Nivea For Men’s SuperLeague final
11890 Killester 84-80 Bord Gais Neptune
11890 Killester: (P Kelly 26, J Turner 14, J Behan 10)
Bord Gais Neptune: (McGinn 23, M Bonaparte 20, G Walsh 17)
VP; Paddy Kelly (11890 Killester)
11890 Killester head coach Mark Keenan could barely conceal his relief at the end of a colossal encounter against Neptune. The reigning champions just about managed to retain their crown against a spirited and desperately unlucky Neptune side on a scoreline of 84-80.
Keenan said at the final whistle ‘I’m still in shock. I thought we had blown it. I’m so delighted with the way we dug it out in the end, after the cup defeat it would have been a heartbreaker to lose it again today.
‘I was getting a few flashbacks when they took the lead, but we managed to get there in the end. We didn’t do it in a pretty way, but I don’t care,’ he added.
MVP Paddy Kelly always believed his side would come through what was the sternest of examinations from Neptune. ‘We have a lot of experience. We have been through it before. I thought we reacted better today than we did in January. I never worried that we wouldn’t get back.
‘We just try to forget about the crowd, and take our opportunities when they come our way,’ he said.
Neptune surprised Killester early on, rushing to an 8-2 lead thanks to Michael McGinn and Jermaine Kamara. Killester showed their strength however, and began to squeeze the life out of the Cork side’s attack. Ominously, the reigning league champions had racked up a 24-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Neptune responded well in the second quarter, pegging Killester back thanks to some stellar work from Phil Taylor and Michael McGinn. They had trailed by 13 at one stage, but were within six with half the quarter remaining.
Killester committed their allocated amount of team fouls and Michael Bonaparte reduced the gap to just two with a fine drive. John Behan got it back to seven with a big three pointer and Killester looked like justifying their favourites tag, with a half time lead of 47-36.
Back to back three pointers early in the second half had Neptune back in contention. Soon after, it was down to just one, Killester in danger of revisiting the nightmare that befell them in this year’s cup final against UCD.
There was hysteria amongst the Neptune support moments later, veteran Ger Noonan levelling the scores with five to go in the quarter. Noonan then gave Neptune the lead. A superb move gave Jermaine Kamara the chance to lay up to hand Neptune the unlikeliest of three point leads heading into the final quarter.
Neptune extended the lead to five early in the fourth. The game swung back and forth in an epic finale, Killester showing their mental strength by clawing away at the Neptune lead.
Killester led by just one point with a minute to go, but Michael Westbrooks went to the line with seconds remaining to eke out a four point lead which proved to be decisive. Killester crowned champions after a gargantuan tussle, Neptune hugely unfortunate but credible runners up.
IrishSport.TV Women’s SuperLeague final
UL Basketball Club 68-54 Team Montenotte Hotel Cork
UL Basketball Club: (R Vanderwal 22, N Taylor 21, F Scally 15) Team Montenotte Hotel Cork: (G Dwyer 14, C Rockall 11, M Breen 9)
MVP; Natalie Taylor (UL)
UL coach James Weldon praised his squad’s depth in the wake of their IrishSport.TV Women’s SuperLeague final win over Team Montenotte Hotel Cork on a scoreline of 68-54.
Weldon was understandably delighted with the result saying, ‘All year we have been talking about the depth of our bench, and I think in fairness people coming off the bench did a great job.’
The coach managed his resources superbly throughout, alternating players in danger of being fouled out. ‘We got in a little bit of foul trouble. I was a little worried when Rachel (Vanderwal) picked up her third, but I was glad we were able to get her out and back in at the right time.’
Weldon is hoping to return next year and secure the National Cup. ‘We’ll try and enjoy this one for now. But hopefully they will give me my job back next year and we’ll have a shot at the cup,’ he added.
A sprightly opening, which saw the teams trade baskets early on in the first, and the verve and variation on display was certainly impressing an expectant National Basketball Arena crowd.
Rachel Vanderwal was on the end of a wonderful UL move as they increased the tempo with four minutes remaining in the first. Rachel Vanderwal stretched out the lead to five from the line. Marie Breen fired Montonotte back into contention with a superb three, before Rachel Vanderwal struck on the buzzer to give UL a 17-13 first quarter lead.
UL started brighter in the second, and quickly established a nine point lead, as Rachel Vanderwal began to display the kind of form that has made her one of the league’s most feared attackers. The Canadian was instrumental in UL establishing a 13 point lead. Montonotte fought back superbly however, and trailed by a mere four points at half time.34-30.
The game began to ebb away from the Cork side in the third quarter, as UL ramped up their offensive performance, with Natalie Taylor’s shooting at times breathtaking.
Montonotte did their utmost to regain a foothold, but UL should be commended for the manner with which they stuck to their task, aided in no small part by the terrific duo Rachel Vanderwal and Natalie Taylor.
Basketball Ireland Men’s Division 1 final
Team Garveys St Marys 83-77 Titans
St Mary's: (J Teahan 37, J Galvin 21, D Wall 16)
Titans: (P Freeman 26, C MacMichael 13, G Sedebskis 10)
MVP; John Teahan (Team Garveys St Marys)
Team Garvey St Mary’s secured a memorable victory over Titans of Galway (83-77), as these two evenly matched sides squared off once again in the Basketball Ireland Men’s Division 1 final.
Team Garvey’s won the corresponding fixture by a single point last year and Titans came into this one keen to avenge that heartbreaking defeat.
Alas for Titans they will have to wait another year, after an MVP display and 41 point haul from John Teahan. Teahan inspired Team Garvey’s to an exceptional come from behind victory, to secure a second successive league title.
A blistering opening from Titans saw them threaten to pull away from their Kerry opponents in the first quarter, taking an early 17-5 lead. Garvey’s tried to respond, and did so with tremendous speed, gnawing away at the Titans lead to trail by just four at the end of the first quarter - 26-22.
As ever, Teahan was having a huge say in proceedings for Garvey’s, who were showing admirable zeal in their pursuit of Titans. Nonetheless the Galway side were still menacing - utilising the considerable talents of Conall MacMichael and Paul Freeman at every available opportunity. Titans still held the advantage heading for the half time interval with a 42-37 lead.
Garvey’s managed to get within two points midway through the third quarter. Titans were stubbornly trying to stem the Garvey’s fight back, their lead cut to just one. John Galvin fired Garvey’s into a timely lead just before the buzzer to send his team into the lead for the final quarter. It was the first time in the game the Kerry side had led the match.
The momentum now with Garvey’s, the talismanic Paul Freeman stepped up to send Titans back in front. Freeman carried the air of a man affronted at Garvey’s impertinence in taking the lead. They were level again minutes later, in a game which looked destined to run to the wire. The sides remained deadlocked at 68-68 with less than five to play.
Garvey’s established a four point lead, before Glenn Hynes brought it back to two. Garvey’s forward momentum and nous saw them get over the line in the final minute of the game. For Titans, another heartbreaking defeat in the dying embers of a national final. For Garvey’s, a second league title in two years and a virtuoso performance from John Teahan to savour.
Basketball Ireland Women’s Division 1 final
Liffey Celtics 73-46 Brunell
Celtics: (A Pupin 22, A O Connor 14, C White 11)
Brunell: (D O'Leary 19, K Kelleher 6, A Myers 5)
MVP; Anna Pupin (Liffey Celtics)
Liffey Celtic's claimed the Basketball Ireland Women’s Division One title following a comprehensive 73-46 victory over Brunell of Cork.
‘MVP’ Anna Pupin led the charge with an impressive point haul, but Celtics’ victory owed more to a superb diligence and team ethic than any one performer.
Catriona White struck the games first points from outside to give Celtics a three-point lead. Sharon O’Neill responded immediately for Brunell, followed by Danielle O’Leary from the line, as the Cork side took the lead. There was little to separate both sides at the end of the opening quarter, Brunell taking a narrow 13-12 lead into the second.
Maud Anne Foley had Celtics level early in the second, with a huge three for her side. Celtics then began to assert some authority halfway through, thanks to some industrious work from Aine O’Connor and Anna Pupin.
Brunnell were certainly still in contention, but now struggling to penetrate the Celtics’ defence. Kathleen Kelliher provided her side with a much needed three pointer, to bring Brunell back within five.
The Cork side were doggedly hanging in against their opponents, the question for coach Kieran O Leary was whether or not his charges could maintain the level of exertion they were now expending. It appeared not as the first half drew to a close, Catriona White going to the line to hand Celtics a 12-point lead at half time (40-28).
Brunnell returned for the second half with a renewed sense of purpose, Danielle O’Leary hitting an unlikely three pointer from way outside. Still it was Celtics who were more clinical inside, with Aine O’Connor and Catriona White continuing to cause problems. Karen Mealey hit three for Celtics, who were managing to keep the gap at 13 despite Brunell’s best efforts.
It was looking increasingly likely that it was going to be Celtics day as the third quarter drew to a close with Brunell beginning to look slightly ragged in their attempts to find a way back. 54-38 to Celtics with one quarter remaining.
The final quarter was somewhat of a procession for Celtics, who pulled away in the final stages, sealing a resounding victory by 73 points to 46. It was a tough day out for Brunell, who had the added blow of losing Alison Kearney to what looked like a serious injury.
