Hoop dreams SMCB

Team Huddle - St Malachy's prepare for U19 cup final in the National Basketball Arena in Dublin on Thursday 9th February
Tomorrow, St Malachy’s College Belfast once again looks to assert itself as one of the most successful high school basketball programmes in Ireland as the U19 team compete in the All-Ireland cup in the National Basketball Arena, Dublin. The Belfast school will face a tough Presentation Bray (Pres Bray) school, Co. Wicklow, who have already proved their offensive talent, racking up 100 points in the semi-finals of the cup.
St Malachy’s will look to exploit their size advantage in and around the basket with Liam Pettigrew (6’6) and Pete Kelly (6’3) at the forward and centre positions. The backcourt consists of the reputable Conor & Aidan Quinn; twin brothers who are currently on the Ireland panel. Tom Dougherty, the younger brother of Michael ‘Doc’ Dougherty (Belfast Star Superleague), will also play his role at the point guard spot, as will lefty veteran Own Duffy. Coach Fulton is proud of his team’s accomplishments to-date and recognises that James Smyth, captain, for having displayed tremendous leadership in helping get his team to the final.
The team boasts a healthy mix of experienced and hungry players; many of the younger members of the team won last year’s U16 cup while several senior players, in their final year of school, have been in 3 finals and are yet to take home the trophy. This year, Adrian Fulton believes all his players have a role to play and recognises that competition for playing time is fierce given the quality and depth of the roster. I asked Coach Fulton about how the team are feeling about the game and what he thought of their opponent, Pres Bray:
Team Profile – St Malachy’s U19A Boys

James Smyth (C)
Name: James Smyth
Position: Forward
Club: Belfast Star
Age: 17

Liam Pettigrew
Name: Liam Pettigrew
Position: Centre
Club: Belfast Star
Age: 16

Aidan Quinn
Name: Aidan Quinn
Position: Guard
Club: Belfast Star
Age: 16

Conor Quinn
Name: Conor Quinn
Position: Guard
Club: Belfast Star
Age: 16

Pete Kelly
Name: Pete Kelly
Position: Forward
Club: Belfast Star
Age: 17

Michael Gorman
Name: Michael Gorman
Position: Forward
Club: Lisburn ’94
Age: 17

Joseph O'Boyle
Name: Joseph O’Boyle
Position: Guard
Club: Belfast Star
Age: 17

Dominic Lyttle
Name: Dominic Lyttle
Position: Forward
Club: Belfast Star
Age: 16

Callum MacHugh
Name: Callum MacHugh
Position: Guard
Club: Belfast Star
Age: 16

Aaron Goldring
Name: Aaron Goldring
Position: Guard
Club: Belfast Star
Age: 16

Tom 'Doc' Dougherty
Name: Tom Dougherty
Position: Guard
Club: Belfast Star
Age: 17

Sean Joe Rooney
Name: Sean Joe Rooney
Position: Guard
Club: Belfast Star
Age: 16
The Courtside Collective would like to wish Coach Fulton and the entire St Malachy’s U19 team the very best for the cup final tomorrow in Dublin’s National Basketball Arena.

The 2012 All-Ireland U19A Cup winners?
3 Comments
The Dick
/Good luck! This web site is just what basketball up here need!
Niall McDermott
/Good luck lads
Tony McGaharan Post author
/Tremendous effort by St Malachy’s U19 boys who were unable to come home with the trophy. Well-done, lads. Hold your heads high. It’s exciting that your top three scorers will be back again next year for St Malachy’s College.