Brilliant Ballincollig power past Éanna into Super League final
ON THE RISE: Ballincollig's Adrian O'Sullivan lays up a basket against Éanna during the Domino's Men's Super League semi-final at MTU Arena. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Ballincollig qualified for the final of the Domino’s Men’s Super League final following a comfortable win over Éanna at the MTU Arena on Saturday.
The Cork side were simply awesome in the second half, with their Irish players stepping up to the mark. They now look forward to a trip to the National Basketball Arena on April 12 for the decider against the winners of Belfast Star and Killester.
There was an incident in the first half when Ballincollig had only one Irish player on court for approximately 20 seconds. The rule states two Irish players on court at all times. After the game, Éanna signed the scoresheet in protest, though it had no impact on the outcome, given they lost by 21 points.
Both sides came out playing man-to-man defence with some easy tips missed before James Gormley got the visitors up and running. Neil Lynch nailed a stunning three-pointer only for Dylan Corkery to respond in kind.
Some of the defence played by both sides was top drawer but Corkery was doing savage work also at both ends, tipping in a rebound that gave his side a 7-6. The introduction of player-coach Ciaran O’Sullivan yielded an immediate return outside the arc and when he followed up with an identical shot, the host led by seven.
Credit to Éanna, they responded in style and 12 unanswered points saw them ahead with 1.43 remaining in the quarter. Neil Lynch continued to hurt Ballincollig with his slick shooting outside the paint and Eanna were 23-18 up going into the second quarter.
Consecutive Ballincollig baskets and a bonus tied the game. After a sluggish few minutes, they upped the gears and when Adrian O’Sullivan banked a shot and got the bonus, followed by a three, they surged into a six-point lead.
Latavious Mitchell was having a tough evening at the office early on with only five points and the American was missing many opportunities close to the hoop. When he drained a free-throw with 3.30 left in the second quarter, Ballincollig looked in control with a seven-point advantage.
Ballincollig, who only lost five regular-season games and lifted the National Cup, hadn't been at their best but were 41-35 in front at the break.
On the restart, Mitchell banked an easy tip but Gormley responded. American powerhouse Mitchell was now finding his form and when he produced a back- door slammer in the 23rd minute, the complex erupted.
Lartell Jossell also looked to increase the tempo and a monstrous three-pointer gave his side a 10-point lead.
The biggest problem for Éanna was their inability to break down the stringent Ballincollig defence. When Adrian O’Sullivan drained a three with 3.58 left in the third, the home side had taken complete control, leading 64-46.
Éanna huffed and puffed but managed to reduce the deficit to 13 points, 69-56, entering the crucial fourth quarter.
Irish underage international Adam Charles opened with consecutive three-pointers on the restart and suddenly it was a seven-point game.
Credit to Ballincollig, they responded in style and three-pointers from Keelan Cairns and Josh Steel eased any nerves.
They saw out the game with an exhibition of shooting that Éanna couldn’t contain.
L Mitchell 23, A O’Sullivan 21, L Jossell 16, J Steel 11.
J Gormley 20, M Blackwell 19, N Lynch 15.
A O’Sullivan, J Steel, L Jossell, D O’Herlihy, A Rodriguez, C O’Sullivan, R O’Sullivan, C Blount, L O’Sullivan, D Corkery, K Cairns, L Mitchell.
C O’Sullivan, J Richardson, D Kiernan, C Dikcius, K Andabaka, S Desnica, N Lynch, M Blackwell, A Charles, J Gormley, H Lynch, M Christal.
M Nazimek (Dublin), J Dooley (Portlaoise), L Aherne (Limerick).
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