Ballybrack Bulls reach first IWA National Cup Final with 42-25 win against Killester

Ballybrack Bulls will face Rebel Wheelers in the IWA National Cup Final after they beat Killester 42-25 at MTU Arena on Sunday.

The Bulls led from start to finish, holding a 21-8 lead at the interval and they never looked back. Jack Cole caught the eye with a nine points, including a spectacular buzzer beating three point shot. Scoring was evenly spread elsewhere – as Jonathan Hayes, Valene Ryan, Oran Spain and Jason Ryan all got into the boxscore. Melanie Griffith, Cian Horgan and Bledar Suxha all chipped into Killester’s eight point total.

Killester rallied well in the third, with Griffith proving hard to stop beneath the basket as she contributed eight of their 10 third quarter points. With the score 29-18 as the clock ticked into the final ten minutes, Ballybrack were just able to match their opponents score for score as their opponents in the final, six in-a-row chasing Rebel Wheelers watched on in the bleachers.

Jason Ryan added four points to Ballybrack’s total in the fourth, while Oran Spain also chipped in with a brace of baskets to send the Bulls confidently charging into the National Basketball Arena next weekend.

Quarter Scores: Q1: 19-4, Q2: 2-4 , Q3: 8-10 , Q4: 13-7

Ballybrack Bulls:

Jack Cole, Oran Spain, Jonathan Hayes, Ian Glendon, Sean McCullagh, Paul Donnelly, Graham Merrigan, Valene Ryan, Jason Ryan.

Head Coach: Mark Barry

Top Scorers: Jack Cole (15), Jonathan Hayes (8), Oran Spain (6)

Killester:

Melanie Griffith, Bledar Suxha, Cian Horgan, John Fluham, Michael O’Cearra, Naomi Nugent Quigley

Head Coach: Pauric Franey

Top Scorers: Melanie McGrath (12), Bledar Suxha (9), Cian Horgan (2)