Killester run out 93-74 winners over Griffith College Éanna to land spot in Pat Duffy Cup final

Killester defeated Griffith College Éanna 93-74 in the Pat Duffy National Cup semi-finals on Saturday. It sets up a decider with defending champions UCC Demons, who got past EJ Sligo All-Stars 91-77 earlier in the day.

The first quarter was an even one, Griffith College Éanna, who were looking to reach their second Pat Duffy Cup final in three years, had a narrow advantage, 26-24, thanks to Tyland Crawford’s three in the last seconds. 

Killester started the second quarter with an 11 point run to make it 33-26. Sean Jenkins got his first points of the game with three and two-point jump shot to reduce the deficit, 33-31, three and a half minutes in. Not long afterwards Paul Dick racked up eight points in a little over a minute - a corner three, pair of layups and a free throw - to help Killester into a 43-35 lead midway through the quarter, with only Kristijan Andabaka getting on the scoreboard for Griffith College Éanna during the sequence.

A three from Andabaka and a pair of Tyland Crawford free throws saw it level at 45-45 going into the closing stages of the second quarter, only for a trio of free throws from Dick to hand Killester a 48-45 half-time lead.

Two minutes into the third quarter it was level once more, 51-51, after a pair of Kason Harrell free throws. Killester stated to take control of proceedings after that they were up by five after an Isiah Dasher three and a Ciaran Roe layup under the basket making it 58-53. The gap was ten, 67-57, following Dick’s corner three with four minutes to go in the third quarter. Killester continued to build a lead, another corner three, this time from Andy McGeever, and they were 72-57 up. Momentum was with Killester, summed up with an end of quarter buzzer beater from Harrell, which saw him clatter into the perimeter advertising boards in the process, the Dublin side now had a 78-61 lead.

A McGeever driving layup started off the fourth for Killester. Griffith College Éanna needed to respond, a Stefan Desnica free throw and turnaround jump shot from Jenkins saw them trail 82-64 three minutes in. It was to be Killester’s day, finishing with a 93-74 win.

Killester players celebrate after their Pat Duffy National Cup semi-final win over Griffith College Éanna.

Paul Dick, who was one of three Killester players to pick up 21 points on the day along with Harrell and Isiah Dasher, said: “We’ve been working hard since pre-season, great team chemistry, great coaching and it’s all coming together nicely as we move forward in the season. Offensively it hasn’t been a problem this year, we’re sharing the ball, sometimes we make shots, sometimes we don’t, but we believe if we keep doing the right things the ball will fall they way it will, so we’re confident with what we’re doing and we’re happy with the flow we’re in.”

Asked about upcoming final opponents UCC Demons, Dick added: “Demons are always dangerous, they’re hustlers and they fight to the death, so we’ll see how it falls on the day.”

The Pat Duffy Cup final will take place at 2000 on Saturday 18^th January at the National Basketball Arena and will be broadcast live on TG4.

Quarter Scores:

Q1: 26-24, Q2: 19-24 Q3: 16-30, Q4: 13-15

Game Scores:

Q1: 26-24, Q2: 45-48, Q3: 78-61, Q4: 93-74

Griffith College Éanna:

Cathal O’Sullivan (3), Mark Reynolds (9), Dean Kiernan (0), Joshua Wilson (17), Kristijan Andabaka (12), Stefan Desnica (10), Neil Lynch (2), Sean Jenkins (9), Tyland Crawford (11), Adam Charles (DNP), James Gormley (1), Harry Lynch (DNP).

Killester:

Isaac Westbrooks (0), Andy McGeever (5), Daniel Sheridan (DNP), Patrick Sullivan (DNP), Isiah Dasher (21), Farouq Raheem (DNP), Ciaran Roe (7), Kaiwen Yang (0), Baptiste Chazelas (12), Paul Dick (21), Kason Harrell (21), Eoghain Kiernan (6).