UL Eagles have reached the final of the Men’s SuperLeague National Cup after a ground breaking 75-73 overtime victory over 11890 Killester. In a game which hung in the balance until the very end, it was former Killester coach Mark Keenan, released in the summer having guided Killester to unprecedented success, who will now take his UL side to the National Basketball Arena in two weeks time.
“What a game it had pretty much everything – great defence both ends, some great offensive plays – it looked like we were dead and buried when we went nine down but fair play to the lads they came back. I can’t believe it. I am so proud of them that we hung in there and we showed what we can do defensively and to come back and take the win I am thrilled,” said Keenan.
A blistering first quarter saw UL take the game to the Dublin side, Jason Killeen and Robert Taylor helping them to a 15-10 lead. However Eoin Chubb fired a superb three pointer on the buzzer to bring Killester to within two at the end of the first. (15-13)
The second quarter was similarly close, neither side managing to take charge of proceedings in what was a nip-and-tuck affair. UL slowly managed to eke out a lead and had a 33-27 half time advantage.
Jermaine Turner was instrumental in the Killester fight-back in the third. Killester began to take control. Dramatically, as the game ticked towards the buzzer, Matt Hall shot a huge three to bring UL back to within four. 49-45 with ten minutes left to play.
UL’s tenacity showed no signs of abating, but still Killester appeared the more likely of the two. To their credit, UL didn’t know when to lie down and soon they had the Killester lead down to four. Scott Kinevane levelled the scores with a minute on the clock. Both sides tried to win it late on, but Robert Taylor was short before the buzzer. 64-64. Overtime.
The overtime period was every bit as dramatic, with both sides looking capable of winning. In the end it was left to Taylor, who atoned for his miss in regulation time to secure a memorable win.
Ul were victorious, Keenan ecstatic and the hoodoo had finally been lifted once and for all. Final score 75-73.
