Ba í Chloe Nic an Bhaird an laoch nuair a d’aimsigh sí ciseán sa soicind deireanach chun an bua a thabhairt do fhoireann cispheile cailíní Choláiste Oiriall i gcluiche leathcheannais na hÉireann faoi 14 den Cup in eadán Choláiste Cholmcille, Béal Atha Seanaidh as baile an tseachtain seo chuaigh thart.
Foireann cipheile cailíní faoi 14 Choláiste Oiriall a bheas ag imirt in eadán Choláiste na Trocaire, Baile Uí Mhathain i leathchraobh na hÉireann i dTamhlacht i ndiaidh baint ar Choláiste Cholmcille, Béal Atha Seanaidh sa cheathrú craobh.
Fuair siad amach i ndiaidh an chluiche go raibh siad dhá phointe eile chun tosaigh ach ní raibh seo le feiceáil de bharr mífheidhm ar chlár na scóranna. Imreoidh siad Clochar na Trocaire, Baile Uí Mhathain, Co. Longphoirt i dTamhlacht
Coláiste Oiriall Girls Basketball team clinched a victory against St Colmcilles Ballyshannon to book them a place in the All Ireland Under 14 “B” semi-final in late March. Coláiste Oiriall were the complete underdogs having been recently promoted to this grade. St Colmcilles on the other hand have won every league game in their area by at least 30 points and they had advantage of home court with lots of parental and peer supporters.
The game was a tight and tense affair in the opening quarter with neither team managing to convert the possession into scores. Coláiste Oiriall were first to open the scoring with a basket from Caoimhe Nic an Bhaird. She followed this up shortly afterwards with another lay-up from a steal made while pressuring the point guard Emma Rooney. Alison Nic Ghiolla Bhríde and Helen Ni Fhailigh also contributed scores and the quarter finished as it opened with Caoimhe Nic an Bhaird finding the net.
In this competition there must be a new five players on the court for the second quarter and the introduction of Morgan Nic Cionna and Blaithín Ní Dhulain were instrumental in Coláiste Oiriall taking a 20 – 11 lead in at half time.
In the second half, it looked that St Colmcilles would finally establish some dominance on proceedings when they held Coláiste Oiriall scoreless for the entire quarter. The full scourt press only served to spark another swing in momentum and with 3 minutes left on the clock, it was a drawn game. Karen Ni Fhionnagáin Ni Mhanais and Alison Ni Ghiolla Bhríde were a big loss when they were both fouled out but a massive three pointer from first tear student Caoimhe Nic an Bhaird would eventually prove the decisive moment, putting Coláiste Oiriall in the driving seat.
The final seconds of the game were panicked and uncontrolled as the scoreboard malfunctioned and the clock stopped. With 4 seconds remaining on the clock Chloe Nic Ghiolla Bhride got possession, looked in the direction of the basket and threw up an attempted shot. She, unbelieveably scored on the buzzer for what the team thought was a two- point win. It emerged later that the team had won by four points but the scoreboard malfunction had not recorded the score. Coláiste Oiriall girls will now play Mercy Ballymahon in the All Ireland semi-final in the National Basketball Arena on the 26th March.