Demons finally hunt down Tigers to capture title

Mardyke UCC Demons 91 Abrakebabra Tigers 81

It was a fitting finale to a memorable season of highs and lows and Demons, who relinquished their national cup to Tigers at the end of January, experienced their fair share of both.

Yesterday's victory erased whatever bitter memories survived not just from the past season but the 16 years since they last won the cup in one fell swoop as they claimed the title for the third time and, to make it better, on their home court.

And this was a game that had everything, the drama of the close calls and near misses, the nail-biting fight back when it appeared as if Chris Craig's side might be just about to stamp their seal on the title once again, and then the thrilling finish.

It pitted the two best teams in the country against each other once DART Killester and Roma St Vincent's had been disposed of in Saturday's semi finals, and while everyone waited for the stars to decide the outcome it was the homegrown players who eventually made the difference.

Tim O'Halloran came off the bench for Demons and immediately the influence of Luke O'Hea diminished and when Niall O'Reilly stepped up after Glen Worley ended up in foul trouble he not alone filled the breach but turned the whole game around for Demons.

Then there were the two huge three-pointers from Shane Coughlan in the third quarter when Demons needed that extra lift when they sensed that Tigers were tiring followed by the ice cool performance of MVP, Patrick Pope, from the free throw line when he was presented with the opportunity to exploit Tralee's foul situation.

Demons had worked hard to put themselves in a winning position at that point. Damian Matacz set the early pace with 10 points in the first quarter he would be held scoreless for the next quarter but Luke O'Hea, arguably the most consistent player in the league this season, hit back with three three-pointers and three baskets from close range to keep the deficit respectable at 25-22.

Two more three-pointers from O'Hea and 11 points from Roy Smallwood saw Tigers come storming into the game in the second quarter and they led 51-45 at half time.

Glen Worley had stepped up in the second quarter with 11 points but he was in foul trouble early in the third and in came Niall O'Reilly to take over. The UCC man heralded this entry with a huge three-pointer, added a basket and then shot another three-pointer and suddenly Demons were not struggling any more.

Demons were back in front at the end of the second quarter, 65-63, and Tigers were now beginning to show signs of fatigue.

"We sensed that in the fourth quarter," coach Pat Price said. "When play stopped they were looking at each other and pulling their shorts. Their shots were dropping short and they were not as effective under the boards. We knew it was time to dig deeper."

That's when Shane Coughlan hit them with two big three-pointers and the game was as good as won when Patrick Pope, with 10 from 12, and Niall O'Reilly with four from five, sealed it from the free throw line.

Top scorers: MARDYKE UCC DEMONS Glen Worley 22, Patrick Pope 22, Damian Matacz 16.

ABRAKEBABRA TIGERS Luke O'Hea 34, Roy Smallwood 25 and Chris Craig 9.

UL Aughinish 90 DART Killester 55

REVENGE from the national cup was also a factor when two-time champions UL Aughinish took on DART Killester in the women's SuperLeague final that ended up in a 90-55 rout for the Limerick side.

DART Killester had ended an unbeaten run that stretched back two years in the cup final but yesterday they were just a pale shadow of that side as UL turned on the style.

This time around MVP Michelle Aspell was back to her brilliant best and the game high of 29 points only underscored rather than reflected her inspirational contribution.

Syreeta Bromfield, despite a nasty ankle injury before half time, also worked wonders under the boards and when Michelle Aspell was in foul trouble in the final quarter she took over and added 14 points despite the attempted rally by the Dublin girls.

Nessa O'Keeffe had combined with Michelle Aspell contributing nine points to put the game out of reach at the end of the opening quarter when they led 37 points to eight.

Carmel Kissane stepped up for Killester in the second quarter with 10 points but the margin was 47-24 at half time. Another 11 points from Aspell in the third quarter when Ashley Luke shot three three-pointers for Killester and the fourth quarter was going to be something of a formality.

Top scorers: UL AUGHINISH Michelle Aspell 29 pts, Syreeta Bromfield 23, Nessa O'Keeffe 15.

DART KILLESTER Ashley Luke 15, Carmel Kissane 12, Catriona White and Suzanne Maguire 7 each.