Killester 94-69 UCC Demons

Killester Head Coach, Mark Keenan, marvelled at his side’s display as they demolished UCC Demons 94-69 to wrap up the fourth National Cup success in the club’s history.

Jermaine Turner turned in an MVP performance for Killester with an all-round display including a points tally of 29. The win gives Turner his first cup final medal after 10 years of playing club basketball in this country.

‘The guys were just super,’ said Keenan. ‘We were so up for it from the start. I am just absolutely thrilled.

‘I never thought we would have it wrapped up at half time and at half time I didn’t think I had it wrapped up because there was so much basketball to be played. We gave ourselves a great opportunity to win it at half time. But we had to come out and keep playing and we did.

‘I could not have asked for any more from the players. The intensity – it was defence in the first half. When you have guys who just want to play defence it just makes my job so much easier.’

Killester produced a devastating opening quarter with Turner’s penetrating drive to the basket marking the opening score of the game.

The North Dublin outfit maintained their early form with Paddy Kelly driving strong to the basket.

The experienced Niall O’Reilly converted a three to give Demons a much needed boost, but further good play from Keith Anderson, Damien Sealy and Turner left Keenan’s side with a highly commanding 28-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The lead was to increase significantly in the second quarter with Killester producing a devastating display with the unstoppable Turner once again opening the scoring. With six minutes to go in this period, they held a phenomenal 42-20 lead.

Demons’ misery continued with the Killester guards picking off steals and running in uncontested lay-up’s. A miserable quarter for the Demons was rounded off with another big three from Michael Goy to leave a mammoth 36 points between the sides at the break. (60-24)

Early baskets from Kyle Hosford and Shane Coughlan provided a brief spell of hope for Demons in the early stages of the third quarter but it would take something of a miracle for the Cork side to find a way back. Robbie Clarke sunk a three pointer from long range to rule out any chances of a comeback for last year’s cup champions.

With 1:30 left on the clock in the third, Sealy hit two free throws and then got a block against Michael Plichta to give Killester an unassailable 77-46 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter was a formality with Demons still failing to convert, while Killester were providing no let up in a one-sided contest. Clarke was proving a thorn for Demons with a three pointer with less than two and a half minutes remaining signalling a gap of 28 points.

It was a devastating display and the final score of 94-69 certainly made up for the disappointment of last season’s cup final defeat to Demons.