Tolka Rovers wins Division 1 title
Tolka Rovers managed to claw back a half time deficit of 13 points
to claim Basketball Ireland’s Men’s Division One Final with a 68-67
win at UL’s Sports Complex.
St. Brendan’s opened up the game in a bright fashion with back to
back baskets from Jason Quirke and Seàn Carroll. Tolka Rovers were
slow to start but were able to put points on the scoreboard through
the industrious Alan Kelly and Vlad Ignatavius. Tolka managed to
come within four points before St. Brendan’s Ricardo star Leonard
played hard in the post and converted two baskets to extend their
lead to eight.
St. Brendan’s surged ahead with Seàn Carroll rounding out the first
quarter with a conversion and Tolka’s Mark Walsh threw up a
desperation three pointer that brought his team within six points.
Tolka had trouble converting in the second quarter as they only
managed to score 11 points with five coming courtesy of MVP Eoin
Quill. St. Brendan’s used it to their advantage and slowly built up
a 15 point lead. Brendan’s Mark Mitchell led the attack as he went
to the free throw to hit four points.
Tolka refused to lie down as they began to mount a comeback. Roma
Dolgother hit five straight points to bring his squad within ten
points (38-48) and captain Mark Walsh continued his shooting assault
as he stroked two from the free throw line and a baseline jumper.
With a fourth quarter push from both teams, Tolka Rovers turned on
the defence with a huge block from Eoin Quill and two steals from
captain Mark Walsh. St. Brendan’s Seàn Carroll responded by hitting
a three point shot to tie the game at 61-61. However, Tolka’s Eoin
Quill stroked a smooth jumper three point shot from the top of the
key to put the Dublin side up by three (64-61). Carroll quickly
replied back by hitting two points for Brendan’s.
Tolka’s superb comeback continued with a two from Alan Kelly before
captain Mark Walsh turned hero with two free throws to ensure the
title headed back to the capital.
Courtesy of Basketball Ireland
St. Vincent's Succeeds in Division One
Final Moycullen 65 (37) - St Vincent's 100
(46)
St. Vincent's made up for their disappointment in the SuperLeague semi final
earlier today by winning the Men's Division One Final this evening in the
Mardyke Arena in Cork.
St. Vincent's advanced to this weekend's finals weekend by overcoming a
series of tough pool games last Saturday, and then defeating the Sligo All
Stars on Sunday by a definitive 99-65 scoreline.
The first quarter of the finals match was very closely contested with basket
for basket. John Cunningham, the Moycullen captain, led the way for the
Galway men scoring eight points in the first seven minutes. Simon Flynn,
Niall Conway and Chris Doyle all contributed scores for St. Vincent's. The
lead switched hands several times as the quarter remained tight but it was
Moycullen who had the lead by a slight margin at the end of the first
quarter and not the eventual victors.
Moycullen opened the second quarter with two baskets from Adrien Walsh to
extend their lead to 29-24. Chris Doyle replied with two of his own for St.
Vincent's to narrow the gap to 28-29 with three minutes gone on the clock. A
basket from Karl Donnelly put the Dublin men in the lead for the first time
and they never looked back.
Simon Flynn of St. Vincent's went on a scoring spree, scoring 11 points in
two minutes. Captain Karl Donnelly stepped in with another two baskets
including a three-pointer in the last minute and a half, shortly followed by
a three by Cian Nihill for Moycullen, but the Dubliners went in nine points
up at the break, 46-37.
Moycullen's Fergal McAndrew opened the scoring in the third but St.
Vincent's hit back once again, through Flynn and Karl Donnelly, who also set
up his brother James to stretch the lead to 52-39. Baskets from Nollaig
Cunningham and McAndrew closed the gap but when Cian Nihill picked up his
fourth foul with 3.16 on the clock, this put Moycullen on team fouls, and
things looked ominous for the westerners.
James Donnelly scored two from the free throw line, followed by a
three-pointer and St. Vincents led by 20 with three minutes to go. The
younger Donnelly brother added another basket and with five more points
gained from the free throw line, St. Vincent's were ahead 72-46 at the end
of this quarter.
It was all over in the fourth, as Moycullen tried to play catch up. Flynn
and Karl Donnelly continued their scoring form and there was no way back for
the Galway boys. Despite three three-pointers from Moycullen, the game
finished out 65-100 to the Dubliners and they are now guaranteed to take at
least one cup back to the capital tonight.
Top scorers:
St. Vincents: Simon Flynn 17, Chris Doyal 16, Karl Donnelly 15
James Donnelly 15
Moycullen: John Cunningham 13, Cian Nihill 13, Adrien Walsh 11
