AJ Williams leads Limerick Celtics to explosive victory over  Killorglin

Meanwhile, in the Senior Ladies final, Fr Mathew’s proved too strong for home side St Mary’s on a 43-21 scoreline.

Action from the Premier Men’s Final sees Rami Ghanhem Flexicam Killorglin and Finn Hughes Limerick Celtics do battle. Pic: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD.

Castleisland Christmas Blitz Men's Premier final: Flexachem Killorglin 41 Limerick Celtics 44 

The drama in this year’s Men’s Premier competition took place in the group phase when Superleague side Tralee Warriors were sensationally beaten on sudden death free throws by Limerick Celtics, but they still had a chance of making the final if Killorglin didn’t score 46 points and win their final group game against Lakers, or Lakers won and scored 36.

But a last-second basket from Irish International Jordan Blount ensured that Killorglin won 47- 30 and so denied Warriors a final meeting with Limerick Celtics on scoring difference.

The final itself turned into a shootout and opened in explosive fashion when Eche Okeke drained a three-pointer, and a couple of free throws saw Killorglin move 5-0 in front.

But once AJ Williams’s and Abdul Wurie got going, the Celtics slowly got back into the contest with Eche Okeke draining some superb baskets.

Killorglin thanks to Eche, Philips and Rami Ghanhem as Killorglin moved 12-7 clear. But Williams was just warming up and his two free throws and Fionn Hughes also closed the gap as Okeke continued to find the basket and Killorglin were 20-15 in front with 2.19 left in the half.

But Celtics and AJ Williams finished the half with a flourish, draining two threes to give his side the lead approaching the half-time buzzer as the sides retired on 25 apiece.

It was nip and tuck in the second half, Okeke draining the first eight points for Killorglin, but Fionn Hughes with a three and a pair of deuces as the teams swapped leads down the stretch.

Okeke and Hughes swapped threes as the game entered clutch time and when Jordan Blount scored his first basket, Killorglin led by three, but up stepped AJ Williams to score from outside the arc and level the contest at 39-39 apiece. 

Limerick Celtics still had another basket in the arsenal with Abdul Wurie draining a two-pointer and the lead with 20.9 seconds left.

Then, from the free throw line, AJ Williams scored one from two to see his side three points clear, but Patrick Lanipekun scored a basket to close the gap to a single point. 

Forced to foul and only two seconds left, AJ Williams secured a Limerick Celtics win in a thriller.

Meanwhile, in the Senior Ladies final, Fr Mathew’s proved too strong for the home side St Mary’s on a 43-21 scoreline.

It was a game the Cork side dominated from the outset and built up a 16-10 half-time lead thanks to some accurate shooting from Amy Corkery with a pair of deuces and a three while Mila Pichet, Meadbh Humphries, and Niamh Dwyer with a three-point play ensured that Fr Mathews were in control.

Shauna Ahern, Emma Buckley, Emma Kerin, and Fiona Nelligan Maguire replied for the home side but in the second half, Alanna Braham took over along with Corkery and the Cork side cruised to a 19-point win.