Neptune head for relegation play-off after losing resumed game to Eanna
Samuel Henderson scored 15 points for Neptune in the 45-point defeat to Eanna. Pic: Larry Cummins
Eanna produced a solid display to see off Energywise Ireland Neptune in the Domino’s Men’s Super League at Colaiste Eanna on Monday.
The teams had started this game back in January but an unfortunate knee injury to Cian Heaphy saw the game abandoned and with Eanna leading 22-4 with two minutes remaining in the opening quarter this game had to begin again at the score when it was concluded.
The bad news for Neptune is that by virtue of this defeat they are now in a play-off with Killorglin next weekend at a neutral venue that will decide who is dropping down to play Division 1 basketball next season.
On the restart Neptune were blitzed with three consecutive three pointers from Neil Lynch (2) and Stefan Desnica that really upset their rhythm and entering the second quarter the Dublin side led 31-9.
The second quarter started with Neptune struggling to get badly needed baskets as Eanna smothered the various threats inside and outside the arc.
Three minutes into this period following a Manou Christal floater Eanna increased their lead to 26 points.
Neptune were struggling at both ends of the court and with a minute remaining to the interval they trailed by 30 points following a third Lynch three pointer.
The shooting options of Neptune were questionable in a game they needed to be near clinical and the game looked over as a contest at the break when they trailed 64-33.
It got worse for Neptune on the restart when they continued to play little to no defence with various Eanna players shooting with ease inside and outside the arc.
As the quarter matured Neptune increased the intensity but entering the fourth quarter this game looked well out of their reach when trailing by 32 points 90-58.
Coming down the stretch Eanna went through the motions as Neptune’s challenge petered out long before the final buzzer with American Mike Hayes failing to score for the entire game.
M Christal 31, N Lynch 28, D Kiernan 16.
S Henderson 15, A Gregorio 15, E Lenihan 14.
C O’Sullivan, D Kiernan, C Dikcius, K Andabaka, S Desnica, N Lynch, M Blackwell, A Charles, J Gormley, H Lynch, M Christal.
M Hayes, K O’Donoghue, S Henderson, C Heaphy, E Lenihan, J Scannell, A Heaphy, E Nelson, A Gregorio, P Osagie.
M Nazimek (Dublin), L Cassidy (Dublin), K Robinson (Dublin).
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