De La Salle bounce past Patricians

The De La Salle Under 19s Basketball team cruised past Patrician High School on Thursday January 15th 2009 to scoop the coveted North-East Regional Final for a second year running. The win means that the team, managed by Mr Kieran Gallagher and coached by Fu Faapito, go on to represent the North-east in the prestigous All Ireland Play offs.

The boys met St Pat's of Navan in the Semi- Final, an energy- sapping game which was played on the same day! St Pat's were no match for joint captains and dynamic duo Chris Berrill and John Rafferty who dominated the court. The De La Salle triumphed by a convincing 18 points, Final score ending 54- 36.

In The Final De La Salle met arch-rivals Patrician High School, whom they previously beat in last years Regional Final and in the All- Ireland playoffs. De La Salle eased past Patrician in last years game and things seemed to be going in a similar direction in this final.

De La Salle got off to a great start and by half time they were leading by 15 points. As the game went on tiredness and complacency set in. The Patricians, sensing that the De La Salle Boys determination was wearing off, launched wave after wave of offence. But a great defence was held by Ciaran Murray, Conor Martin and Marc Agbogbe who managed to hold off Patrician and win by four points. The pulsating encounter ended with a score of 48- 44 to the De La Salle Boys.

De La Salle now qualify for the All-Ireland Play-off which will be Held in Muirhevna Mór Sports Centre on the 1st of March.