The Loreto Mullingar second year basketball team (back from left) E Vilkaite, S O’Brien, E Carthy, G Cleary, S Carthy, O O’Brien, K Kilmurray, S Breslin, O Rijksen, and T O’Keeffe (coach); (front) G Tynan, N Garry, H Evans, S Delaney, M Bartley and K Osayamwen.

Strong performances by Loreto Mullingar in basketball playoff stages

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The second year basketball team from Loreto Mullingar had won their Midlands Regional Final and qualified through to the all-Ireland playoff stages, which were hosted at their school.

The four teams involved played each other for the chance to qualify to the all-Ireland semi-finals.

The first game was a close one between Loreto Mullingar and Loreto St Stephen’s Green. There was barely anything between them, but Stephen’s Green had just enough, to win by four points.

In the next game St Vincent’s Dundalk defeated Coláiste Bhaile Chlair, and then played Loreto Mullingar.

That was another close affair and again, Loreto Mullingar were unlucky to lose, again by four points.

At that stage, St Vincent’s Dundalk needed to defeat Loreto St Stephen’s Green as the latter had also beaten Colaiste Bhaile Chlair to advance – and they did so another tight game, this time winning by three points.

Loreto Mullingar defeated Coláiste Bhaile Chlair afterwards in the final game by 23 points to 9.

It was a close tournament as all games went down to the wire, and there was little between the players.

Loreto Mullingar played some fantastic basketball and it is a testament to the players that they never gave up in any game and their defence was outstanding in each of the three games they played.

The players can now have a well earned break from basketball and are already looking forward to next season at U16 level and going further in the competition next year.

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