Ballincollig see off Limerick Celtics in Super League quarter-final
SLAM DUNK: Latavious Mitchell scores for Ballincollig against Limerick Celtics in the Domino's Mens Superleague quarter final. Pic: Larry Cummins.
It was a dogfight for long periods, but Ballincollig eventually saw off a resilient Limerick Celtics side in the Dominos Men’s Super League quarter-final at the MTU Arena on Saturday.
In a game where the Cork side always had their noses in front, they saw out this game without too much fuss.
In the opening possession, Adrian O’Sullivan showed lightning pace to execute after a magnificent drive to the hoop before Sean Hauser levelled proceedings.
The game was played at a ferocious pace with both sides running the ball and following a stunning Josh Steel three-pointer in the third minute, Ballincollig commanded a 7-5 lead. Both sides showed incredible intensity at both ends of the court and following a Lattrell Jossell shot outside the arc, Ballincollig led 12-11 in the sixth minute.
Following a time-out, a minute later, Latavious Mitchell nailed a three-pointer as Ballincollig edged into a five-point lead 18-13.
Steel was the one player posing Celtics all sorts of problems with his slick shooting and the home side were the happier of the sides entering the second quarter when they commanded a seven-point lead: 25-18.
Dylan Corkery was again to the fore for Ballincollig with some incredible defending and when Mitchell tipped in two minutes into the second quarter, they increased their lead to nine. Credit to Celtics, they responded with consecutive baskets before a Ronan O’Sullivan floater restored a seven- point lead for the home side.
Ballincollig did get a run on the Shannonsiders in the 18th minute when a three-pointer and basket from Steel gave them a 10-point lead before Celtics immediately called a time-out. Steel came good again for Ballincollig with a buzzer-beater three that ensured they still had a 10-point lead at the break: 47-37.
Looking at the half-time stats, Ballincollig had 11/20 inside the paint (55%), and outside the arc, they were 8/26 (31%).
The ever-reliable Corkery started the second half with a neat drive to the hoop before banking his shot. Jossell followed with a three and suddenly it was 13-point game before Adrian O’Sullivan extended it as Celtics looked on the ropes.
The pressure was now firmly on Celtics to respond and midway through the quarter, they called a time-out trailing 61-46 with coach Tony Hehir knowing they needed a strong closing finish to this period. On the restart, Hauser banked a shot as they upped their intensity.
Just when Celtics thought they were getting a run on, Ballincollig Adrian O’Sullivan stepped up for a monstrous three-pointer. The closing minutes were scrappy but consecutive three-pointers from Diego O’Herlihy and Jossell gave Ballincollig a 17-point lead entering the closing minute.
That’s the way it stayed entering the fourth quarter: 75-58.
Celtics registered the opening five points as their travelling fans sensed a revival and when Airyon Williams drained a basket, the deficit was reduced to nine points with eight minutes remaining. It was down to seven points before a Ballincollig time-out helped Adrian O’Sullivan convert a long-range three.
Into the closing five minutes and the lead was reduced to five points with 1.30 remaining following a Williams three-pointer but Jossell immediately replied with his own effort from outside the arc.
In the end Celtics, despite putting up a battling performance, always looked second best.
The elusive double still in the hands of Ballincollig, who will be at home again next weekend in the semi-final.
J Steel 20, L Mitchell 20, L Jossell 19, D Corkery 13, A O’Sullivan 10.
A Wurie 18, S Hauser 16, A Williams 15.
A O’Sullivan, J Steel, L Jossell, D O’Herlihy, A Rodriguez, C O’Sullivan, R O’Sullivan, C Blount, L O’Sullivan, D Corkery, K Cairns, L Mitchell.
E Donaghy, A Williams, M Frawley, M Cleary, F Hughes, R Cronin, A Wurie, P Kearney, C Gleeson, S A Hauser, M Barry, J Hehir.
Jamie Dooley (Portlaoise), Armands Immars (Cavan), Stephen O’Shaughnessy (Tipperary).
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