Mayo schoolboys just edged out in basketball cup final

It was tight until the last three minutes in a cracking Under 19 A Cup final at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght this afternoon, writes John Melvin.

St. Muredach’s College, Ballina, won the B cup and league double last year and were strongly fancied to bring home the A cup on their return to Tallaght, a venue they have tended to do well in on their many visits there in recent years.

However, St. Mary's of Portlaoise finished the stronger to win in the end by 67-58.

St. Muredach’s found themselves three behind at half-time and four down going into the fourth and final quarter.

But it was a one-point game with less than three minutes remaining, the Ballina school trailing 57-58, before the Portlaoise lads pulled away to win by nine in the end.

It's not over for St. Muredach’s just yet as they still have an eye on a national league title, and they will be back in Tallaght next week.

See next week's print edition for a full report on the Under 19 A Cup final