Maree (24) 50 v St Vincents (26) (42)

Under 18

Top scorers
L Conroy  21       K Vasquez 16
C O'hagen 8        R Earl 12
C Foley 6            J Coll 6
 
 
Maree come out on top in dour struggle
 
Maree's greater teamwork was the key difference between the teams in this tense encounter in Castleisland.  Liam Conroy with 21 points was the star for Maree while Karlo Vasquez led the line for St Vincents with 16.  The game was tight throughout with St Vincents having the edge in the early exchanges.  

Vasquez with quick hands and good skills hit 11 in the first half and assisted by Earl's shooting they held an early lead.  Conroy kept Maree in it though with 13 points of his own and buckets by Hansberry and O'Hagen left the gap just two at half time.

The third and fourt quarters saw defences dominate on both sides as the scoring was low and the lead changed hands with every score.  St Vincents were over-reliant on Vasquez though and gradually Maree began to dominate.  The crucial break came with a great lay-up in traffic from O'Hagen to give Maree the lead at 44 to 42.  

Vasquez tried to reply but his shot rimmed out.  Conroy immediately hit another bucket to put daylight between the sides and as the clock ran down Maree made six of eight free throws down the stretch to seal victory and set up the prospect of an exciting final with Templeogue.