Naas CBS storm into All-Ireland Minor B Basketball League final
The Naas CBS basketball team
Naas CBS secured their place in this season’s All-Ireland Minor B Boys Basketball League Final following a comprehensive 42-24 victory over Ardscoil Rís in the Oblate Hall, Inchicore.
After securing their place in the last four of the national competition following impressive wins over Midleton and Nenagh in the playoffs in Limerick earlier in the month, Naas were determined to reach the All-Ireland showpiece.
They opened up a 12-4 lead over their Dublin opponents by the close of the first quarter, enlarging that advantage slightly to nine points (20-11) by the half-time break.
Lochlann O’Rourke and David Brennan helped keep the scoreboard ticking for the Kildare side, while Christian Fruergaard also turned in a very impressive display as Charlie Murphy and Harry Bennet made their presence felt under the boards.
Indeed, they played a big part in helping see Naas push their advantage out to 36-20 heading into the final quarter, during which they restricted the Dublin side to just four more points, ensuring further passage through to the decider in which they will go up against Patrician High School, Carrickmacross in the National Basketball Arena on April 29.
Speaking to The Kildare Nationalist after the victory, Naas CBS head coach, Leah Herbert said “It was brilliant. In fairness to the lads they really pulled it out of the bag today.
“They moved the ball well and their communication was so good. It's the first time I've actually heard them shouting encouragement at each other.
“For me, the most important thing is how good they are to each other. They really look after each other, which I think is so important with this age group.
“We only started training the first week back after the Christmas holidays, but it's the first time that I've seen a team gel so quickly.
“They're probably the most focused and the most calm team I've ever worked with.
“When we won the match day, they didn't even celebrate. They were just like, ‘Alright, that's great. Miss, when's the next match?
“I feel they expect to be great and I feel like if they're not, that's when they get disappointed.
“They approach every game with such a positive attitude. They're so encouraging to each other and they just really try and push each other to be better. It just makes me really excited to see what they're going to be like further down the line” she said.
The next stop on that line sees them up against Patrician High School for the All-Ireland crown at Basketball Ireland headquarters in Tallaght later this month.
The Monaghan side weathered two severe tests to secure their place in the All-Ireland decider, edging out Carrigtwohill Community College 43-35 in the quarter-finals, before seeing off St. Joseph’s Rochfortbridge 32-24 in the last four of the competition.
Herbert is expecting a tough challenge in the decider, but is hoping her players get to savour the occasion that they have earned.
“That should be a really good game” remarked Herbert. “That's in the National Basketball Arena, so they're very excited to get up there and see what that's like.
“That's going to be great occasion for them and I'm really delighted that they're going to get to actually experience being in the Arena, because some of them might never get to do it again” she stressed.
Harry Bennet, David Brennan, Lochlann O’Rourke, Oliver Lavin, Joan Caldes Abiol, Charlie Murphy, Eoghan Fahey, Christian Fruergaard, Cathal Kelly, Danny Coughlan, Archie McCann, Darragh Mooney.
