Leixlip Zalgiris beat Neptune 83-76 to reach InsureMyHouse.ie Men’s National Intermediate Cup final

Leixlip Zalgiris are into the final of the InsureMyHouse.ie Men’s National Intermediate Cup, defeating Neptune 83-76 in the semi-final at Neptune Stadium. They will face UCD Marian in the final, who beat Carrick Cruisers 74-58 on Saturday. Marius Kasperavicius scored 24 points - all from the three point line - to help them to victory, while Mazvydas Cepliauskas put in a fine performance, dictating much of the play for the victors and chipping in with 13 points too.

Leixlip Zalgiris raced out of the blocks at the start and Aurimas Statkus’ three point jump shot among their scores, as they went 8-0 up two and a half minutes in. But Neptune, with their home support behind them got into the game and led by the end of the quarter 26-20, David Varma with 12 and Daniel Thompson on 8. Varma would finish with a game-high 26 points for Neptune. 

Seven points from Jurgis Butkevicius and two three-point jump shots by Kasperavicius in the second quarter helped Zalgiris to cut the deficit to two points by the half-time, Neptune leading 42-40.

Leixlip Another Kasperavicius’ long range three put Leixlip Zalgiris 52-48 in front with a little over three minutes to go in the third. And they had an eight point lead by the end of the quarter, 60-52  

Neptune inched their way back into it, a layup from Evan Barrett, a pair of Daniel Thompson free throws and it was a two point game, 64-62, with just over six minutes left in the fourth. But a three three-point jump shots, one from Mazvydas Cepliauskas and a pair by Marius Kasperavicius had Leixlip Zalgiris up 70-63 with 3’20 to go.

Neptune duly responded and Gytis Krisciunas’ layup with 36.3 seconds saw the Cork club trail 79-76. It was greeted with a raucous response from the Neptune bench, while the Zalgiris Kaunus bench called for a timeout. They reset and Kestutis Damulevicius stepped up with a huge three from the corner with 14.6 seconds to go. Moments later he was fouled on a breakaway and converted one of his two free throws to wrap up a 83-76 win for the Kildare outfit. 

Neptune 76-83 Leixlip Zalgiris

Quarter Scores:

Q1: 26-20 , Q2: 42-40 Q3: 52-60, Q4: 76-83

Neptune:

Evan Barrett, Rimgaudas Jasevicius, Jason O’Donoghue, Paul Keenan (c), Daniel Thompson, Paul O’Brien, David Varma, Paulius Grinevicius, Shane Duggan, Gytis Krisciunas, Irmantas Skeirys, Ger Noonan

Head coach: Malcolm Thompson

Top Scorers: David Varma (26), Daniel Thompson (13), Ger Noonan (8), Shane Duggan (7), Gytis Krisciunas (7)

Leixlip Zalgiris:

Vaidas Gustys, Jurgis Butkevicius, Kestutis Damulevicius, Aurimas Statkus, Dalius Tamosauskis, Mazvydas Cepliauskas, Adrius Lekavicius, Marius Kasperavicius, Martynas Bickus, Eugenijus Pocius, Rimantas Smitas

Top Scorers: Marius Kasperavicius (24), Aurimas Statkus (17), Jurgis Butkevicius (14), Mazvydas Cepliauskas (13), Kestutis Damulevicius (10).