Limerick Celtics beat Killester 58-52 to keep repeat hopes alive in U20 Men's National Cup

Defending champions Limerick Celtics earned the opportunity to go back-to-back in the U20 Men’s National Cup after they dispatched a spirited Killester side 58-52 at MTU Arena on Sunday morning.

It was Killester who raced out to a 15-6 lead early in the first. Daniel Sheridan, Cathal Rogers and JJ Knief all hitting threes from the top of the arc and Limerick Celtics looked a little flustered. Obed Obode checked out with 3:16 to go in the first and without his presence for Killester inside, the length of Philip Kearney and Martin Frawley was seen to full effect. Kearney, point guard Dennis Matthews and Sean Ryan all picked up scores to level proceedings 15-15 at the end of one.

The black and orange regained their composure well at the outset of the second quarter, crashing the offensive boards and picking up four second chance points through Tom Byrne inside the first two minutes. The complexion of the game change with 6:50 remaining in the half. Frawley again doing good work down low drew Obode’s third foul for the and one opportunity, despite missing the ensuing free-throw, it meant the Killester big man was forced to sit for the remainder of the half. Cian Gleeson hit a spectacular dunk to draw the teams level 19-19 shortly after and when he added to his total with a lay up moments later, it appeared as if Celtics were going to get on top, however to would only enter the locker room with a three-point advantage, 30-27.

Killester head coach Ciaran Roe was forced into an early timeout in the third following a 6-0 run which saw Limerick Celtics take a 36-27 lead at the seven minute mark. Frawley, Matthew Barry and Cian Gleeson doing the damage. To their credit, the Dublin side came back strongly following Roe’s words of advice and scores from Knief and a second long range bomb from Cathal Rogers had the deficit at just five, 44-39 going into the final quarter. A tense final ten minutes saw both teams struggle to score the basketball consistently. Gleeson opened with a three but Tom Byrne replied with two jumpers to take his total to 11 for the game and keep the Dubliners within four, as the game hinged on Limerick Celtics making their pressure free-throws at the death.

To the relief of head coach Tony Hehir, they managed to do so – Barry, Frawley and Kearney all showing their mettle and it’s a meeting with Dundalk Ravens in the final with the chance to retain the title they won 12 months ago.

Quarter Scores: Q1: 15-15, Q2: 20-16 , Q3:14-12 , Q4: 14-13

Limerick Celtics:

Cian Gleeson, Martin Frawley, Matthew Barry, Denis Matthews, Philip Kearney, Sean Ryan, Bryan Morrison, Patryk Rejkowicz, Jose Azzopardi, Orhi Imbusch Artola, Michael Cleary, Max Tursk

Head Coach: Tony Hehir

Top Scorers: Cian Gleeson (22), Matthew Barry (10), Philip Kearney (9)

Killester:

Tom Byrne, Ciaran Evans, Daniel Sheridan, Rian Carroll, Jake Richardson, Dan Byrne, Andrew Brady, Jack Rawdon, Cathal Rogers, Daniel Nolan, JJ (Jobst) Knief, Collins Ejike, Obed Obode

Head Coach: Ciaran Roe

Top Scorers: JJ Knief (19), Cathal Rogers (14), Tom Byrne (11)