The Limerick club just missed out on a double as they were narrowly defeated in the IWA National Cup final by Rebel Wheeleers.
The Limerick Celtics claimed the InsureMyHouse.ie U18 Men’s Billy Coffey National Cup final on Friday evening with a 79-53 victory over Templeogue.
MVP Dennis Matthews poured in 19 points to go with eight rebounds and three assists. Cian Gleeson had 16-points, 11 boards, with five steals and dimes while Martin Frawley added 11 points to go with 14 rebounds, six steals and five assists.
Templeogue made a bright start, Daniel Carberyโs four points helped them to an early 6-2 lead. Carbery would finish as Templeogueโs leading scorer with 19 points, along with 13 rebounds. Once Matthewsโ three landed to make 6-6 just before the four minute mark, it seemed to get Limerick Celtics into their stride and they would lead 21-15 by the end of the first.
Limerick Celtics stayed in front for the rest of the game and by half-time their lead was 37-24. A lovely left handed layup from Matthews brought Limerick Celtics up to 50, as they led by 17 with 4โ11 to go in the third. A long-range three-pointer by Matthew Barry had Limerick Celtics 55-34 ahead with a little under two minutes to go in the quarter and brought their vocal travelling support to their feet in the process. Limerick Celtics would lead by 20 by the end of it, 57-37.
Templeogue needed a good start to the fourth and despite getting the opening basket another long-range three – this time from Matthews – a layup by Barry and another three from Sean McNamara stretched their advantage two minutes in, 65-39. Limerick Celtics continued to have joy from the three-point line โ Cian Gleeson was the next to land one, to make it 75-45 with three and a half minutes to go. Templeogue continued to battle hard and Darragh OโToole hit a lovely three-point jump shot with 1โ46 left on the clock.
However, it was to be Limerick Celticsโ day and they ended 79-53 victors.ย
Quarter Scores:
Q1: 21-15, Q2: 37-24, Q3: 57-37, Q4: 79-53
Limerick Celtics: Cian Gleeson, James Corcoran, Martin Frawley, Sean McNamara, Daniel OโToole, Rodhan Harris, Philip Kearney, Oliver Barry, Dennis Matthews, Kevin Morrow, Matthew Barry, Con Kirby, Colm McCarthy, Callum OโRourke, Asher Holmes, Amr Adballs Coach: Tony Hehir Asst Coach: Michelle Aspell Team Manager: Miriam Gleeson Physio/Medic: Dave Barry
Top Scorers: Dennis Matthews (19), Cian Gleeson (16), Sean McNamara (13), Martin Frawley (11), Matthew Barry (10)
Templeogue: Gian Melvern G Cabello, Lance Miguel Antolin, Garreth Brady, Felix McMahon, Darragh OโToole, Tom Sinnott, Alexandru Cristian Pulu, Adam Tighe, Daniel Carberry, Jack Wright, Jack Finn, Jacob Fazande
Coach: Jay Fazande Asst Coach: Conor Flood Manager: Anthony Murray
Top Scorers:ย Daniel Carberry (19), Jack Wright (9) Jacob Fazande (6), Adam Tighe (6), Gian Melvern G Cabello (4)
IWA National Cup Final
However, it wasn’t the perfect weekend for the Limerick club as they fell to four in a row champions Rebel Wheelers in the IWA National Cup Final on Friday.
The Cork side made it four on the spin with a 69-55 victory on Friday afternoon. Despite finishing on the losing side, Tiernan O’Donnell poured in 33 points in a phenomenal display for the Celtics.
It was a tight opening half, Quinn was a potent threat at the basket, which yielded 15 points by the break for Rebel Wheelers, while Conor Coughlan was also on form with seven by the break to help them to a 32-28 lead. Tiarnan OโDonnell was another to dazzle at the National Basketball Arena he had 16 points by half-time for Limerick Celtics and would finish up with a game-high 33 points, while racking up a massive 22 rebounds and four assists.
The game was level at 34-34 three minutes into the third, the impressive OโDonnell getting the basket to get them there. It sparked an eight-point run in the next two minutes by Rebel Wheelers finished off by Quinnโs two pointer, to hold a 42-34 advantage. But again Limerick Celtics came back and by the time Jodie Waite landed her basket it was 48-43, to bring her personal tally up to eight points by that stage, as they trailed 48-43 with a minute to go. But points from Quinn and Coughlan gave Rebel Wheelers a 52-43 lead going into the final quarter.
An OโHalloran layup brought it to 57-51 three minutes into the fourth. The deficit was just four points at the midway point, following points by Waite, to make it 59-55. However Rebel Wheelers used their experience in finals and responded with a 10-point run to seal a 69-55 win.ย
Rebel Wheelers 69โ55 Limerick Celtics
Quarter Scores:
Q1: 14-12, Q2: 32-28, Q3: 52-43, Q4: 69-55
Rebel Wheelers: Con Coughlan, Jack Quinn, Yacine Soubabe, Alex Hennebry, Derek Hegarty, Alan Dineen, Neil OโSullivan, Conor Simpson, Oisin OโConnor, Jack Mangan, Darragh OโRegan, Slaowomir Juranek, Conor Coughlan, Dylan McCarthy, Adam Drummond, Sean Ryan, Hannah Walsh
Coach: Alan Dineen Asst Coaches: Con Coughlan, Jerry OโRegan
Top Scorers: Jack Quinn (27), Conor Coughlan (11), Jack Mangan (10), Dylan McCarthy (10), Derek Hegarty (9)
Limerick Celtics: Seamus Long, Joseph Hargrow, Carlos De Bunes, James McCarthy, Tiarnan OโDonnell, Jodie Waite, Aaron Galvin
Coach: Joseph Hargrow Asst Coach: Tiarnan OโDonnell
Top Scorers: Tiarnan OโDonnell (33), Jodie Waite (10), Joseph Hargrow (6), Carlos De Bunes (4), Seamus Long (2)
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