Coughlan C&S Neptune 112 DBS Éanna 107 (after overtime)

COUGHLAN C&S Neptune beat DBS Éanna in a thrilling Men’s Super League encounter at the Neptune Stadium last Saturday night.

The home team got out of jail as they should have put the game to bed in regulation time, however, they struggled to contain their boards in the final quarter which lead to Eanna punishing them with second and third shooting options.

Gary Walsh and Lehmon Colbert came up with big scores for the home team in overtime to secure a vital victory.

Neptune opened the scoring with Lehmon Colbert making a strong move to the basket followed by a post move by Spaniard Nil Sabata to lead 5-0. Sabata’s offensive rebound and put back, and a monstrous three by Kyle Hosford had Neptune leading 14-7 midway through the period.

Neil Lynch then hit a big three-pointer for Eanna to trail 24-19, however, a baby hook by Peter Hoffmann and a buzzer-beater by Adam Heaphy had Neptune leading 29-19 at the end of the opening quarter.

Neptune increased their lead with a nice post move by Hoffmann to lead 33-21 after two minutes from the restart. Paris Ballingar nailed a monstrous three-pointer for the visitors to reduce the deficit 37-27 midway through the period.

The home team then got sloppy on both sides of the floor with Éanna punishing them on the offensive boards and with Lynch and Stefan Zecevic nailing consecutive three-pointers the game was surprisingly level 49-49 at the half.

Neptune made a bright from the restart with Cian Heaphy and Colbert combining to lead 58-53. Éanna replied with some wonderful baskets from Wilson to trail 61-59 midway through the period.

Walsh then shot a pair of long three-pointers for Neptune to increase their lead 71-59 with 1.20 remaining in the period. Hosford inspired his team with some superb baskets to lead 76-61 at the end of the third period.

Neptune continued their excellent shooting at the start of the final quarter with Colbert and Roy Downey nailing consecutive threes: 87-70. Eanna weren’t going away with Daniel Heaney and Lynch combining to reduce the deficit 89-77. Another three by Lynch and a pair of foul shots by Ballingar as Éanna tied the game 96-96 to bring the game into overtime.

Both sides exchanged baskets in the opening minutes overtime, but another stunning three by Walsh gave Neptune a 106-103 lead in the 43rd minute. Éanna responded again to lead 107-106 with a Heaney floater, however, Walsh nailed another monstrous three followed by a Colbert put-back to seal victory 112-107.

Top scorers for Coughlan C&S Neptune: Lehmon Colbert 24, Gary Walsh 20, Kyle Hosford 12.

DBS Éanna: Stefan Zecevic 22, Joshua Wilson 20, Neil Lynch 20.

COUGHLAN C&S NEPTUNE: C Heaphy, K Hosford, P Hoffmann, E Lenihan, A Heaphy, G Walsh, R Downey, N Sabata, L Colbert G Noonan.

DBS ÉANNA: N Lynch, J Wilson, S Zecevic, H Netsiyanwa, D Heaney, M Reynolds, P Ballingar, M Tomic, M Zafron, L Caffery, T McCabe, M Herbst, C McEvilly.

Referees: Ines Freire (Dublin), Catriona White (Dublin), Canice Kelly (Kilkenny).