Dundalk school crowned All-Ireland U19 B Boys Basketball School League Champions

Coláiste Chu Chulainn have been crowned the U19 B Boys All-Ireland Schools League champions, following a 70-59 win over Salesians at the National Basketball Arena on Thursday. 

Captain Franciszek Chmielecki led scoring for the Dundalk school, claiming 18 points, with scoring evenly spread throughout the team, with Joseph Osagie and David Osagie scoring 17 and 16 points respectively, while Mascuud Amir Haji also had 16.

It was a tight opening, Coláiste Chu Chulainn were 19-17 in front after the first quarter.

The Louth outfit built an eight-point lead before Michael Stanners corner three for Salesians reduced the deficit to 31-26 with a little over four minutes to go in the second quarter.

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The margin would remain at five points by half-time, Coláiste Chu Chulainn 35-30 up.

(Coláiste Chu Chulainn defeated Salesians at the National Basketball Arena on Thursday. Picture by Basketball Ireland)

Coláiste Chu Chulainn would dominate in the third quarter thanks to a 19-point run to start.

Mascuud Amir Haji’s corner three had them 46-30 up and their scoring sequence was concluded with a dunk from Chmielecki to make it 54-30.

A three pointer from Stanners and a Joe Fitzgerald free throw would close gap to 54-34 at the end of the third.

Salesians mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, a pair of free throws from game MVP Miguel Azzopardi had reduced the deficit to 14 points, 56-42, with six minutes to go.

A timeout was called and Coláiste Chu Chulainn came out of it with a three from Chmielecki and Joseph Osagie’s basket, to make it 61-42.

Sean Fitzgerald landed twice from three point in the final two minutes as Salesians tried to narrow the gap, but free throws from Chmielecki and Amir Haji in the closing seconds rounded out a 70-59 win. 

Coláiste Chu Chulainn coach Kelvin Slowey said: “Absolutely delighted to get over the line, they beat us in the U16 cup final a couple of weeks ago, so we owed them one and thankfully we were on the right side of it today.

“I’m so happy for our lads, they’ve worked so hard for it all year, through the summer, over midterm breaks, Christmas holidays - all that.

“We’ve done enough to get over the line and up to ‘A’ basketball, where the lads deserve to be.”

Quarter Scores: Q1 19-17, Q2 16-13, Q3: 19-4, Q4 16-25.

Coláiste Chu Chulainn: Maciej Dobros, Kevin Mincans, Joseph Osagie, Mascuud Amir Haji, Franciszek Chmielecki, Belvis Osadiaye Nosa, David Osagie, Mylka Paloso Kabangu, James Obisan, Fahd Monney, Christos Kostopoulos, Miguel López Río.

Top Scorers: Franciszek Chmielecki (18), Joseph Osagie (17), David Osagie and Mascuud Amir Haji (both 16).

Head Coach: Kevin Slowey, Aaron Murray.

Salesians: Sean Fitzgerald, Seb Kedzior, Gearoid Tuohy, Ben Collopy, Jose Azzopardi, Connor Fitzgerald, Jarlath Flaherthy, Cian O’Donovan, Joe Fitzgerald, Miguel Azzopardi, Connor Ryan, Michael Stanners, Benedikt Sokholl.

Top Scorers: Jose Azzopardi (22), Sean Fitzgerald (13) Michael Stanners (11).

Head Coach: Juan Carlos Azzopardi.