We are the Champions!!

Ashbourne Community School Crowned Leinster Champions  

Leinster Senior Boys Basketball Champions 2009

Ashbourne U-19 boy’s team became Leinster champions on Tuesday 15^th December in the National Arena Tallaght. After 2 hard fought victories the Ashbourne boys could finally celebrate the schools first title in senior boy’s basketball. The senior team were runners up in last years Leinster final, so it was particularly pleasing to go one step further this year.
The semi final took place at 11.30, were Ashbourne CS were pitted against Holy Child CS Sallynoggin. An intensely fought contest, Ashbourne suffered an early setback when Eric O’ Carroll injured his ankle within the first 10 seconds. However this injury served to bring the team closer together as a unit. Without ever really hitting top gear Ashbourne played well within themselves throughout the game. Scores from Lauraynas Repecka, Karolis Stankivicius and Giedrius ‘Greg’ Petrauskas helped keep the opposition at bay. David Moloney’s introduction in place of the injured Eric O’Carroll served to really gel the team, accompanied by his superb display in defence.
There were however some close calls and pressure plays for Ashbourne to deal with, but with a tower of strength such as Darragh ‘Big D’ Curran cleaning up every rebound, Holy Child just couldn’t get close enough to threaten the Ashbourne lad’s.

Final Score: Ashbourne CS 46 Holy Child 37.

Scorers: Lauryanas Repecka 17, Karolis Stankivicius 11, Greg Petraukas 6 points, Darragh Curran 6 points, Eric O’Carroll 2 points, Matthew Brady 2 points, David Moloney 2 points.
The final pitted fierce rivals Ashbourne CS and Lucan CC together once again. These sides had already qualified from the same group, where Ashbourne won by 10 points. So with the memory of that match in the players mind they headed into the final with a quiet confidence.
David Moloney’s display in defence really set the tone early on, and allowed Lucan no breathing space to play the normal fluid style. However with all his hard work and 2 excellent baskets, he managed to pick up some early fouls and had to revert to the bench. The other players really had to up the tempo in David’s absence, Greg and Lauraynas scoring 10 and 8 points respectively in the first half to leave Ashbourne leading 30 - 18 at half time.
The worry at the half was that Lucan had not yet hit full pace. The toll of playing 2 matches began to catch up with the Ashbourne lads as Lucan began to run riot on the fast break. With Darragh Curran and David Moloney in foul trouble, Sebastian Deska and Matthew Brady stepped into the fray. With these changes Ashbourne lost their height advantage as Lucan went on an astonishing run to level it 40 points each at the end of the 3^rd quarter.
The 4^th quarter was make or break time for Ashbourne. In times of need a team always looks to their captain for leadership, and Karlois Stankivicius again rose to the fore with his stylish and decisive play. Scoring 10 points of the teams 16, along with setting up 2 of the other 3 baskets, Karolis exemplified what a leader a captain should be. Lucan had no answer to Ashbourne’s tempo which was raised to the highest in the final quarter. Lucan simply had no answer to so many strong, skilful players.
Final Score: Ashbourne CS 56 Lucan CC 49
Scorers: Karolis Stankivicius 17 points, Lauraynas Repecka 16 points, Greg Petraukas 15 points,  David Moloney 6 points, Matthew Brady 2 points
Ashbourne CS Boys team.
4- Sean Murphy
5- James Heffernan
6- Sebastian Deska
7-Adam Zwidryn
8- Karolis Stankivicius (Captain)
9- Matthew Brady
10- Darragh Curran
11- Rubens Vasconcelos
12- Eric O’Carroll
13- David Moloney
14- Lauraynas Repecka
15- Greg Petraukas.
Coach Ronan Hobbs.