National Cup

Jan 07 2024

Éanna keep Neptune at bay to reach NICC Men’s National Cup title match

Éanna held firm in the face of Neptune’s fourth-quarter upswing to win out 81-67 in Neptune Stadium on Sunday and secure a date with Carrick Cruisers in the NICC Men’s National Cup title match later this month.

Fuelled by some solid scoring from Enrique Melini and Liam Osinuga, who combined for 37 points on the day, the Dubliners led by 25 with just under three minutes of the third quarter remaining.

But Neptune were far from done and fought their way back to within seven of their opponents with less than three minutes gone in the fourth, only to see Éanna demonstrate a resolve that enabled them to push on for a comfortable win in the end.

It was Éanna who drew first blood in this contest with baskets from Osinuga and Melini propelling them 5-0 in front before Gary Walsh and David Varma responded in kind to level it up for Neptune.

But a six-point run, coupled with a nice three-pointer from Milo Herbst late in the first quarter, saw Éanna regain the initiative and carry a 19-11 advantage into the second period.

A further 11-point run, that was ignited by a Ciaran MacEvillyattempt from beyond the arc, served to tighten Éanna’s grip on this contest, and three successive free throws by Melinipushed that advantage out to 20 (38-18) by the half-time break.

Neptune were struggling to cope with the severe pressure they encountered on the inside and they were not getting enough of a return from the outside to adequately compensate for that.

Scores from Ger Noonan and Daniel Thompson clawed back five for the homeside at the outset of the third quarter, but that was to prove as close as they would come to threatening Éanna’s lead in that period.

Indeed, while the 23 points the Cork side put up in the third was more than what they managed to amass in the entire first half, they were unable to make the defensive stops that would have really impacted the deficit.

Still, they were not about to throw in the towel, and after signing off in the third with a Walsh three-pointer and a late Shane Duggan effort, Ger Noonan’s side maintained that momentum in the fourth to drag themselves back to within seven points of their opponents, as Walsh and Brian O’Neill landed big threes.

But a three-point play by Osinugu helped steady the ship for Éanna who managed to keep Neptune at bay over the closing five minutes thanks largely to scores off the line by Adrian Galpo, Melini and Osinuga.

“Playing in Neptune’s home gym, they made it very hard for us” said Éanna captain, Ciaran O’Sullivan.

“It looked like we were going to pull away, but they clawed us back and made a real game of it in the end, so we had to dig deep.

“We’re really pleased to come out with the win against a really tough Neptune side and now we’re looking ahead to Carrick Cruisers in the final” he smiled.

Quarter Scores: Q1: 19-11, Q2: 38-18, Q3: 57-41, Q4: 81-67

Éanna:

Adrian Galpo, Thomas McCabe, Emmanuel Saah, Milo Herbst, Finn Keogh, Bartosz Borowiak, Ciaran MacEvilly, Ciaran Blaney, Ciaran O’Sullivan, Enrique Melini, Liam Osinuga, Derek Kelly.