Limerick Celtics crowned BIDL Men’s champions with 84-72 win over Tralee Warriors

Limerick Celtics claimed their first BIDL Men’s title, beating Tralee Warriors 84-72 in the final at the National Basketball Arena on Saturday. Philip Kearney picked up the game MVP following his double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds. 

Defending champions Tralee Warriors made a strong start to this contest and were up by 10 points, 18-8, after back-to-back baskets from Aaron Fleming and Joshua Osayanrhion with three and a half minutes to go in the quarter. Limerick Celtics responded with an 11-point run, finished off by Bryan Morrison’s three in the closing seconds of the quarter to put them 19-18 in front.

It remained tight throughout the second quarter, Limerick Celtics had a 43-40 lead by half-time.

It was level pegging at 48-48 after James Fernane’s long range two, four minutes into the third quarter. Limerick Celtics then established a seven point lead, 58-51, following Matthew Barry’s three with three and a half minutes to go. However there was the slimmest of margins once more going into the final quarter, following Steve Bowlers jump shot, to see Tralee Warriors trail 60-59.

Limerick Celtics were up 65-61 early in the fourth quarter following Kearney’s jump shot. Not long afterwards Olaf Michalszuk’s three for Tralee Warriors made it a one-point game once more, trailing 65-64 a little over two minutes in. Limerick Celtics then started to pull away, Matthew Barry downed a long range three which hit nothing but net to put them 75-65 up midway through the quarter.

Tralee Warriors persevered, but a Barry layup with 52 seconds to go signalled the end for the Kerry outfit, Limerick Celtics were up by 10 points once more, 82-72. They would add two more Barry free throws to round out an 84-72 victory.

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Quarter Scores:

Q1: 18-19, Q2: 22-24 Q3: 19-17, Q4: 13-24

Game Scores:

Q1: 18-19, Q2: 40-43, Q3: 59-60, Q4: 72-84

Tralee Warriors:

Joshua Osayanrhion (20), Olaf Michalczuk (12), Zygimantes Kaletka (0), Dominic Craig (DNP), Christopher Nolan (DNP), Aaron Fleming (10), Adam O’Keefe (DNP), Steve Bowler (15), James Fernane (5), Daniel Bowler (10), Padraig Fleming (0)

Limerick Celtics:

Eoghan Donaghy (13), Bryan Morrison (3), Martin Frawley (12), Connor Donaghy (4), Dennis Matthews (0), Matthew Barry (13), Philip Kearney (19), Sean Ryan (20)