Tradehouse Central Ballincollig, DBS Éanna, C&S Neptune and Garvey's Tralee Warriors are into the InsureMyVan.ie Super League semi-finals after coming through their quarter-finals on Saturday.
Runaway South Conference champions Tradehouse Central Ballincollig defeated Griffith College Templeogue 85-79 in a closely run affair at Ballincollig Community School. Tradehouse Central Ballincollig led by five at the end of half-time, 42-37, but Griffith College Templeogue got within two points by the end of the third, trailing 59-57.
Tradehouse Central Ballincollig head coach Kieran O’Sullivan was pleased to negotiate his way through to the final four after a tricky test.
"Our initial thoughts are one of relief. The pressure was on us today and our lads responded when needed. Templeogue have a team of champions and went down fighting today. A proud team and made life difficult for us all through. The home advantage was key in the end. We are now looking forward to a home semi-final in our first year," O’Sullivan said.
Andre Nation top scored once more for the victors, on 25, while Adrian O'Sullivan had 19 and Milorad Sedlarevic hit 17.
Lorcan Murphy continued his fine recent form as the game’s top scorer, on 28, with Lawrence 'Puff’ Summers ending on 12, while Enrique Melini and Jason Killeen had 10 apiece.
Tradehouse Central Ballincollig will play C&S Neptune in the last four, after Colin O’Reilly’s side picked up their third away win at the IWA this season, defeating Killester 90-84. The Cork club’s also won their InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy National Cup quarter-final and a regular season Super League game at the same venue.
There was little between the sides in the opening quarter, C&S Neptune ahead by a single point, 22-21. That lead was six at half-time, 45-39 and stretched it to ten, 70-60, going into the final quarter. Killester did narrow the gap in the fourth, but it was too little too late.
Ireland international Roy Downey top scored for C&S Neptune, on 20 points, followed by Richaud Gittens (17) and Alex Terradellas (16). There was another huge performance Kason Harrell, who racked up 37 points for Killester, while Ireland international Ciaran Roe had 17 and Tomas Fernandez Zerolo scored 10.
North Conference champions DBS Éanna have secured a home semi-final against Garvey’s Tralee Warriors, following their 86-77 win over NUIG Maree.
Darren McGovern’s side were pushed all the way by a determined NUIG Maree at Coláiste Eanna. The home side led 52-39 at half-time, before the Galway club launched a fightback to trail 64-61 by the end of the third.
Darren McGovern, DBS Éanna head coach, was pleased with how his side responded to NUIG Maree’s third quarter run.
Mark Reynolds top scored for DBS Éanna, on 19, with Stefan Zecevic on 17 and Romonn Nelson on 16. For NUIG Maree their scoring was headed by Luka Kraljic (17) Deondre Jackson (17) and Lovre Tvrdic (13).
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors are into the semi-finals after negotiating their way past UCD Marian 88-71 at Tralee Sports Complex. The win didn’t appear in doubt when they built a 15 point lead, 42-27, by half-time. They stretched that advantage to 18 by the end of the third, 64-46.
Aaron Calixte top scored for the winners 28 points, with Ireland international Eoin Quigley hitting 14 points, while Kieran Donaghy and Daniel Jokubaitis had 11 each.
For UCD Marian, the ever-dangerous Jonathan Jean hit 28 points and the in-form Conor Meany had 21.
