UCC Demons knock out rivals Neptune in pulsating Super League showdown at packed Mardyke
James Hannigan scores for UCC Demons against Energywise Ireland Neptune in the Domino’s Pizza Men’s Super League quarter-final at Mardyke Arena. Picture: Larry Cummins
UCC Demons had to produce a miraculous comeback in the closing minutes to deny Energywise Ireland Neptune victory in a pulsating Men’s Super League quarter-final play-off at the Mardyke Arena on Sunday.
Neptune, despite losing American Tamyrik Fields to two techs in the 25th minute battled brilliantly, but Demons, inspired by wily veteran Kyle Hosford, rallied when defeat stared them in the face.
After a 20-minute delay due to a technical fault with the scoreboard at the venue, it was Tamyrik Fields who drained a jumper in their opening possession. Neptune looked to be playing a high-tempo game, but Demons got back in the mix and a lay-up from Dave Lehane in the third minute.
Defending didn’t seem to be stringent from both sides in the opening exchanges, but Demons led 13-11 midway through the quarter.
Elijah Tillman who looked lethargic in the early stages was taken out for a minute's rest and returned with a slammer in the sixth minute.
Patrick Robinson was posing Neptune’s defence all sorts of problems with his moves to the hoop and when he nailed a three with 1.41 remaining it gave his team an 11-point lead 24-13.
Demons without excelling remained in control and a buzzer-beating tip from Tillman saw them leading 31-15 entering the second quarter.
On the restart, a three from Jaksa Sola and a basket from Hunter reduced the deficit to 11 points before David Lehane responded with a huge shot outside the arc.
The tempo of the game dropped considerably in this period but consecutive baskets midway through the quarter reduced the deficit to 10 points.
For some strange reason, Demons dropped their intensity and worse still ran out of ideas in the offence court as Neptune had reduced the deficit to three minutes with a minute remaining to the interval.
Neptune had possession with 4.6 seconds remaining and called a time-out but nothing came from their play and Demons went in with a slender three-point lead 48-45.
Looking at the half-time stats, Demons shooting outside the arch was poor as all they accumulated was four from the 15 attempts they made. Neptune didn’t rely on shooting outside the arc as all they attempted was eight shots with only one making the basket that gave them a 13% average.
Tillman began with jammer for Demons only for Neptune to immediately respond with a Hunter basket.
It was evident Demons were concentrating on getting the ball into Tillman, but Neptune led for the first time since the opening possession in the 24th minute 54-52 with Demons looking a side on the ropes.
Indeed, Demons got a lucky break in the 25th minute when Fields was ejected after picking up two technical fouls and suddenly Demons got a run that saw them regain an eight-point lead in the space of two minutes.
The Blackpool side needed inspiration and in fairness, they responded with seven consecutive points that reduced the deficit to three points with 1.20 remaining in the quarter with Demons calling a much-needed time-out.
The closing minutes were scrappy but Demons were still in danger of losing as Neptune had reduced the deficit to 74-71 entering the crucial fourth quarter.
Both sides exchanged baskets on the restart but Demons were still struggling to contain Hunter as he levelled the game at 81 each before a Sola basket edged Neptune ahead with six minutes remaining.
Neptune looked to be stealing a march before Demons found another gear with Hosford proving there is no substitute for class.
P Robinson 22, E Tillman 25, K Hosford 16, J Hannigan 12, D Lehane 12.
C Hunter 35, J Sola 21, T Fields 15.
S Hannigan, B Murphy, T Christensen, P Robinson, J Hannigan, D Lehane, E Spudis, K Hosford, C Looney, D Cuff, E Tillman.
D O’Sullivan, C Leahy, C Leahy, T Fields, D Aluko, A Heaphy, D O’Rourke, N Sabata, C Heaphy, J Sola, C Hunter.
Maciej Nazimek (Dublin). Jamie Dooley (Portlaoise), Emer Buckley (Kerry).
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