Ballincollig hoping to complete the double, adding the SuperLeague title to their national cup

Ballincollig will be hoping to complete the elusive double when they play Killester in the Domino’s Men’s Super League at the National Basketball Arena on Sunday (4.15pm).

The game will be live on TG4 but the Ballincollig faithful will travel to the capital in force, and player coach Ciaran O’Sullivan knows his side will have to be firing on all cylinders to bring the title back to Leeside.

The record in the league was even with a win each as O’Sullivan reflected on their games to date.

“We defeated them in Dublin when they were missing Paul Dick and ironically, they came to Cork and defeated us when we were missing our missing our American Lattrell Jossell, so this clash will be interesting with a full complement of players in both teams,” said O’Sullivan.

Has O’Sullivan any genuine worries going into this final?

“The one thing I will say about Killester over the last few years as this is their third league final and outside of a shock cup defeat at Tralee Warriors they have been mighty consistent despite having a spate of injuries,” added Ciaran.

In recent weeks Ciaran Roe has returned for Killester and he makes them a better team in the offence court.

“I think they are a battle- hardened team that will not go down without a fight and in Americans Robert Braswell and Josh Wilson they will need to be restricted as they are capable of hurting us.” 

The quality of Killester’s Irish players is a worry for O’Sullivan.

“When you look at Paul Dick and Roe they have so much experience of playing in these big games they will take our challenge in their stride.” Killester’s coach Johnny Grennell is another top man in his role and O’Sullivan complemented his opposite number.

“Johnny is one of the best in the league as his record speaks for itself and I have lots of respect for him in the job he has done for his boyhood club.” 

The one plus for Ballincollig will be their professionals as Latavious Mitchell, Josell and bosman Josh Steel have been a revelation and are the best trio in the league by a country mile.

Mitchell is warrior as when he starts slowly his head never drops and this scribe has witnessed him taking teams to the cleaners in the second half of games.

The last time Jossell played at basketball headquarters in their cup final win over Tralee Warriors he gave an exhibition nailing six three pointers in the opening quarter.

When Jossell is on his shooting game few players can match him and Killester are bound to have a plan in getting this ace shooter shut down.

The one player I have admired all season is Josh Steel who is also a magnificent shooter but more importantly he plays some incredible defence that’s seldom professionals have both skills in their locker.

All season Ballincollig have had notable contributions and in Adrian O’Sullivan and Dylan Corkery they have a duo capable of upsetting the Killester rhythm.

O’Sullivan can be dynamic in the manner he gets to the hoop and in recent games he has also been shooting the ball with precision.

On top of this O’Sullivan is a competitor in defence and staying on court in this final will be crucial for his team.

In Dylan Corkery they have a player that gives his team so much at both ends of the court and his displays this season have been right from the top drawer.

Always willing to do the hard graft Corkery is a coach’s dream and you might just see the Ballincollig unsung hero matching up to Paul Dick.

Keelan Cairns and Ronan O’Sullivan are big men willing to mix it and player coach Ciaran O’Sullivan has been known to come off the bench to nail crucial three pointers.

There is little doubt this final has all the ingredients of being a thrilling encounter, but for me, if Ballincollig bring their A game to the table, they should see off this tricky Killester challenge and complete that elusive double.