free shot and Megan scored a rebound. Donagh were ahead by 22pts to 12pts and were looking good, the only worrying thing was that our inside girls weren’t winning much ball under the basket.
The game changed completely in the second half, Lisburn had their strongest and tallest 5 on court and their defence was impossible to penetrate. Hollie McKenna and Sarah McAlister joined Alanah, Emile and Andrea on court for Donagh but the fresh players couldn’t make the difference. They hit a 3 pointer to start and the big 42 rebounded for a couple of scores. Despite changes on the Donagh side the slide had started and they were not able to stop it. Donagh didn’t get any scores in this period and Lisburn took the lead in the last seconds with 2 free shots from their point guard no.30. End of quarter score was 23-22 to the home side.
The game wasn’t over by any means with only one point between them but Donagh were going to have to break through the home defence and get a few scores. The first basket would set the tone and despite some patient intelligent play from Donagh that first basket remained illusive. Instead Lisburn broke down the court and scored. The home side settled down and the 42 hurt Donagh again with 2 baskets. Harriet scored one from two after being fouled on a lay up and this was the first score Donagh had got from half time and there was now only 3 minutes left. Laura made it 29 to 25 but Lisburn added another two before the buzzer. Final score was 33pts to 25pts.
Donagh will qualify for the top four semi finals but home court advantage depends on the results from our last two matches. We need to win.
Team and Scorers: Laura McCarey 6pts, Casey Treanor 4pts, Emile McKenna 4pts, Alanah O Donaghue 4pts, Andrea Rafferty 2pts, Aislinn McPhillips 2pts, Megan Ward 2pts, Harriet O Connor 1pt, Shauna McCarron, Hollie McKenna, Katie Curley and Sarah McAlister.
Weekend January 29th
Under 16 Girls
Queens 31pts Donagh 27pts
The under 16 girls match was up next and Donagh really needed to win this to climb
back up over Lisburn at the top of the table. As it turned out this wasn’t to be
but Donagh will strive to stay well positioned in the top four to grab a place in
the semi finals. There is nothing between any of these teams at the top and on their
day anyone can beat anyone.
Aislinn McPhillips, Katie Curley, Andrea Rafferty, Harriet O Connor and Emile McKenna were the first quarter five and Aislinn was first to score when she was on the end of a good move involving Emile and Andrea. Queens did not take long to reply and then both teams exchanged free shots with the home side hitting 1pt. Donagh took the lead with a strong drive by Emile through the centre and Harriet followed this up scoring one from two after being fouled. Queens made it 5pts each with a shot but Donagh worked hard and were edging it slightly, Andrea was fouled and she converted one shot, Katie had a chance from the free throw line but she missed before Aislinn steadied the nerves with a basket. Andrea added another from the free throw line to make it 9pts to 5pts for Donagh.
Alanah O Donaghue, Megan Ward, Casey Treanor, Laura Carey and Dearbhile Sherry were next up and Donagh were first out of the blocks with a basket from Casey. If Donagh could have pushed on at this stage they would have won but they committed too many fouls and allowed the home side back into it, in fact if they had scored all their free shots they would have been ahead. As it was they scored half of them to make it 10pts to 11pts. Alanah stretched the lead with a basket after a pass from Megan and this was about the only cohesive bit of play from Donagh in this period. Two good shots put Queens ahead after a dreadful quarter from the Monaghan side. Score was 14pts – 13pts.
Katie, Aislinn, Emile were joined by Sarah McAlister and Alana Hughes, with Sarah being asked to play in a strange role on the wing but it didn’t really work out, Queens shot the ball well an extended their lead. In this period Queens scored 7 to Aislinn’s one free shot. After a time out changes were made and Donagh brought the score back to 22pts with a basket and shot from Aislinn and a drive from Casey. Unfortunately Queens scored again just before the break to leave the margin at 5pts.
Andrea, Megan, Casey, Alanah and Laura were on first to try and get us back in the game and they did so with good baskets from Alanah and Laura. The defence was playing well too but there was still that air of panic that caused needless fouls to be committed and A McFarland took advantage hitting both shots. Queens took another step towards victory with a McGregor shot but Andrea replied after Casey put her in. After time outs and changes Donagh had four free shots in total and didn’t score a point, but Queens managed to score and Donagh could not pull it back. Megan finished with a basket and Queens hit a free shot to leave the final score 31- 27
Team and Scorers: Aislinn McPhillips 8pts, Andrea Rafferty 4pts, Casey Treanor 4pts, Alanah O Donaghue 4pts, Emile McKenna 2pts, Laura Carey 2pts, Megan Ward 2pts, Harriet O Connor 1pt, Alana Hughes, Sarah McAlister, Dearbhile Sherry and Katie Curley.
Weekend January 15th
U. 16 Girls Donagh 28pts Blaze 30pts
The under 16 girls were next up seeking revenge on the Letterkenny girls who are
the only team to have beaten them this season so far, unfortunately it did not work
out that way and instead Donagh suffered their first home defeat. The Blaze girls
just about shaded it with a fast aggressive style of play that Donagh found it hard
to handle.
Aislinn McPhillips, Katie Curley, Harriet O Connor, Emile McKenna and Shauna McCarron were first on the floor and they raced off to a brilliant start, Aislinn got the first score after being played in by Katie and she also got the second after a break by Harriet. Katie made it 6-0 with a shot from the centre and Aislinn added another from a good pass from Shauna. This was a blistering start where Blazed only managed a free shot.
After a time out by the Blaze coach and presumably a roasting they came out a different team, they were much more physical and they upped the pace significantly. Their number 7 led the way with a great drive but Donagh responded positively with a basket from Katie. This did not stem the tide however and the turned the game with 6 points in a row. There was just 2pts between them with a minute to go, Harriet scored a free shot but crucially Blaze brought the deficit down to a point just before the break, score was 11-10.
Megan Ward, Casey Treanor, Alanah O Donaghue, Alana Hughes and Laura Carey stepped in for the second quarter but they started quite poorly, a turnover gave away the first basket but Alanah responded with a basket and a free shot. Blaze scored one from the free shot line and then stole the ball off Donagh to leave the score at 14pts to 15pts. Laura tied the game up again with one of her free shots but Blaze pushed on and scored another 2 baskets to open up a gap, they led 15-19.
After a time out Donagh improved, Laura put in a nice shot and Casey got herself on the end of a “give and go” and finished with aplomb. Blaze were on the ropes as Casey scored another 2 fast breaks only to see one ruled out by the table as overtime when the referee had given it, half time score was 21pts to 19pts.
The third quarter saw Sarah McAlister and Andrea Rafferty join Emile, Casey and Alanah on court but Blaze started quicker, they drew level with a good drive and potted the free shot. The home defence was excellent and they repelled most Blaze attacks but Donagh never looked like scoring themselves. Their offence was poor with mistimed runs and a lack of good passing leaving it easy for the Blaze defence to read. Katie replaced Alanah half way through and scored with a wonderful fake and drive to the basket but this was the only score Donagh got whereas Blaze scored again to lead 24pts to 23pts at the interval.
Laura, Megan, Harriet, Casey and Aislinn started the last quarter and drew level when Megan scored one of her free shots. Laura popped one in after great work under the boards from Aislinn and Donagh were ahead by 2. It was short lived however as the very good J. Gormly drove through to score. The two teams exchanged free shots for what seemed like ages with Alanah scoring two from four and Blaze hitting two from six, the score was now 28pts each. Blaze stole the advantage with a good baseline drive but a very lucky shot.
Harriet, Alanah and Emile came on after a time out but try as they did they couldn’t conjure up a score and Blaze held on to win the game. The Donagh girls certainly couldn’t be faulted for effort and commitment but this Donegal team are fast and skilful and we may well meet them again in the semi finals if we get back to winning ways.
Team and Scorers: Aislinn McPhillips 6pts, Katie Curley 6pts, Laura Carey 5pts, Alanah O Donaghue 5pts, Casey Treanor 4pts, Megan Ward 1pt, Harriet O Connor 1pt, Alana Hughes, Shauna McCarron, Emile McKenna, Andrea Rafferty, Sarah McAlister.
Weekend Dec 11th
Donagh 42pts Andersonstown Tigers 29pts.
The under 16 girls were next up in the second match of the day in St. Macartans College
on Saturday last against a Belfast side who had won 2 out of the 3 games they had
played to date. This wasn’t the best performance from the Donagh girls but the still
ran out worthy winners
Emile McKenna, Casey Treanor, Harriet O Connor, Aislinn McPhillips and Katie Curley were the first quarter starters for the home side and they took a little while to find their feet. The home defence was good and did not look like conceding much but the offence didn’t look like they would score much either but eventually they found their rhythm and Katie scored after a good pass from the post. Emile upped the tempo and drove through the centre of the zone to put Donagh 4 up. However their number 14 replied when she found enough time and space to shoot a 3 pointer. After the Donagh girls got to grips with the shooting danger the Tigers didn’t offer much else in this quarter and Donagh pulled away with a drive from Emile and a rebound shot from Harriet. Donagh made it 10 – 3 when Harriet stole the ball and found Casey on the run and she made no mistake. Casey who had a great quarter stole the ball and finished it herself to end the quarter, score was 12pts to 3pts.
Alanah O Donaghue, Megan Ward, Hollie McKenna, Hollie Brennan and Laura Carey were the next five for the second period and they hit the floor running, Megan scored first and then Alanah made it 16—3. After Tigers scored twice to make it 16—7 they played with more aggression but all they succeeded in doing was sending Donagh to the free throw line, Alanah, Megan and Hollie McKenna all scored one from two to make it 19—7. Laura found Megan and Alanah with some great passes as they were completely dominating the backboards, Alanah scored from one and when Megan could not get her shot away she passed to Hollie Brennan and she shot confidently to make it 23—9. Alanah added another 5pts before half time and the Tigers scored 3 to leave Donagh ahead by 16 at the break.
Andrea Rafferty and Dearbhile Sherry were joined by Emile, Aislinn and Alanah for the start of the third quarter but it was the Tigers who got the better start and scored 3pts. The Donagh play wasn’t great in this quarter, it was too individualistic and good team play went out the window. Despite Alanah scoring twice this was a poor quarter compared to the previous two and the Tigers outscored Donagh by 8pts to 4pts. Switches were made but Donagh could not change the pattern, the Tigers were back to within 12 points and that could be dangerous.
The Tigers went to a full court press in an attempt to pull the game back but Hollie McKenna, Megan, Emile, Alanah and Casey did not panic, Hollie broke the press to score the first of the period herself and then she found Alanah in the next break but she was fouled but did not convert. They pulled one back but they could not stop Hollie as she broke again, she found Megan who slipped a deft little pass in to Alanah to score. This was more like teamwork. When Hollie broke again and found Casey on the run, who scored, the opposition heads dropped, there was going to be no comeback. Baskets were swapped in the final minutes but Donagh won by 42pts to 29pts. A good win that puts them on top of the table heading into the Christmas break.
Team and Scorers: Alanah O Donaghue 16pts, Casey Treanor 6pts, Harriet O Connor 4pts, Emile McKenna 4pts, Hollie McKenna 3pts, Megan Ward 3pts, Aislinn McPhillips 2pts, Hollie Brennan 2pts, Katie Curley 2pts, Laura Carey, Andrea Rafferty, Dearbhile Sherry.