Bantry school Knocks Dubs out

Coach full of praise after U19s qualify for last four

‘THIS is the best group of people I have ever coached’ – they are the words of coach Pat Curran after Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí U19 boys’ basketball team qualified for the All-Ireland semi-final.

The Bantry school defeated St Colmcille’s of Knocklyon, Dublin, last Sunday at home in Bantry, winning 58-50 to make it through to the All-Ireland semi-final. 

The National Basketball Arena in Tallaght will host their next match on the week ending February 9th.

‘This is the furthest the school has ever gone in boys’ basketball but we did reach an All-Ireland final in girls in 2014 and lost by two points,’ Curran explained.

‘The main strength of this team is attitude and togetherness. They do everything I ask of them, training two mornings and two evenings per week. 

‘When they played the All-Ireland play-offs as U16s they lost by a point in Cashel and we sat down after that game and put together a plan to win the All-Ireland in 2018. 

‘I’ve been coaching sport for 19 years including a seven-year spell at Cork City FC and can safely say this is the best group of people I have ever coached when it comes to attitude and desire.’ 

The entire Bantry U18 club team is on the Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí which is a big benefit.

In the quarter-final against Knocklyon of Dublin, John Endersen, Tom Flynn and Liam Cotter led the way for the Bantry school but they only held a two-point lead
with two minutes left.

Kevin Clifford then produced a moment of magic, stealing the ball from a Knocklyon player who looked nailed-on for an easy lay-up, and Clifford drove up the court to score and hand Bantry a four-point lead.