DBS Éanna are into their second InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy Cup final in three seasons. They defeated Emporium Cork Basketball 77-71 in a thriller at a packed Neptune Stadium. They will play University of Galway Maree in the final in two weeks’ time at the National Basketball Arena, after Charlie Crowley’s side defeated Bright St. Vincent’s 86-68 to reach their first ever final.
DBS Éanna made a super start to the game, racing to an early 22-11 lead by the end of the first, Kristijan Andabaka hitting eight points during it. Emporium Cork Basketball began the second quarter brightly, Keelan Cairns’ three and Jose Jimenez Gonzalez’ layup and free throw, followed by another long-range three from the hot-handed Cairns reduced the deficit to 24-21.
John Dawson, who has been so influential for Emporium Cork Basketball this season, didn’t get his first basket until nearly midway through the second quarter, to make it a two point game, 25-23. Mark Reynolds, who excelled all game, responded with four points. The game was end-to-end after that, with both sides contributing to an exciting finish to the quarter. Emporium Cork Basketball completed the turnaround with a Dawson free throw in the final seconds, to nudge them in front for the first time in the game, 32-31.
Dawson began the third quarter with three three-point jump shots and a dunk, it was 43-33 with a little over two minutes gone and it looked like the momentum was with Emporium Cork Basketball. A lovely shot fake from Cairns opened up the opportunity for a two point jump shot, handing Ciarán O’Sullivan’s side a 49-37 lead midway through the quarter.
A seven point run from DBS Éanna followed, it was started by Romonn Nelson, then Steven Desncia landed a three pointer and ending with a Nelson layup, to reduce the deficit to 51-47, which sparked a timeout call from Emporium Cork Basketball. Jose Jimenez Gonzales hit a three straight after that timeout for Emporium Cork Basketball, but DBS Éanna picked up six point points in the closing stages of the quarter to make it a one-point game, 54-53 to Emporium Cork Basketball.
The fourth quarter began with a Nelson three, to put DBS Éanna back in front, 56-54, but the lead exchanged hands multiple times. DBS Éanna took a hold of the game late on, a brilliant corner three from Neil Lynch with the shotclock running out had DBS Éanna 71-63 up with 2’03 left. It sparked wild celebrations from the Éanna bench, while Emporium Cork Basketball called for a timeout. The closing stages were scrappy as Emporium Cork Basketball tried to claw themselves back into it, but couldn’t do so.
DBS Éanna head coach Darren McGovern said: “There’s one thing that Éanna don’t do – we don’t do anything easy! As you can see we didn’t close that game out at all. We were in a really good position and credit to Ballincollig and especially their Spanish player Pau (Cami Galera) he was incredible, he just put it to us as much as possible. But we’re thrilled, it’s a win, it’s a huge win, it puts us in the final, we’re thrilled, there’s nothing else we can say, other than it’s one more step, we have to be there and be ready for that.”
University of Galway Maree are into their first ever InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy Cup final following a 86-68 win over Bright St. Vincent’s at Neptune Stadium. Jarett Haines notched up 28 points, three rebounds and five assists in their victory, while captain Eoin Rockall also shone, with nine points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
Bright St. Vincent’s were without the influential Stefan Zecevic, who picked up an ankle injury earlier this week, and his absence was solely felt by the Dublin club, who were featuring in a Cup semi-final for the first time in 17 years. University of Galway Maree raced to a 29-16 lead by the end of the quarter, Haines proving hard to contain landing 14 points in the opening 10 minutes.
Bright St. Vincent’s needed a response, and Giorgi Tvalabeishvili led that, he shot 15 points in the second quarter, but University of Galway increased their lead to 19 points by half-time, 53-34, Haines was on 19 points, while Rodrigo Gomez had 13 points and nine rebounds.
Donovan Fields who scored 70 points en-route to reaching the last four, got into his flow in the third, his shotclock beating jump shot from reduced the deficit to 60-40 in the fourth minute of the third, he had 11 points in the third quarter. But it was the Haines show, he landed a three with a little over a minute to go in the third to bring his personal tally to 28, extending University of Galway’s advantage to 71-54.
There was to be no dramatic comeback from Josko Srzic’s side and University of Galway Maree kept the scoreboard ticking over win by 18 points.
Asked how it felt to reach a first Pat Duffy Cup final, Eoin Rockall said: “It’s unbelievable, I don’t think I’ve been on a team with the chemistry we have, it’s an amazing accomplishment for the club, with the U20’s in their semi tomorrow, it’s the makings of an unbelievable weekend for the club, were just thrilled with it.”
The Pat Duffy Cup final will be played on Saturday 21st January at the National Basketball Arena and will be live on TG4 and basketballireland.tv.
University of Galway Maree 86-68 Bright St. Vincent’s
Quarter Scores:
Q1: 29-16 , Q2: 53-34 Q3: 71-54, Q4: 86-68
University of Galway Maree:
Cathal Finn, John Burke, Stephen Commins, Eoin Rockall, Ben Burke, Zach Light, Matthew Sweeney, Garry Fernan, Rodrigo Gomez, Jarett Haines, Zvonimiir Cutuk, Paul Freeman
Head coach: Charlie Crowley
Top Scorers: Jarett Haines (28), Stephen Commins (15), Rodrigo Gomez (13), Eoin Rockall (9), Zvonimiir Cutuk (8)
Bright St. Vincent’s:
Donovan Fields, Jake Verschoyle, Charlie Coombes, Jordan Bakeban Nsimba, Donal Monaghan, Alex Devitt, Stefan Zecevic, Martin Neary, Alin Costache, Robert Graham, Paul Ryan, Giorgi Tvalabeishvili
Head coach: Josko Srzic
Top Scorers: Giorgi Tvalabeishvili (21), Donovan Fields (18), Charlie Coombes (13), Robert Graham (8), Donal Monaghan (5)
DBS Éanna 77-71 Emporium Cork Basketball
Quarter Scores:
Q1: 22-11 , Q2: 31-32 Q3: 53-54, Q4: 77-71
DBS Éanna:
Hilary Netsiyanwa, Romonn Nelson, Viktor Lovic, Kristijan Andabaka, Stefan Desnica, Neil Lynch, Alex Dolenko, Conor Dikcius, Joshua Wilson, Nathan Comerford, Mark Reynolds
Head coach: Darren McGovern
Top Scorers: Kristijan Andabaka (21), Mark Reynolds (18), Romonn Nelson (14), Stefan Desnica (14), Neil Lynch (6)
Emporium Cork Basketball:
Adrian O’Sullivan, Dylan Corkery, John Dawson, Sean O’Flynn, Pau Cami Galera, Ciarán O’Sullivan, Ronan O’Sullivan, Colm Blount, Padraig Lucey, Jamie Cotter, Jose Jimenez Gonzales, Keelan Cairns
Player/coach: Ciarán O’Sullivan
Top Scorers: Jose Jimenez Gonzales (21), John Dawson (20), Keelan Cairns (12), Pau Cami Galera (6), Adrian O’Sullivan (6)
InsureMyHouse.ie National Cup semi-final fixtures/results:
Saturday, January 7th - Neptune Stadium
InsureMyHouse.ie IWA Cup
Rebel Wheelers 65-28 Southeast Swifts (Game Report here)
InsureMyHouse.ie Paudie O’Connor Cup Fixtures
Waterford Wildcats 77-87 Killester (Game report here)
DCU Mercy 60-82 Trinity Meteors (Game report here)
InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy Cup Fixtures:
University of Galway Maree 86-68 Bright St. Vincent’s (Game report here)
DBS Éanna 77-71 Emporium Cork Basketball
Saturday, January 7th - Parochial Hall
InsureMyHouse.ie U18 Women’s National Cup
Liffey Celtics 64-70 Meteors (Game report here)
Brunell 64-43 Limerick Celtics (Game report here)
InsureMyHouse.ie Women’s National Intermediate Cup Competition
Liffey Celtics 62-43 Killester (Game report here)
InsureMyHouse.ie U18 Men’s Billy Coffey National Cup
Templeogue 76-68 Limerick Lions (Game report here)
InsureMyHouse.ie Presidents’ Cup
Moy Tolka Rovers 82-74 Drogheda Wolves
Saturday, January 7th – Upper Glanmire Sports Hall
InsureMyHouse.ie IWA Cup
Killester 35-52 Limerick Celtics (Game report here)
InsureMyHouse.ie Men’s National Intermediate Cup Competition
UCD Marian 74-58 Carrick Cruisers (Game report here)
InsureMyHouse.ie Presidents’ Cup
Ulster University 66-47 Malahide (Game report here)
InsureMyHouse.ie Women’s Division 1 National Cup
Phoenix Rockets 65-63 Portlaoise Panthers (Game report here)
St. Pauls Killarney 64-69 Abbey Seals Dublin Lions
Sunday, January 8th - Neptune Stadium
InsureMyHouse.ie U20 Men’s National Cup
1100| Titans BC v Blue Demons
InsureMyHouse.ie Men’s National Intermediate Cup Competition
1330| Neptune v Leixlip Zalgiris
Sunday, January 8th – Parochial Hall
InsureMyHouse.ie U18 Men’s Billy Coffey National Cup
1100| Limerick Celtics v Dublin Lions
InsureMyHouse.ie U20 Men’s National Cup
1330| Maree v Tolka Rovers
Sunday, January 8th – Upper Glanmire
InsureMyHouse.ie Women’s National Intermediate Cup Competition
1000| Glanmire v Cobh
InsureMyHouse.ie U20 Women’s National Cup
1230| Waterford Wildcats v University of Galway Mystics
1500| Dublin Lions v Limerick Sport Huskies
