Yesterday, September 8th will go down in history as the day the Titans 1995’s won their first ever trophy…and it was in an u19 Competition.With all their experienced u19’s unavailable due to the demands of University life, and last years M.V.P. Aisling Cahill still suffering from a prolonged shoulder injury, the girls knew they’d be up against it!
The opening game between Athlone and the Titans was a cracker, with the Titans operating a 1,2,1,1 press throughout the game,running their bench with great efficiency.Fiona Shiels showed wonderful leade3rship on the court and Sarah Grealish enjoyed the comfort of having Gretchen to bring down the ball while she set her feet for some prolific shooting 3 threepointers.with Hannah O’Flaherty hitting 9pts of her own from the opposite side in the first half…This drew the experienced Athlone girls out of their tight zone and freed up Grainne(9pts),Rachel and Victoria Pesaita to inflict further damage under the boards.Titans won the game 40pts-31.
The second game was against a well drilled and highly skilled University of Limerick side who gave Gretchen a good workout in her efforts to bring the ball down against a tight full court press…but she was very abily assisted by Sarah Grealish, EmerSmyth and Katie Coughlan.At the business end of the courtthe surprise of the day was the emergence of Lara Fabrisiciousa as a shooting talent, hitting 12pts in all.In fact,in the 3rd quarter Katie Coughlan and Lara made consecutive threes to put a bit of light between themselves and the older Limerick girls.Sarah Grealish played with her usual intensity hit a nice pair of baskets and amassed 4fouls,but Emer Smyth and Rachel held strong on dee and finished well to the basket at the other end.Titans won 38-U.L. 22.
So, to the Final,Home side Clare Cascaders pressing,playing Big under te boards and shooting nice mid range shots.Lynn O’Doherty being the star of the show was held to six points by Sarah,Emer,Hannah and Katie playing outof their skin on Dee,the Clare girls were running out of options but doing some damage on the fast break,The Titans found it hard to shake them until the furth quarter.With Coaches Gretchen and Coughlan using their bench to great effect and without their influencial Fiona Shiels..the girls seized their on court opportunity to impress.Helen Fogarty,ran the floor,finished well,harranged on Defence,Katie made some nice assists into the forwards Grainne(8pts) and Rachel who finished well!Lara and Sarah were on fire but the emergence of Viktoria Pesaita as a formidable rebounder was a pleasure to watch, and she chipped in with three points of her own.Sarah and Gretchen were a great combination and Sarah finished with 9pts also, including a trademark three which had snow on it…and guess what?Titans WON 50pts to Clare’s 26.and finished CHAMPIONS of a very prestigious and well run,well reffed tournament in memory of the amiable and fondly remembered Frank Kilkenny .
Go Titans!(and they WENT…to the Kings Head for a wonderful feed courtesy of the Grealish family)!Thank You to everybody-jc