St. Pauls Killarney were beaten in their InsureMyHouse.ie Women’s Division 1 National Cup semi-final.
They lost 69-64 to Abbey Seals Dublin Lions. Enda Walshe reports
Pauls coach James Fleming
Amelia Motz continued an outstanding individual season for Abbey Seals Dublin Lions, as she scored 26-points. Both St. Pauls Killarney and Abbey Seals Dublin Lions served up another feast of basketball that had everyone on the edge of their seats. Six lead changes in a game where both led by as much as 13-points at different intervals, momentum was a fickle friend for each set of players. A hot shooting spell in the third quarter proved to be the difference for Rob White’s Dubliners. They amassed 23-points, giving up just seven in reply, before holding firm against a similar onslaught in the final period.
The opening half was a predictably tight affair. Each team looking to get their scoring threats settled into a rhythm and succeeding in doing so, the only disappointment being the loss of St. Pauls Killarney captain Rheanne O’Shea after a hard fall during transition. She had contributed 13-points in as many minutes at that time. Given the end-to-end nature of this titanic struggle, it was fitting that a Trudy Walker jump shot and a pair of Gillian Walker free-throws reduced the gap to just 3-points at the half, 36-33 in favour of the Kerry side.
The closing two quarters couldn’t have been more contrasting. Abbey Seals Dublin Lions played like a team possessed in the third and when required, St. Pauls Killarney played copycat in the fourth. Sofia Paska, Yuleska Ramirez Tejeda, Emily Smyth, Trudy Walker and Lorraine Scanlon, all made it into double digits on the box score for their respective outfits. For long spells, it appeared as if no one could miss. With all that said, the old adage defence wins championships came to fore right at the death.
With just over sixty ticks left on the clock, just two points separated the teams. Abbey Seals Dublin Lions needed one more stop. They couldn’t prevent the initial Sofia Paska sky hook, but the ensuing rebound fell gleefully into the hands of Amelia Motz. With time elapsing, Ramirez-Tejeda was forced to foul, allowing Motz to hit the final points of the game from the free-throw line, with the chants of ‘MVP, MVP, MVP’ deafening from her jubilant supporters.
In the other semi a last second brace of Charley McGrath free-throws completed one of the great cup comebacks in recent memory, as Phoenix Rockets rose from the ashes to reach the final at the expense of Portlaoise Panthers, 65-63.
In Men’s National League Div 1 Scotts Lakers won 100-79 against Killarney Cougars. Enda Walshe reports
The Killarney derby lived up to expectations with a capacity attendance enjoying a competitive contest with the Cougars excellent start not enough to secure the points as the Lakers recovered well to dominate the third quarter and secure an important deserved win.
The Cougars hit the ground running with two three pointers by young Jack Lynch to give the home side a 6-0 lead as they impressed with a further three pointer by Tommy Bowler to lead 12-6 after 3 minutes. The visitors eventually began to settle and with Marko Bencic, Rui Saravia and John Ferguson finding their range, they reduced the arrears and then hit the front 13-12. The remainder of the quarter was basket for basket with another A Cougars three pointer by Bowler and two from the free throwline and a two by Esebio Strijdhaftig on the buzzer gave Cougars a deserved lead at 26-24. The Cougars dominated the early stages of the second quarter to lead by 7 pts thanks to a big Nathan Cox three pointer and they led 37-30 with 4 mins remaining in the quarter. A big three minutes by John Ferguson as he responded well with 13pts for Scott's Lakers to turn the game around to see Scotts Lakers hit the front by half time at 44-52.
The Lakers confidence was high and they had control of the third quarter and dominated to increase the lead with the Cougars challenge fading. Lakers' Marko Bencic and John Ferguson scored hard earned baskets to increase their lead deservedly to 79-58 by the end of the third as the Lakers defence held the main Cougars scoring threat of Darren Townes scoreless as he retired injured midway through the quarter. The sides went basket for basket through a high scoring final quarter but Lakers' strong defence insured their was no big comeback by the Cougars.
The sides will meet again later this month with Lakers hosting the Cougars at Killarney Sports & Leisure Center on January 28th. The games MVP was American John Ferguson with an impressive performance with 37pts.
Top scorers:
Killarney Cougars
Darren Townes 19
Esebio Strijdhaftig 17
Andrew Fitzgerald 12
Jack Lynch 11
Tommy Bowler 11
Scott's Lakers
John Ferguson 37
Marko Bencic 14
Rui Saravia 12
Aron Walker 8
DBS Éanna are into their second InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy Cup final in three seasons. They defeated Emporium Cork Basketball 77-71 in a thriller at a packed Neptune Stadium. They will play University of Galway Maree in the final in two weeks’ time at the National Basketball Arena, after Charlie Crowley’s side defeated Bright St. Vincent’s 86-68 to reach their first ever final.
Trinity Meteors and Killester will play in the InsureMyHouse.ie Paudie O’Connor Cup final, after both came through their semi-finals at Neptune Stadium. 2020 winners Killester edged Waterford Wildcats 87-77, pulling away in the fourth quarter. Trinity Meteors, who are joint top of the MissQuote.ie Super League, had a dominant 82-60 win over DCU Mercy, helped by a 24-point and 13-rebound performance from Ireland international Dayna Finn.
Ulster University banished the demons of a last four defeat a year ago to reach the InsureMyHouse.ie Presidents’ Cup final, accounting for an in-form Malahide, 66-47 in Upper Glanmire. Moy Tolka Rovers confirmed their place against Ulster University with an 8-point win, 82-74 over Drogheda Wolves, who come up short in their bid to make it two final appearances in succession.
