Merry Monk Ballina take BIDL Plate honours with 81-68 victory over Cavan Eagles

An emphatic third quarter from Merry Monk Ballina helped them secure a 81-68 win over Cavan Eagles to lift the BIDL Men’s Plate at the National Basketball Arena on Saturday.

Trailing 45-41 at half-time, a pair of Theo Daly three’s either side of Brian Donoghue’s basket kickstarted a 10-point run for the Mayo side at the beginning of the third quarter. Daly was the driving force in the third, landing four three’s, as he picked up a 14 point haul. He would finish the game with 20 points and 6 rebounds, to see him awarded the MVP.

Theo Daly presented with BIDL Men's Plate MVP award by Louise O'Loughlin, Basketball Ireland Chief Operations Officer

Cavan had the better of the opening half and led by 12 at one stage, 40-28, following Alex Kelly Flynn’s basket with three and a half minutes to go in the second quarter. But Merry Monk Ballina got themselves back into contention, with three three’s in the closing stages from Mark Cunningham, Ronan O’Malley and Ronan McGarrity, while Sean Brady notched one for Cavan Eagles, as they held a four point lead at the break. 

But once Merry Monk Ballina hit the front at the start of the third quarter, it was a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, outscoring their opponents 29-8 in the quarter, to lead 70-53.

Ronan O’Malley, who posted a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds, got the opening score in the fourth quarter, as Merry Monk Ballina rattled off another six points to start and extended their advantage to 76-53. 

Cavan Eagles did reduce the deficit, Sean O’Donoghue’s three with a minute and a half to go made it 81-68, but they couldn’t close in further and the BIDL Plate was headed to Connacht.

Quarter Scores:

Q1: 21-25, Q2: 20-20 Q3: 29-8, Q4: 11-15

Game Scores:

Q1: 21-25, Q2: 41-45, Q3: 70-53, Q4: 81-68

Merry Monk Ballina:

Conor Burke (0), Theo Daly (20), Rueben Daly (0), Peter Papik (2), Jamie Forde (2), Paddy Walsh (0), Ronan O’Malley (22) Mark Cunningham (6), Ronan McGarrity (22), David Marry (3), Eoin Noonan (0), Brian Donoghue (4)

Cavan Eagles:

Jason Eronmhonse (DNP), Sean Brady (9), Ben Kelly-Flynn (18), Sean O’Donoghue (12), Glenn Ryan McCann (3), Ivors Zubrickas (10), Jack Tobin (0), Dominikas Kersys (4), Dan Debosz (2), Petras Jankauskas (0), Alex Kelly-Flynn (10)