Adam Drummond steals the show for Rebel Wheelers as they clinch the five in a row

Rebel Wheelers 64 South East Swifts 54 

THE glorious five in a row was completed by the Rebel Wheelers in the IWA National Cup championship following a hard-earned win over South East Swifts at the National Basketball Arena on Friday night.

The Cork side were expected to win this final in a canter but in truth, they were pushed all the way by their opponents who are based in Carlow and Kilkenny.

The whole evening was summed up by the former Neptune star Adam Drummond, who was paralysed following an accident in 2020, and in his second final picked up the MVP award Drummond was rather emotional as he reflected on his journey with the Wheelers.

“It has been a wonderful experience as last year in my first campaign it was a case of getting into the groove because believe me, it’s a very skillful game at this level,” he said.

Joining the Rebel Wheelers has made Drummond a better person as he praised the work his club do at all levels.

“After my accident I had to get myself prepared for what was before me and playing with this group of players has helped me as all of them are just like myself, he added.

The Leesiders got off to a great start courtesy of a neat Conor Coughlan but the visitors missed four free throws in the opening two minutes.

Credit to South East Swifts they were battling hard but the shooting of Adam Drummond (6pts) was hurting them big time and they called a time-out midway through the quarter when they trailed 12-4.

The one negative for the Wheelers was their inability to get backcourt as they were getting punished frequently with unchallenged layups and shots.

Luckily for the Wheelers Drummond continued to dictate at both ends of the court but after a highly entertaining quarter, the Cork side were relieved to lead 18-12 entering the second quarter.

In the opening possession, Jack Quinn nailed a neat shot as the Wheelers needed to up their intensity and when Derek Hegarty finished a fast break it gave them a little breathing space.

South East Swifts, with the help of the outstanding Patrick O’Neill, who consistently punished Wheelers with his long-range passes from defence, and with six minutes remaining to the interval they still only trailed by eight points.

When the Swifts look back on this game they will surely rue the missed opportunities they had in the first half as they consistently missed free throws and open layups.

Anthony Coy was guilty of missing the majority of the Swifts shots came good with two minutes left on the clock as suddenly the lead was reduced to five points.

Luckily the Wheelers finished with a basket and despite playing below par they went in at the break with an eight-point lead 32-24.

Coy and Drummond swapped baskets in the opening minute and when Conor Coughlan punished the Swifts following a turnover the Wheelers fans sensed a revival.

There is little doubt the class of Drummond in this period made a huge difference to the holders but with two minutes remaining the Cork outfit still only commanded a 10-point lead entering the crucial final quarter.

The class of Coy got the Swifts up and running with consecutive baskets as this game was still in the melting pot.

Coming down the stretch the Wheelers closed out the game as the Swifts challenge finally petered out.

Scorers for Rebel Wheelers: A Drummond 22, C Coughlan 14, D Hegarty 12.

South East Swifts: A Coy 28, P O’Neill 14, J Mangan 12.

REBEL WHEELERS: C Coughlan, J Quinn, P Ryan, O O’Connor, A Hennebry, D Hegarty, C Simpson, D O’Regan, Conor Coughlan, D McCarthy, A Drummond.

SWIFTS: C Byrne, L Blake, M Hennessy-Cullen, S Wall, D Byrne, A Coy, J Hennessy, A Homan, J Strapp, R Roche, J Mangan, A Homan, M Murphy, S Denieffe, P O’Neill.

Referees: A Timmons (Dublin), C Kelly (Kilkenny), J O’Connor (Dublin).