Limerick Celtics take home two Glo Basket European Cup Titles
During Easter week, in Catelonia, strains of The Fields of Athenry and ‘Olé Olé, Olé’ were to be heard at venues across the Costa Brava. Why, you might ask? The answer, the participation of almost 100 Limerick Celtics Basketball Club players and parents at the 2019 Glo Basket Invitational tournament in Lloret De Mar from April 13 to April 18th.
Celtics entered teams at four different levels and returned home victorious in two and reaching quarter finals in two others. In total, almost 40 teams from across Europe participated in these four competitions alone, testament both to the size and prestige of the Globasket Event and to the scale of the competition involved.
The different age levels represented were under 14 boys, under 14 girls, under 16 boys and under 16 girls, with each team playing four games in their pool. Celtics under 14 boys won some thrilling pool games before losing out to Girona side Grifeus Lianca in a keenly contested Glo Basket quarter final.
Celtics under 16 girls also reached the quarter final of their category before losing out to Antwerp in another super game after some strong team performances over the first three days. Under 16 girls coach Gordon O’Brien and manager Denis McInerney and under 14 boys coach Michael Crane and manager Vinny Gleeson strongly supported their teams over the four days of the Glo Basket tournament.
Celtics under 14 girls picked up our first quarter final win over their Spanish opposition with some high paced fast-break basketball and intense defense. At the Pavello De Vilobi our Celtics under 16 boys were 9 points down midway through the third quarter but staged a fantastic comeback to win the game on a 118 to 98 scoreline.
In the semi-finals it was the under 16 boys that sealed the first Celtics place in the Tournament Final, with a win over Sant Andre Natzaret, with high quality shooting helping to set up a meeting with Madrid side Alcoron. Our under 14 girls high scoring transition game proved too much for their Spanish opposition, Bergara, in their semi-final encounter as they also moved on to play in the Glo Basket Under 14 girls Final.
The girl’s final took place early on Thursday morning and with huge Celtics support cheering them on the Celtic girls took early control of this fast paced final and led CD Colexio Mariano by 14 points midway through the second quarter.
Colexio Mariano came back strongly in the third but the Limerick girls matched them basket for basket and with sustained fast-break scores in the fourth, there was little doubt that the Glo Basket Title was heading to Limerick for the first time on a final commanding scoreline of 87-47.
The under 16 boys followed the girls under 14 final but this was a much tougher affair with the lead changing sides eighteen times in this fast paced and highly competitive game.
Alcoron started stronger but as this game progressed the Celtics boys regained control, combining with increasing effectiveness, to set up some fine team scores. Alcoron made a late run and reduced the Celtics lead to 2 points with only minutes remaining but the Celtics boys closed out in style to take a second Glo Basket International title on a 68 to 64 scoreline.
Celtics Under 16 Boys team: Ruairi Cronin, Jack Somers, Gareth Gallagher, Jack Golden, Cathal Dywer, Cormac O Connor, Conor O’Mara, Jakub Pawlowiz, Jack Nealon, Luke Ryan and Frank Corcoran.
Coach: Tony Hehir. Manager: Tony O’Mara.
Celtics under 14 girls team: Lucy Devoy, Nia McInerney, Deirdre Flanagan, Sophie Ryan, Alli Walsh, Sorcha Cronin, Gandy Malou, Ava Crean, Rachel Somers, Zoe Devoy and Alesha Godfrey.
Coach: Michelle Aspell Manager: Chris McInerney
Celtics U16 Girls Team: Sally Dickson, Jennifer Duffy, Caronwyn Leahy, Issey Leahy, Alexa McInerney, Tara Nealon, Olivia Otisi, Emma O’Brien, Molly O’Connell, Lyndsay O’Dwyer, and Julia Quinn.
Coach Gordon O’Brien Manager Denis McInerney
Celtics Under 14 Boys: Denis Mathews, Oliver Barry, James Corcoran, Kevin Morrow, Aaron Morrow, Cian Gleeson, Evan Ryan and Paul Corcoran.
Coach Michael Crane Manager Vinny Gleeson
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