Templeogue’s incredible second half fight-back earned them their first-ever Hula Hoops Men’s National Cup on Saturday night.
At eleven points down following two quarters in the National Basketball Arena it looked as though the first-time finalists were set to lose to GCD Swords Thunder.
But they scored 29 points in an incredible third quarter and then hung on to win by three in a thriller – 78-75
“I think the way we had to turn around that first half deficit coming out in the third quarter was very impressive,” said Templeogue coach Mark Keenan.
“Then we did our best to nearly lose it in the last few minutes, but you can see the spirit within the group.
“We never say die, we’re never too far behind and I’m just thrilled for the supporters. They have been fantastic supporting the team all year and I’m delighted for the lads.
“Our defence was poor in the second quarter. It was too easy for them and we held back in the offence.
“We weren’t attacking the basket and we only scored four points in that second quarter. We said, look, ‘defence is going to win us this game’ so we had to bring it and that’s what we did."
Templeogue, who have local lad and Dublin All-Ireland winning footballer Kevin McManamon (above) onboard as sports psychologist, led by three points coming up the stretch.
And in the dying seconds Swords’ Isaac Westbrooks had a late chance to level.
“I was just praying,” admitted the relieved Keenan afterwards. “It wasn’t going in in my mind and I was praying it wasn’t going in.
“We were trying to slow it down and we were trying to stop it early because we had an extra foul to give. Unfortunately we didn’t get to make that foul, but luck was on our side that it didn’t go in.”
Keenan has now led three different clubs to the National Cup title in the past six years and he says it’s a competition very dear to his heart.
“It has a special thing about it,” he said. “You don’t experience that atmosphere on any other night in the season.
“That’s the cup and what it brings – it’s extra special, every player wants to get here, every coach wants to get his team here. See the elation on everyone here – nothing can bring it to that level like the cup competition.”
