Neptune U20s suffer heartbreak in final moments losing their way against a great Titans side

Titans 73 

Neptune 69 

Neptune were defeated in a memorable Men’s U20 National Cup final as a meltdown in the closing minutes saw the favourites Titans crowned champions after a truly magnificent decider at the National Basketball Arena on Saturday.

The Cork side looked home and hosed entering the closing minutes, but their scoring dried up and inspired by Fortune Igbokwe (25) Titans nipped it the death.

Dylan O’Rourke gave Neptune the perfect start with a stunning buzzer beater three pointer in their opening possession.

Titans were tall and athletic and looked a little tentative in the opening exchanges but they responded with consecutive from Igbokwe baskets.

O’Rourke certainly had a hot hand and when he drained a second three pointer in the third minute that gave the Cork side a five- point lead.

In fairness the opening four minutes was electric with the carnival atmosphere of both sets of fans making it a memorable occasion.

Wesley Delaney was another Neptune player to excel in the opening exchanges chipping in with nine points, but Titans did get a six- point run in the seventh minute that reduced the deficit to five points.

Credit to Galway side they kept putting pressure on Neptune in the closing minutes and in the final possession the Cork side couldn’t add a basket but still had a two point cushion 22-20 after a truly breathtaking quarter.

Sean Noonan got Neptune up and running on the restart but with their post player Pharrell Osagie struggling to make an impression they were finding it difficult to get crucial baskets.

As we approached the midway of the quarter there is little doubt Neptune were running out of ideas in the offence court and with the sides tied at 24 point each, they needed a plan quickly to get clear looks.

In fairness the Neptune coach Adam Drummond didn’t panic but it was Titans who edged ahead in the 16th minute following an easy tip by Nathan Gbinigie 33-29.

It was now looking Neptune had swayed slightly from making it a basketball game as the run and gun game was suiting their Galway opponents.

When the game was running away from Neptune Sean Noonan stood up to be counted and he finished well to edge them ahead by the minimum 35-34 after 20 minutes of top class basketball.

Looking at the Neptune stats they made 8/19 inside the paint (42%) and outside the arc they were 4/12 a 33% reading.

Noonan showed his class when nailing a three- pointer but Luka Mitchell immediately responded with a similar shot.

The Cork side started the second half with the influential Dylan O’Rourke who had picked up his third foul in the second quarter and his side were missing his skills in the offence court.

Midway through this period Osagie picked up his third foul as Neptune were now hanging on for dear life despite having a three- point lead 42-39.

Dylan O’Rourke returned midway through this period and he immediately drew a foul but only made one of his free throws.

The closing minutes were frantic for both sides but with Titans rallying they reduced the deficit to two points before Dylan O’Rourke drained a brace of free throws to extend their lead to 51-47 entering the final quarter.

A riveting start by Neptune saw Dylan O’Rourke nail consecutive three pointers and suddenly two minutes into the quarter they had extended their lead to nine points 60-51.

Coming down the stretch Neptune lost the plot as unfortunately silly shooting options came back to haunt them much to the dismay of the faithful who had given them magnificent support.

Scorers for Titans: F Igbokwe 25, L Mitchell 15, D Gbinigie 13.

Neptune: D O’Rourke 23, W Delaney 16, S Noonan 11.

Titans: D Gbinigie, N Gbinigie, F Igbokwe, V Tashev, S Owede, L Herrick, N Webb, L Mitchell, W Poland, R Claus, M Smyth, R Grebstels, F Rogowic, V Edobor, R Walsh.

Neptune: B O’Connell, D O’Rourke, K O’Rourke, O Tobin, O Ensko,A Coker, W Carmody, N Vaicekonis, S Noonan, S Emukperuo, W Delany, L Walsh, E Laurynavicius, P Osagie, C Buckley.

Referees: E Buckley (Kerry), M Landos (Dublin), A Pauliukenas (Dublin).