National Cup

Jan 17 2025

Rebel Wheelers secure sixth IWA National Cup title in succession

Rebel Wheelers claimed their sixth IWA National Cup title in a row, following a 81-46 win over Ballybrack Bulls on Friday night at the National Basketball Arena.

The Cork side had a host of top performers, chief among them was Adam Drummond who claimed the MVP with 27 points, while Dylan McCarthy and Conor Coughlan finished with 13 and 12 points respectively.

Rebel Wheelers led 18-13 at the end of the first quarter, but that gap was narrowed to just three following Jonathan Hayes’ layup under the basket early in the second quarter for Ballybrack Bulls, who were playing in their fourth IWA National Cup final. Drummond rattled off seven points in succession to put Rebel Wheelers 25-15 up two and a half minutes into the second quarter and they’d lead 43-27 by half-time, Drummond with a 17-point haul at that stage.

Adam Drummond in action for Rebel Wheelers in the IWA National Cup final at the National Basketball Arena.

Rebel Wheelers continued where they left off in the third quarter, and McCarthy’s basket stretched their advantage to 23 points, 50-27 four minutes in. Hayes, who scored 20 points in the game, snapped that scoring run and would help cut the deficit to 19, 57-38 in the closing stages of the quarter, only for McCarthy to convert in the dying seconds to hand Rebel Wheelers a 59-38 lead by the end of the third.

Rebel Wheelers didn’t relent, captain Jack Quinn got them off the mark in the fourth and they’d outscore their opponents 22-8 in the final quarter, Paul Ryan got the last basket of the game, to wrap up a 81-46 victory.

MVP Adam Drummond, who was asked how it felt to complete six-in-a-row, said: “Unbelievable, I think when we won last year I took a couple of days off and went straight back into it. I wouldn’t say it gets repetitive or anything, we take each moment as we can, but as a team we’re three, four nights a week. I moved up to Dublin this year, so I am only able to make one or two nights, but the lads allowed me to do that, I had to make a sacrifice, they still wanted me to play with them, so it was an easy decision. I think we train as much as a Super League team, so what you put in is what you get out and we’re getting out a lot.”

Quarter Scores:

Q1: 18-13, Q2: 25-14 Q3: 16-11, Q4: 22-8

Game Scores:

Q1: 18-13, Q2: 43-27, Q3: 59-38, Q4: 81-46

Rebel Wheelers:

Jack Quinn (4), Paul Ryan (9), Oisin O’Connor (0), Alex Hennebry (4), Derek Hegarty (8), TJ Lotty (0), Conor Simpson (0), Darragh O’Regan (4), Cathal Lynch (0), Conor Coughlan (12), Dylan McCarthy (13), Adam Drummond (27).

Ballybrack Bulls:

Oran Spain (8), Ian Glendon (2), Ciaran Pollard (DNP), Valene Ryan (4), Sean McCullagh (0), Jonathan Hayes (20), Paul Donnelly (DNP), Jason Ryan (4), Hugh Smith (0), Gabriella van Rooyen (DNP), Jackson Shannon Cole (8), Graham Merrigan (0)