Basketball is on the rise in Heywood Community School as their senior girls team remain on course for a historic back-to-back All-Ireland success.
In 2023, they were far too strong for St Mary’s of Dundalk in the All-Ireland ‘C’ decider.
A year on, the side, coached by Vivienne Holmes, Breda McCarthy and Lorraine Gee, have reached the ‘B’ final.
The step up in grade has proved not too tough for this incredibly talented bunch of girls.
From the side that won the All-Ireland last year, just Ava Tynan and Aoibhin Brophy are no longer in the school.
So the vast majority of the team are now in Sixth Year and the experience they gained from last season is standing to them.
They began the year in the Midlands section of the competition and defeated fellow Laois school Clonaslee College in the final.
In the All-Ireland Qualifiers, Heywood defeated Martist College Dundalk by 75-43.
That sent them through to the All-Ireland quarter final which took place on Tuesday in the National Stadium.
Presentation Tralee were their opponents and this was a tense affair with Heywood winning by four in the end – 47-43.
Kaylee O’Keeffe and Caoimhe Brophy scored brilliant three-pointers throughout to help Heywood over the line.
The semi final took place later that day and pitted Heywood against St Louis of Monaghan.
The girls from Ulster started best and led 18-14 by the end of the first quarter.
But with Faye McEvoy and Clodagh Gee brilliant on defence, Heywood turned the screw.
They led 33-22 by half time and extended that to 20 points midway through the third quarter.
Incredibly, St Louis continued to fight and narrowed the gap to a solitary point with four minutes to play.
But Heywood kept their composure and Louise Doyle got crucial scores at the end to secure the win – 60-51.
This was a full panel effort with Siofra Fitzpatrick and Ella Kelly making great contributions too during both games.
The final is scheduled for the week of February 19 and will take place in the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.
HEYWOOD CS: Caoimhe Brophy, Ella Kelly, Siofra Fitzpatrick, Carragh Concannon, Louise Doyle, Mary Lanigan, Faye McEvoy, Kaylee O’Keeffe, Charlotte Barry, Hazel Palin, Clodagh Gee, Katie Ryan, Sasha O’Keeffe, Leah Bergin, Emma Carney, Rebecca Whelan
