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THE St Paul’s U-12 Division 2 boys team hosted St Brendan’s of Tralee last Friday evening in the Killarney Sports Centre. St Paul’s got off to a rocky start, only scoring one basket in the first quarter, and three baskets in the second. It wasn't until the third quarter that St Paul’s pulled away from St Brendan’s, scoring an impressive 12 points, proving that they were worthy of the victory. From this point on, St Paul’s were able to hold on to the lead until the end. The final score was St Paul's 24, St Brendan's 19.

Team: Dara O'Shea, Tim Moynihan 2, TJ O'Sullivan, Jack O'Sullivan 2, Gearoid Healy, Tim McClaine, Darragh O'Connell, Mark Sheehan 2, Robbie Harnett, Shane O'Donoghue 2, Eoghan Crowley 14, Sam Norton, Luke O'Neil.

St Paul's U-11 girls were defeated in the cup final last weekend. They put a great display and did the club very proud. Well done to coach Anne Moynihan and her squad. They are top of league table at the moment and hopefully they can stay there until the end of the season.

FIXTURES

Saturday, January 21
G U12 Div 2, Group 2: St Paul’s Vs Rathmore at 10am in Killarney Sports Centre.
Academy Boys Pool 2: St Paul's B Vs Tralee Imperials at 1pm in Cumann Iosaef, Tralee

Sunday, January 22
B U18 Div 2: St Paul's Vs Caherciveen at 3.30pm in Caherciveen
B U14 Div 2: St Paul's Vs Caherciveen at 1.45pm in Caherciveen
B U14 Div 3: St Paul’s Vs TK Vixens at 10am in Killarney Sports Centre
Academy Boys Pool 2: St Paul's Vs Rathmore at 10am in Rathmore

FLASHBACK

1996: On Saturday January 20, 1996, Kerry Spring defeated Killester 106-95 in a superleague men's clash in Clontarf, Dublin. The Killarney side led 51-48 at half-time and extended their advantage to 16 points at one stage before winning by nine in the end. Top scorers for Kerry Spring St Paul's were: Greg Ford 37, Vince Daly 21, Corey Jackson 20, Cormac O'Donoghue 10 and Brian Clarke 9.

1991: On Wednesday, January 16, 1991, St Paul's senior ladies team and men’s division two team travelled to Dingle for a double-header fixture. The ladies had a particularly strong team during this era and were coached by the late Donal O'Doherty. Against Dingle, they enjoyed a runaway 52-18 victory with Trish O'Halloran (11), Anne Cashman (9), Tracey O'Shea (8) and Paulette O'Shea (8) leading the way.

The St Paul's men’s division two team also enjoyed success in the other match defeating Dingle 57-45. Top scorers were Seanie O'Shea (16), John Buckley (14), Der Brosnan (12) and Gearoid Cronin (12).

The double celebration continued long into the night in Dingle and some "persuasive" members of the men’s team and their supporters managed to convince the bus driver to take a "detour" back to Paidi O Se's pub in Ventry for one quick stop before heading home.

Historians will remember that January 16 and the early hours of January 17th 1991 was the date that US President George H. W. Bush announced the start of the air campaign of the Gulf War with an extensive aerial bombing campaign. In Baghdad, Saddam Hussein said the "mother of all battles had begun".

Dramatic footage and news coverage of the event was beamed worldwide in the early hours of January 17, 1991. With the late Paidi O Se flicking through he news channels for up to the minute coverage, his bar full of basketball players and supporters were in no hurry to get home!
 

 
Above: The St Paul's Basketball Club underage boys squad at a training session in Killarney Sports Centre. PICTURE: EAMONN KEOGH