Limerick Celtics secure promotion to Domino’s Men’s Super League with 81-70 win over ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers

Limerick Celtics will play in the Domino’s Men’s Super League for the first time next season, after they secured promotion following a 81-70 win over ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers in the Domino’s Men’s Division One final on Saturday at the National Basketball Arena. It’s completes an excellent season having also won the Presidents’ National Cup and only lost once all campaign.

The pacy AJ Williams was the star of the show, the American was kept scoreless in the opening quarter, but ignited after that and finished with 30 points to claim the MVP.

ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers raced into an early nine point lead, 17-8, after a pair of Davin McEvoy free throws. Finn Hughes closed the gap to four, 19-15, from the three point line in the final minute, before Xabi Arriaga unleashed a lovely step-back three on the buzzer to make it 22-15 at the end of the first quarter.

A seven-point run from Limerick Celtics at the start of the second quarter brought the game level, Philip Kearney’s basket making it 22-22. ND Portlaoise Panthers responded with a dunk from Aleksander Kovacevic shortly afterwards. Limerick Celtics completed the turnaround thanks to an eight point run by Williams, to put them 30-26 up midway through the second quarter. 

A layup from Kevin Donohoe on a fastbreak saw Portlaoise Panthers trail 35-31 with just under three minutes to go in the quarter and they’d cut the deficit to two, 37-35, by half-time. 

A corner three from Donohoe in the second minute of the third quarter brought the game level at 39-39. A Williams three saw his tally go to 11 at that stage, as Limerick Celtics led 44-41 shortly afterwards.

A long range three from Arriaga for ND Portlaoise Panthers was matched by a corner fadeaway jump shot two by Williams for Limerick Celtics and the game was poised at 50-50 with four minutes to go in the third. It remained tight, a fastbreak and layup in the closing seconds from Williams saw Limerick Celtics 58-55 up at the end of the third.

Limerick Celtics opened the fourth quarter with a five-point run, Abdul Wurie’s finish inside the paint made it 63-55. Another long-range Arriga three snapped that sequence and closed the deficit to 63-58.

A layup from Williams and the gap was seven, 67-60, three and a half minutes in. But a dunk from Wurie made it 71-60 midway through the quarter and got the Celtics fans to their feet.

Chima Obikwelu unleashed a one-handed dunk after a Williams steal with two minutes to go and it was 76-64 and Celtics weren’t going to be denied the win. 

Limerick Celtics won the Domino's Men's Divison One title on Saturday.

Limerick Celtics head coach Tony Hehir said: “It’s incredible, Portlaoise Panthers started so well, the first quarter was really difficult for us to manage, but this group of players turned up when we needed them to.” 

He added: “It’s a tough league, some great teams in there and I thought we grew and grew as the year went on and got better and better. AJ (Williams) was phenomenal tonight, but it’s a team effort.”

Quarter Scores:

Q1: 15-22, Q2: 22-13 Q3: 21-20, Q4: 23-15

Game Scores:

Q1: 15-22, Q2: 37-35, Q3: 58-55, Q4: 81-70

Limerick Celtics:

Eoghan Donaghy (6), Ariyon Jamal Williams (30), Martin Frawley (0), Cian Gleeson (DNP), Finn Hughes (9), Matthew Barry (0), Chima Obikwelu (10), Abdul Wurie (17), Philip Kearney (7), Sean Ryan (2), Vadjikiba Dosso (DNP), Jordan Hehir (DNP)

ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers

Cillian O’Connell (0), Dylan Dunne (DNP), Jayden Umeh (DNP), James Phelan (17), Eric Anderson (14), Davin McEvoy (10), Kevin Donohoe (18), Cormac Howson (DNP), Xabier Arriaga (9), Kyle Burke (0), Aleksander Kovacevic (2), Liam Kinsella (0)