Viral basketball skills!

St Patrick’s College, Cavan’s U16 basketball team has enjoyed a season that will live long in the memory of the school, and the county.

Their remarkable campaign, filled with determination and unforgettable moments, has now deservedly earned them a nomination for Sports Team of the Year at the Anglo Celt Community & Sports Awards.

The school team, under the guidance of coaches Mr Malley and Ms Gregg, proudly represented St Pat’s throughout the year, reaching both the All-Ireland League and Cup Finals in an extraordinary achievement for the school.

The highlight of the season came in January at the National Basketball Arena, where St Pat’s secured the school’s first ever All-Ireland ‘A’ title with a dramatic victory over Castleisland CC.

In a thrilling final, St Pat’s showed incredible composure and character to claim a nail-biting 38-36 win. MVP Arda Ozden led the scoring with 14 points, while key contributions from Justinas Gritenas, Darlintin Olayemi, Fortune Igbojionu and the entire squad proved crucial on the biggest stage.

After surrendering a late lead as Castleisland battled back to level the game, St Pat’s responded with tremendous resolve, edging ahead in the closing seconds to capture a historic title. A moment forever captured in a video gone viral.

The team also competed in the All-Ireland League Final against Coláiste Éanna, further underlining the consistency and quality they displayed throughout the season.

Beyond the trophies and finals, this group brought enormous pride to their school community and county through their teamwork, sportsmanship and commitment.

Their nomination is fitting recognition for a historic year for basketball in St Patrick’s College, Cavan.