Gutsy Gortnor stun rivals to lift Connacht crown
James O'Boyle of St Muredach’s finds the basket under pressure during Friday's North West U19 'A' League Final against Jesus and Mary Secondary School, Gortnor Abbey. Picture: David Farrell Photography
Gortnor Abbey tore the form book asunder as they ended a 20-game winning run for local rivals St Muredach’s College to be crowned Regional League U19 ‘A’ champions last Friday afternoon.
The Ballina school were the big favourites coming into this one, with this exceptional group having not lost a game for almost two years. Indeed, Gortnor were one of the victims over this 20-game run, having been soundly beaten 78-51 in Crossmolina back as recently as October.
But from the end of the first quarter, one suspected this was a game that was going right to the wire and with 55 seconds on the clock in the final period, it looked destined for overtime with the scores tied at 56-56. Eoin Dyra, however, sunk a majestic three-pointer on the right side to send the Crossmolina support wild and Dylan Flynn, who had an exceptional game, nailed a basket seconds from the hooter to condemn the Ballina students to defeat and send Gortnor players, coaches and supporters wild.
While it would be fair to say that Muredach’s may have had one eye on their upcoming All-Ireland Cup semi-final with Coláiste Éanna tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon, that would do a disservice to the performance of Gortnor Abbey and they will be a team who many will hope to avoid in the national stages.
Yet it appeared early doors that this final would go the way of their round-robin encounter. The Ballina side raced into an 8-1 lead through baskets by Nathan Roddy, in his first game back from injury, Brian Donoghue and James O’Boyle, as Gortnor Abbey struggled to get going.
But they rallied back with 15 points on the bounce through the mercurial Kobe McDonald, Esmond Maughan and Dylan Flynn to lead 16-10 at the end of the first quarter. The influence of Flynn and McDonald in particular was evident, showing their excellent defensive skills with some key steals to keep St Muredach’s to a solitary basket in the final stages of the first period, while combining for nine points in their run.
Gortnor’s aggressive play came back to bite them in the second quarter as Muredach’s collected nine points of their 22 scored in this period from free throws, due to Gortnor’s high foul count.
Mark Cunningham, who had a quiet first eight minutes for Muredach’s, scored six points for his side while Brian Donoghue had a haul of eight. McDonald replied for Gortnor with eight of his own, including the game’s first three-pointer, but it would not be enough as Gortnor trailed at the exchange of the ends 32-29.
It was tied at 36-36 two minutes into the third. Four points by Roddy were countered by the same tally from Flynn and another three by McDonald. The sides would be level again on another two occasions as nerves began to simmer for both. Cunningham nudged Muredach’s back ahead but it was Kobe McDonald and Dylan Flynn who punished further infringements from the Ballina school to lead by one, 44-43.
In a dramatic final quarter, which saw the lead change on six occasions, the game was too close to call. Roddy, Donoghue and a wonderful three by Cian Morrison gave St Murdeach’s the lead only for Gortnor to hit back with a brilliant three by Flynn while McDonald punished a high foul count by Muredach’s with five points from free throws and a wonder basket which saw him glide across the full court.
The seconds ticked away as both sides tried to manoeuvre for the winning shot and it was Dyra and Flynn who sealed a stunning victory for Crossmolina’s latest heroes.
Gortnor Abbey: Dylan Flynn (18), Kobe McDonald (25), Theo Daly (5), Eoin Dyra (5), Esmond Maughan (8).
St Muredach’s College: Cian Morrison (7), Conor Bourke, Nathan Roddy (18), Ruairi Mahoney, Mark Cunningham (14), James O’Boyle (5), Brian Donoghue (12).
