Moycullen U18 girls bowed out of this year’s National Cup in heart breaking circumstances going down 46 – 44 to one of the tournament favourites, St Anthonys from Cork. Having already beaten Killester & Muckno Ladies comprehensively on Saturday, Sunday’s game against the All Ireland U16 champions of two years ago was a “winner takes all” affair for a spot in the quarter final. The girls led from the tip off – taking the first quarter 10 – 4 playing great defensive basketball with Sorcha White, Romy Cunningham and Megan Davoren doing great work under the boards. Offensively, Catherine Connaire, Aine McDonagh  & Ailbhe Davoren were combining well and picking off their own scores at the other end with Moycullen reaching half time with a twelve point lead. However, a  lapse in concentration in the third was to prove their undoing when St Anthonys closed the lead to 4  going into the last. The Cork Ladies led for the first time in the game with four minutes remaining on the clock. The closing minutes were extraordinarily tense with Catherine Connaire scoring three (free throw & field goal) to narrow the gap, St Anthonys adding a free throw of their own to increase the margin to two again. Moycullen still had chances as the seconds ticked away but could not get that tying score. The team can be proud of themselves and their performances over the weekend and now must pick themselves up and look forward to the shield

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