Mayo basketball team on the brink of history

Basketball fans in Mayo are buzzing. The St Muredach's boys will contest the U-19 A Cup final tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday 21).

It is definitely not the coach's first rodeo: Barry Murphy has been guiding St Muredach's basketball teams since 1988. Murphy and his boys have reached nine finals during this 37-year tenure, but the upcoming decider next Tuesday is a special one: It's the first 'A' level final the school has ever reached. 

“I have been chasing this one my whole career,” Murphy tells The Mayo News ahead of the National U-19 Boys Cup final: “It's just an amazing run of the last 18 months. We won a number of very tight games and, the boys have a great will to win and that's a great thing for any coach.”

The boys from Ballina have an historic chance to outdo themselves. Merely a year ago newspapers and online media exploded with the news of Muredach's winning the first double ever. The U-19 Boys won the 'B' cup and league. That had never been done before. This season, competing on 'A' level, they simply kept winning.

PICTURES: Muredach's win historic basketball double

Definitely one of the ingredients for the winning recipe is continuity, according to Murphy. “In September 22, we started out in the league with a squad including a lot of the lads who will line out on Tuesday. So, for these lads this is their third school year together as a team. They were very young last year and got a great run and matured so much over the season.”

At the moment, the flu has gripped a number of his squad, but Murphy is hopeful they'll be up for the challenge come tip-off time next Tuesday against their Kerry opponents. The coach has tried to prepare his team in the past weeks, focussing on a few key areas of Castleisland play: “We worked a small bit on the way they play offensively. I got to watch them play on video. Our boys are working on how to play against the press and keeping their eye in while shooting.”

READ: St Muredach's reach All-Ireland final again

In an 'A' final, it will be crucial for the Ballina boys, to mix up their playing style and keep the opposition on the toes. Basketball these days is a lot about shooting many three pointers from beyond the arc. However, solely relying on perimeter success might make your game one-dimensional as well reliant on plan A. 

Muredach's certainly have the player material to succeed. Mark Cunningham is a natural born scorer, who is not afraid to put the ball on the floor and drive to the basket. The same goes for Nathan Roddy. Brian Donoghue brings a lot of muscle and his silky handling skills are not to be underestimated. It will be instrumental for Barry Murphy's boys to decide on a play-by-play basis when to let it fly and when to move. 

The game will be the last dance for this group as many of them are in their final year in secondary school. This is their chance to write their name in history. St Muredach's have never won an 'A' title before so what better way to leave than with the cup. It’s going to be memorable.

READ: St Muredach's win basketball double for first time

FIXTURE:

ALL-IRELAND SCHOOLS CUP U-19 BOYS 'A' FINAL:

ST MUREDACH'S BALLINA V ST MARY'S PORTLAOISE
TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, NATIONAL BASKETBALL ARENA, TALLAGHT, TIME: 3.30pm