Courtney provides spark as Thunder roll over UCC

Dublin Thunder, in their debut season, produced an awesome display to win the senior men’s National Cup by virtue of a comfortable win over UCD Marian at the National Basketball Arena last night.

UCD Marian went into this final as rank outsiders but they blitzed their opponents in the opening five minutes.

Gary Edge showed incredible accuracy outside the perimeter to nail a hat-trick of three-pointers that helped his side into an 11-3 lead.

Thunder responded in style, however, and slowly got to grips with their opponents. Inspired by American Derrick Courtney, they levelled the game with a minute remaining in the quarter.

Former Killester player Michael Goj shot a three-pointer on the buzzer that helped his side into 23-17 lead entering the second quarter.

That’s as good as it got for UCD as Thunder restricted them to five points in the second period.

Inspired by Courtney, they blitzed their opponents with a terrific brand of basketball as the students wilted under the intense pressure. At the half-time buzzer Thunder led 47-22, with Courtney’s 22-point contribution breaking the hearts of UCD who then had a mountain to climb.

It was a case of going through the motions in the third quarter for Thunder as they played some riveting basketball that had the large attendance at the arena on their feet.

Isaac Westbrooks, another former Killester SuperLeague player, was the conductor of the orchestra at point and the game was over as a contest entering the final period.

MVP: Derrick Courtney (Dublin Thunder).