1 March 2010               Moycullen Magic Win Again!

Last Tuesday evening the U12 girls Moycullen Magic, were in action again, this time against Claregalway.

Though they looked the stronger team from the start, the girls were a bit rusty after the midterm break and failed to make their dominance pay as they missed lay-up after lay-up in the first two quarters, only managing to stay level with Claregalway after the first and going into the break a point down. As has started to become a habit Magic came into the game more and more as the time wore on with nice baskets from Sorcha Whyte and Catherine Connaire, giving a 3 point lead going into the last. Aine mc Donagh came out blazing scoring 3 baskets in the last before coming out the worst from blocking out Rebecca Hansbury near the end of the game. Catherine Connaire added another to leave the final score 24: 17 in Magic's favour.In this quarter we started to show our potential with some nice offensive patterns in evidence. Also Amy Cooke, Kate O Brien and Sorcha Whyte are now starting to show great potential in defence and gathering rebounds.

Opposing offences now have to work hard to break through a solid defence The game was won while not playing particularly well and the girls know there is a lot of work required and a lot of improving to do between now and the playoffs.

That being said it is fantastic to continue our unbeaten run in the league, the only team to do so, facing into our last game against Titans next Tuesday night 9th March

U12 Girls in Killarney

On Sat 7th Feb the U12 Girls 'Moycullen Magic' traveled to Killarney to participate in an open tournament organized by the KAB. It was a fantastic experience for the girls, bringing mixed results in the games. The tournament was oversubscribed with 14 teams taking part and this resulted in all teams only being guaranteed two games.

Our first game was at against a well prepared St Josephs Abbeyfeale side. Possibly due to the late night experienced by the girls that stayed over and the early start for those that traveled on the day, we were very slow to settle into the game. By half time we were trailing by 12 points to 3 to a st Josephs side that were marking very tightly and showing great determination. In the third quarter we regained our composure and scored 3 nice baskets to St Josephs one, though still trailing 14:9. At the beginning of the fourth quarter our defence loosened up allowing St Josephs easy access to the basket through the middle, gifting them 3 easy baskets. After this we rallied well, but were unable to catch up, only scoring 3 points and ending the quarter allowing them 3 more points due to team fouls. The game ended 23:12. Our first defeat of the season.

Our second game against Dublin team Liffey Celtics went somewhat differently. At this stage we had all settled in well and were much more relaxed. The teams were well matched and it was a very tight affair. The first quarter we matched each other point for point ending with Magic one point to the good at 7:6. The second quarter was similar with Celtics scoring 6 points to our 4, going into half time with the advantage of 12 to our 11. In the third quarter they had the better of the exchanges and started to pull ahead, scoring 10 aided by 4 points from frees to our 6 points, leaving them on 22 points to our 17. The writing appeared to be on the wall at this stage with Celtics looking confident. We got into a huddle, had a long look at one another and a short chat and decided we were going to give it all in the last 7 minutes. We went out and completely dominated the quarter holding Celtic scoreless bar one free, while scoring thirteen points against them, all but one from play and totally turned the game around. The match ended with Catherine Connaire popping in a beautiful 3 pointer right on the buzzer of full time. Final score Celtics 23, Moycullen Magic 30. Celtics were stunned, Moycullen ecstatic and we went home happy in the knowledge that when the chips were down, the girls proved we have the reserves to dig deep and produce a bit of 'Magic' just when it is needed.

The trip to Killarney was well worthwhile for the team, as we learnt a lot about both ourselves and the standard of basketball outside Galway. Our next outing will be a home league match against a well fancied Claregalway on Tuesday 23rd Feb at 6.30 in Killannin.

Galway League U'12 Girls

Moycullen V Barna January 24th th 2010

On Sun 24th Jan the U 12 girls panel played two league matches against Barna A and B teams at St Marys. Barna have a big panel and have split into two seperate teams.

In the first game we faced the B team. Moycullen got off to a great start displaying good balanced offence and teamwork matched by a really tight defence. The first quarter ended 10 : 2 to Moycullen. The second and subsequent quarters followed the same pattern with Moycullen up 20 :2 after Q2, 36:2 after Q3 and finishing 45:9. Scores came from throughout the team and well done to all involved namely Rachel Walsh, Roisin Buckley, Robyn Cox, Molly Finn, Megan O Donnell, Louise Hosty, Lorna Walsh, Catherine Connaire, Aisling Mc Donagh, Aisling Connor, Aine Mc Donagh and Ailbhe Davoren.

Knowing that all of the stronger Barna players were concentrated on the A team we expected a much more competitive second match and that certainly happened. It was tough and competitive right from the start. The first quarter was very balanced, both teams ending with 10 points. Aine mc Donagh's superb defence work on Barna's strongest player and guard, Sophie coll, stood out in particular, shades of James Loughnane! In the second quarter, Moycullen's strength in depth showed as they managed to hold Barna scoreless while clocking up another 10 points to leave it 20 :10 at half time. This was to prove crucial to the outcome. In the third quarter Barna were able to use Sophie Coll and Vicci Langan again. They hit 3 baskets without reply and knocked Moycullen out of their rythm by using better teamwork and good screening techniques. Moycullen fought back well, but found it hard to finish. The quarter ended 25:21 in Moycullen's favour. The same pattern continued through the fourth quarter with Moycullen still finding it difficult to score. Barna managed two 2 pointers and a free to just one free in Moycullen's favour. The game ended drawn at 26:26. It was a great experience for the team and identified plenty of areas that we need to work on. Nevertheless we have still managed to remain unbeaten in our five league games so far this season and look forward to hosting Claregalway in Killannin on 23 Feb, followed by Titans at a later date. The team that lined out for the second game was Sorcha White, Molly Finn, Megan O Donnell, Louise Hosty, Lorna Walsh, Kate O Brien, Chloe Conroy, Catherine Connaire, Amy Cooke, Aisling Mc Donagh, Aine Mc Donagh, and the girl in the hat Ailbhe Davoren!

Our next outing is a trip to a 16 team U12 Girls tournament in Killarney on Sat 13th Feb, with teams from all over the country taking part.

Moycullen V Maree December 12th 2009

On Saturday 12th Dec the U12 girls also known as ' Moycullen Magic', lined out against Maree. This was their third league match of the season and they were aiming to build on their successes against Corrib and Clare Cascaders. Moycullen settled very quickly in the first quarter and immediately moved into the lead showing great orginisation and determination on court. With baskets from Chloe Conroy (2) and Aine Mc Donagh (3) they ended the quarter with a comfortable lead of 10 points to Maree's 4 points. In the second quarter Maree had no answer to Moycullen's strength. Scoring at will, Moycullen ended the quarter with 22 points all from play, holding Maree scoreless. Scorers in this quarter were Megan O Donnell (12) Sorcha Whyte (6) and Ailbhe Davoren (4). The half ended with Moycullen up 32 points to Maree's 4 points and the game effectively over as a contest. In the final two quarters Moycullen eased off and gave the whole bench plenty of court time, the game ending Moycullen Magic 38 : Maree 14.The girls are all starting to show great maturity on court with good passing skills and a well organised offence that is using all available space to its advantage. Their defence is also begining to work well and as a result Maree rarely got a free shot at the basket through tight marking from all and in this area both Kate O Brien and Sorcha Whyte, in particular stood out. We now go into the Christmas break with a job well done for this part of the season and look forward to plenty of hard training and four more league games before the playoffs in March.