Muredach’s find a way to parade past the Abbey
St. Muredach's duo Brian Donoghue, left, and Mark Cunningham starred in their win over Abbey Vocational School, Donegal. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
It was not without a scare or two but St Muredach’s College remain on course for back-to-back league and cup doubles after defeating Abbey Vocational School in Ballina last Monday afternoon.
The hosts were without the injured Nathan Roddy, who is targeting a return for the All-Ireland Cup semi-final next month, but there was still plenty of quality on the court to navigate the Donegal challenge.
The talismanic Mark Cunningham finished with 40 points and was outstanding on the day. When it appeared Abbey were on the verge off pulling off a comeback, as they got to within six points at the start of the final quarter, Cunningham provided some inspirational scoring to give Muredach’s the breathing space to go on to win.
Brian Donoghue and Cian Morrison also produced dynamic displays while James O’Boyle was solid as a rock in defence, getting in some key interceptions and starting quick counterattacks from defence.
Muredach’s had opened up a 14-point gap by the end of the first quarter and it would ultimately give them the breathing space throughout. Cunningham scored 17 points in that first quarter alone, with James O’Boyle and Donoghue also coming in with vital scores. Abbey started the game well but after a third basket by Theo Calhoun to put them 11-10 ahead, they would not score for the remainder of the period as Muredach’s dominated the play to lead 25-11.
Abbey responded well in the second quarter. Calhoun, Connall Flannery and Oisin Doherty were key men in this period, the latter nailing a stunning three as they reduced the gap to eight, 36-28, going into half-time.
St Muredach’s had a blistering start to third as Cunningham, Donoghue and Cian Morrison extended their advantage to 16 points. But Abbey’s Jay Enuba played some tremendous ball in this period, striking two three-pointers while both Calhoun and Flannery ate away at the Muredach’s lead to leave it poised at 56-50 in Muredach’s favour going into the final quarter.
Up stepped Cunningham, who had a frustrating third quarter by his own standards, as he Donoghue and James O’Boyle brought the gap back out to 13 points. While Muredach’s missed a host of chances to extend it further, Abbey would score only 12 points in the final quarter, while Morrison, Cunningham and James O’Boyle made sure of victory.
