Neptune roar back to beat Killorglin and avoid Super League relegation
INSPIRATION: Roy Downey was superb for Neptune in their relegation play-off victory over Killorglin. Pic: Eddie O'Hare
A magnificent second half from Energywise Ireland Neptune saw them win a thrilling Men’s Super league relegation play off against Killorglin at the UL Arena on Sunday.
Killorglin dominated the early exchanges but Neptune, inspired by a superb display from Roy Downey in the third quarter, found a way back and in the end ran out deserving winners.
The opening exchanges saw Neptune quickest from the blocks and with Gregorio Adon in superb form they raced into a nine- point lead in the third minute before a Killorglin time out steadied the ship.
On the return, the former Neptune star Jordan Blount drained a basket, and three more unanswered scores reduced the deficit to the minimum 13-12.
The one player that was posing Neptune all sorts of problems was Marquez Ellis and he contributed 10 points in the opening nine minutes that saw his side lead by the minimum.
In the last Neptune possession Nil Sabata came up trumps with a stunning move to the hoop that edged his side into a 19-18 lead entering the second quarter.
On the restart Neptune were shocked as Killorglin came out battling with Eke Okeke nailed a three-pointer and a basket from Liam Croke surged the Kerry side into a four- point lead.
As the quarter matured Killorgin began exposing Neptune with soft baskets as their defence was non-existent and midway through the quarter they raced into a nine- point lead.
In the closing minutes to the interval Killorglin looked in total control but late Neptune baskets helped reduce the deficit to six points 43-37 with the game very much in the balance.
Jordan Henderson gave Neptune the perfect start with a stunning three-pointer as the deficit was suddenly reduced to three points.
The tempo reduced again for Neptune and with American Mike Hayes struggling with a hamstring injury it was evident he was going to make little impression on the scoring front.
Killorglin looked to be cruising midway through the quarter when commanding a ten-point lead as the Cork team looked a side that had run out of ideas at both ends of the court.
To be fair Neptune, despite their problems with injuries, Adon nailed a three-pointer as the deficit was reduced to six points.
Suddenly Neptune, inspired by the outstanding Roy Downey, came storming back and when Adon nailed a three-pointer with two minutes remaining Neptune edged into a two-point lead.
Downey followed up with a three pointer and entering the final quarter they had a four-point lead 61-57.
Coming down the stretch the tension in the arena was at fever pitch and with five minutes remaining Neptune still had a five-point lead following a stunning Adon shot from outside the paint.
The closing minutes saw Blount receive a harsh fifth foul and Neptune held firm much to the relief of their huge support at the Limerick venue.
S Henderson 26, A Gregorio 20, M Hayes 10, R Downey 8.
M Ellis 31, E Okeke 22, J Blount 6.
M Hayes, G Adon, J Henderson, E Lenihan, E Nelson, R Downey, K O’Donoghue, N Sabata, J Scannell, P Osagie, D O’Rourke.
E Evans, E Bolger, R Ghanem, D Wall, P Lanipekun, E Grudov, E Okeke, J Blount, L Croke, C Buckley, G Buckley, M Ellis.
J Dooley (Portlaoise), M Malysko (Dublin), K Robinson (Dublin).
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