Awesome final quarter sees Killester dethrone UCC Demons to win Pat Duffy National Cup
CHAMPIONS: Killester captain Ciaran Roe with the Pat Duffy Cup after his side's victory. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
In the end it looked comfortable. After three terrific quarters, a sensational final period saw Killester deny UCC Demons back-to-back bid and secure their sixth Pat Duffy National Cup at the National Basketball Arena.
A single point separated the teams heading into the fourth quarter, but the Demons couldn’t keep up with Killester’s immense pace. MVP Isiah Dasher finished with 31 points and 11 of those came in the final stretch. As late kicks go, this was clutch.
Over an hour before tip-off, Pretty Green Eyes pounded around the Tallaght venue’s stands. Those bleachers were immaculately divided with Killester’s bright orange on one side and French tricolours for the Demons’ blue, white and red on the other.
James Hannigan gave the Cork crowd an early reason to verbally test the wooden roof with the opening three-pointer. Elijah Tillman came into this decider as the leading cup points scorer and landed two free throws to keep them in full voice.
It didn’t last long. A trojan defensive effort by Paul Dick paved the way for Dasher to hit his first three of the night. That instigated a stretch of dominance that saw them lead 26 to 18 at the end of the first quarter.
The second stanza started with a Tillman slam as he gradually began to exert his influence. It was a decider full of needle and niggle and outright fury.
Dasher snarled at Lehane after a foul that allowed the wing to drain one of two free throws and push Killester seven clear.
When the wrong number was read out for a Paul Dick foul, a patron in the bleachers leapt to his feet and roared until Demons coach Danny O’Mahony heard his call. He quickly questioned the announcement and it was clarified.
A series of wayward efforts by Dick was met by jeers from the UCC section. When he forced a foul in the middle of the second Killester roared a guttural response. He missed and the whistles commenced again.
Captain David Lehane took issue with a bump that came his way as he made his way to the line for one particular time-out.
A foul call against Hannigan had O’Mahony and his legion seething subsequently. Tit-for-tat, they continued to trade.
A Tillman block and layup left the place really rocking. That cut the margin to two, but it was 45-41 for Killester at the break. Nine points from turnovers in the first half will have been particularly pleasing for Jonny Grennell.
December Player of the Month Patrick Robinson nailed consecutive free throws to draw level for just the second time in the decider. In total, there would be six lead changes.
Tobias Christensen managed to give UCC Demons the lead with five minutes left in the quarter. By now every single play was soaked with tension.
A loose ball in the left three exhausted bodies sprawled across the court. One of them, Blake Murphy, managed to pick himself up and produce a terrific three. The scoreboard read 63-62 for Killester with one quarter left.
A bruising contest was taking its toll. With seven minutes left, Dick went down holding his lower leg before making for the bench.
Tillman was stopped in the lane and Baptiste Chazelas summoned a vital rebound at the other end to give the Dublin club a six-point lead.
For the first time, the Demons showed signs of panic. A jinking Kason Harrell had time to celebrate in front of the crowd after a super step.
They were 13 up and had their opposition scrambling for a break. A timeout wasn’t enough.
By then, the tie was done.
I. Dasher 31, K. Harrell 16, B. Chazelas 12, P. Dick 10, A. McGeever 9, C. Roe 7, I. Westbrooks 7.
P. Robinson 16, E. Tillman 13, D. Lehane 12, J. Hannigan 12, K. Hosford 11, T. Christensen 5, B. Murphy 6.
I. Dasher; C. Roe; B. Chazelas; P. Dick; K. Harrell; E. Kiernan; F. Raheem; P. Sullivan; A. McGeever; I. Westbrooks.
T. Christensen; D. Lehane; P. Robinson; J. Hannigan; E. Tillman; K Hosford; B. Murphy; S. Hannigan.
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