It was a landmark game for Coláiste íosagáin coach Marie O'Toole on Friday as for the first time in her long and illustrious career she guided four separate teams to the semi-finals of the premier cup competitions.

O'Toole, who captured the Evening Herald Sports Coach of the Year in 2005, will have been happy to have got over this particular hurdle given the opposition she was up against.

Holy Faith, who were keen to repeat their feat of 2006 when they overcame their southside rivals by a three-point margin, were building a good momentum midway through the final quarter as they slowly began to eat into the íosagáin lead, which at one stage had stood at 18 points.

And driven on by their coach, Jerome Westbrooks, the Clontarf girls, through their big three of Mimi Troy, Katie Kilbride and Jamie Judge, had whittled that down to seven points, courtesy of Alice Chubb.

íosagáin replied with two free-throws from the line and a lay-up from Cáit Nic Dháibhíd, but Holy Faith were still in touch when Kilbride went over awkwardly as Holy Faith mounted at attack.

The Meteors girl required lengthy treatment with 5.10 left on the clock but to the relief of the crowd and both sets of players, Kilbride was finally helped to her feet where she received further treatment on the side of the court.

Her retirement was a big blow to Holy Faith but there was still hope when consecutive baskets from Troy and Alice Fennell left the deficit at seven points with 2.38 left.

But a terrific drive from Karen Ní Neill was to see the Coláiste íosagáin girls finish with a flourish as she held her nerve to convert from the line.

A terrific win then for O'Toole's golden girls and particular credit goes to Nic Dháibhíd, whose 37 points were testament to a terrific all-round display.

The former Irish under-16 captain, a surviving member of that epic 2006 quarter-final, turned a huge display between the boards while early intercepts and blocks from Clíona Máirtín, Rachel Toland and Clodagh De Bhearnabhail, underlined perfectly Coláiste íosagáin's terrific defence.

The foundations for victory were laid in the first half as the íosagáin etched out a double-score lead after shooting eight from eight from the free-throw line to lead in the closing stages of the final quarter.

Bumper

That opened up a 22-11 lead and then -- as is her wont these days -- Máirtín dropped in a three pointer on the resumption.

But playing in front of a bumper crowd, Holy Faith through Irish cadette Amy Russell, Troy and Judge soon began to make headway, with back-to-back baskets from the latter putting just five between the team.

And at the half-way stage of the quarter there was no let up from either side, with baskets coming at each end to serve up an excellent feast of basketball for those in attendance.

And with Nic Dháibhíd in excellent shooting form for íosagáin, the visitors had by half-time etched out a 38-30 lead.

And the Meteors girl was unrelenting in the third as herself and Máirtín laid a continuous siege on the Holy Faith basket to bring the íosagáin lead out to 58-42 at the end of the third.

Holy Faith, however, showed terrific fighting spirit in the final period with Troy, Judge, Kilbride and Chubb all contributing to the cause.

But with Russell in foul trouble and Kilbride's untimely injury their brave efforts fell just short with Fionnuala Gygax impressing when she came off the bench for the visitors.

Victory then for Coláiste íosagáin but with the league stages reaching their conclusion in Dublin, no doubt the two will meet again soon!

Coláiste íosagáin: Cáit Nic Dháibhíd, Karen Ní Néill, Rachel Toland, Catríona Ní Mhúrchú, Maebh Ní Chléirigh, Clodagh de Bhearnabhail, Fionnuala Gygax, Karen Ní Mhaonaigh, Katie Ní Dhubhláin, Clíodhna Máirtín.

Holy Faith, Clontarf: Alice Fennell, Maeve Shannon, Alice Chubb, Ciara Terry, Jamie Judge, Marianna Troy, Hannah Moyne, Katie Kilbride, Amy Russell, Orla Keogh, Sarah McCaffrey.

- Rory Kerr