Hoops leave Demons for dead

Galwey Auctioneering Hoops 71 Mardyke UCC Demons 41

Hoops left them reeling at the wrong end of a sensational 71-41 scoreline in Saturday’s men’s junior cup final at the National Arena.

Thirty points was the margin but it did not reflect any deficiencies on the part of the Cork men - rather the superiority of a side that had everything a coach could desire and Ruben Perry blended it all perfectly.

They faced a formidable Demons’ side. David Murphy is one of the most exciting newcomers to the SuperLeague and Carlton Cuffe was also on his second visit to the Arena where he was just shaded for the MVP last year.

But they hardly got a look in as MVP Scott Kinevane ran the floor like an armoured tank, stepping up under the boards to drop 24 points. And he got all the protection he needed around the board from Ciaran White.

Demons spent the opening four minutes of the game defending and rare forays up the court were fruitless against the towering presence of White. Their shots, from the outside also came to nothing and the Hoops were 8-0 up before Arturas Gavenia opened their account.

Cuffe added a basket and David Murphy landed a three-pointer but they were already chasing the game as Hoops lead 15-6 at the end of the first quarter.

Gavenia shot a three pointer to retrieve something early in the second quarter but now the defence was under pressure and Kinevane, who made five from the line in the first quarter, punished indiscretion with four more and a three-pointer as they increased their lead to 31-17 at the break.

Demons battled back gamely in the third. Gavenia landed two three pointers, a basket and two from the line but five players contributed for the Hoops who led 53-33 going into the fourth quarter when Demons managed just three scores with Gavenia fouled out. Cuffe had a three pointer and a basket under pressure and Cathal O’Flaherty landed another three pointer.

Top scorers: Hoops: Scott Kinevane 24, Michael McAuley 11, Ronan McLoughlin 10. Mardyke UCC Demons: Arturas Gavenia 15, Carlton Cuffe 9, David Murphy 5.