Reigning National Cup champions DART Killester hopes of retaining their trophy are still alive but only after a hugely tentative 73-67 win over Neptune.
It was far from convincing but DART Head Coach Mark Keenan was relieved to get the result.
‘It was a disappointing result but we got the result and we have two weeks to put it right,’ said Keenan. In a low scoring contest, John Behan was the top scorer for DART with 15 points, while Ger Noonan chipped in with 22 points for Neptune.
UCC Demons booked their passage into the final, overcoming a resilient Tralee Tigers side 77-57 with a superb final quarter display, which their head coach Douglas Leichner reflected on.
‘I’m very pleased with our efforts,’ said Demons Head Coach Douglas Leichner. ‘I thought the Tigers played very well, they came out with a lot of energy but I thought we got good contributions off the bench and in time I think we wore them down, it took a while to do it but we managed to get the win.
Unanswered scores from Demons’ Carlton Cuff, Ryne Hamblet and three consecutive baskets from Colin O’Reilly, who scored 22 points, saw the Cork giants run out 20 point winners.
The Women’s Superleague National Cup Semi Final’s provided one of the most enthralling clashes ever to be held in the National Basketball Arena as Team Montenotte Hotel Cork secured a 78-77 double overtime win over DCU Mercy.
Montenotte will now face Waterford Wildcats in the final in a repeat of the 2008 National Cup after Tony Hehir’s charges booked their place with a 69-56 success over Tolka Rovers.
Irish international Niamh Dwyer was the hero for Team Montenotte Hotel Cork as her three-pointer in the dying seconds of double overtime ensured a dramatic 78-77 win over DCU.
‘I am so pleased with the faith my team mates showed in me to give me the ball at that stage of the game particularly after I hadn’t managed to hit an outside shot all at all during the game.
Jill Martin thought she had handed Mercy victory in the closing stages of normal time but Jennifer Strong hit a superb three to send the game to overtime. The game failed to be settled after the first period of overtime before Dwyer had the final say with the all important three.
Meanwhile, Waterford Wildcats had Melanie Thomas to thank as she inspired her side to a 69-56 win over Tolka Rovers with a hugely impressive 35 points tally.
