The first team ever from Tullamore Basketball Club to qualify for the All Ireland Club Championships performed very well against a very high standard of opposition and came away with bronze medals.
Big attendances from all over Ireland watched the games during the tournament which ook place in Portarlington last weekend.
The Tullamore U-14 girls were drawn to play in pool D with two of the strongest teams in the country. First of all they played Killenkere who eventually lost the Division 1 final by two points and then they player Meteors of Dublin who won the Division 2 title on the Sunday. The girls were not disheartened and played well in both games.
On Saturday night they took on Kiltimagh Giants in the Division 3 semi final and looked to be coasting at half time when Tullamore led by five points 18-13. The Kiltimagh girls were not fiinshed though and showed why they are Mayo champions by storming back to take an eight point lead with three minutes left on the clock.
Tullamore then really showed their mettle by fighting back to a two point deficit in the last minute. Tullamore turned over the Kiltimagh ball but unfortunately it ran out of play to saver Kiltimaghs bacon. The Mayo girls managed a final score near the buzzer to win 33-29.
notable achievement for a team which has some girls who have not played the game for a full year yet. All at Tullamore Basketball are proud of them all and look forward to many successful years ahead. U-12 Girls Community Games Final: The U-12 team take on Brosna in the final of the Offaly Community Games in the SHS gym tonight Wednesday, April 18 at 7pm. All support welcome.