Rebel Wheelers keep six-in-a-row dreams alive after seeing off Limerick Celtics 59-39

Rebel Wheelers moved to within one game of making it six IWA National Cup titles in succession after they emerged 59-39 winners over Limerick Celtics in Saturday morning’s semi-final at MTU Arena.

Despite Tiarnan O’Donnell serving up a game-high 15 points for Limerick, the challengers left a lot of scores behind them on the day, as Cork proved that bit more efficient with Dylan McCarthy, Derek Hegarty and Conor Coughlan all hitting double figures on the day.

 Conor Coughlan of Rebel Wheelers

It was the defending champions who made the early push in this encounter, Adam Drummond and Darragh O’Regan getting in for buckets to see them go four points up before Limerick opened their account compliments of Dean McCarthy just over a minute in.

Celtics were presented with the opportunity to restore parity when O’Donnell went to the line, but he was unable to make either of his free throws, nor were his team mates able to convert either of the subsequent two rebounds they won under the board.

Instead, Wheelers immediately punished when Coughlan converted on the break and, while scores were at a premium for much of this opening quarter, Cork still managed to enlarge the gap, Coughlan taking full advantage from the free-throw line before Hegarty got in for a bucket.

The foul count, however, was mounting for Wheelers, affording Limerick more opportunities from the line, but they were able to make only four of 12 such attempts in the first quarter, O’Donnell accounting for all of those as they reduced their arrears to 12-8 by the close of the opening period.

Yet, it was not the start to the second quarter that Celtics would have wished, Wheelers going on a 12–point run that included three buckets from Hegarty and two from McCarthy, pushing their lead out to 16.

Limerick appeared to be tiring in defence, but O’Donnell got the scoreboard ticking again for them with just over four minutes to go before the break when he converted one of his two free-throws.

And he began to find his range from the floor too, landing two shots before Coughlan delivered a sublime deuce for Wheelers, which was quickly answered in kind by O’Donnell to leave it 28-15 at the half-time recess.

Celtics really needed to take more from the floor and improve on their 42 percent return from the free-throw line in the opening half if they were to haul themselves back into the running.

But it was Cork who accounted for the opening two scores of the third quarter through Paul Ryan and Hegarty before Dean McCarthy got Limerick going again.

Wheelers did manage to push their lead out to 19, but a six-point run for Limerick that comprised of three swift buckets from James McCarthy, Tadhg Buckley and Joseph Hargrow helped the challengers reduce their arrears to 11 (42-31) heading into fourth.

 Joseph Hargrow of Limerick Celtics

But, yet again, Wheelers delivered the early hits when they returned to the court, Jack Quinn draining two shots in 15 seconds, before Hargrow responded for Limerick.

Cork comfortably controlled the game down the stretch, Oisin O’Connor applying the finishing touch to a late break that saw Wheelers close out proceedings with a 20-point cushion.

Quarter Scores: Q1: 12-8, Q2: 28-15, Q3: 42-31, Q4: 59-39

Rebel Wheelers:

Jack Quinn, Paul Ryan, Oisin O’Connor, Derek Hegarty, Conor Simpson, Darragh O’Regan, Conor Coughlan, Dylan McCarthy, Adam Drummond.

Top Scorers: Dylan McCarthy (14), Derek Hegarty (12), Conor Coughlan (11).

Limerick Celtics:

Dean McCarthy, Seamus Long, Joseph Hargrow, James McCarthy, Tiarnan O’Donnell, Aaron Galvin, Tadhg Buckley.

Top Scorers: Tiarnan O’Donnell (15), Tadhg Buckley (10), Dean McCarthy (6), Joseph Hargrow (6).