Ballincollig into Domino’s MSL National Cup final with 70-67 overtime win over Limerick Celtics

Ballincollig have reached their second Domino’s MSL National Cup final in three years, following a hard-fought 70-67 overtime win over Limerick Celtics at Neptune Stadium on Friday. 

Ballincollig edged into an early lead, Josh Steel’s second three point jump shot had them 11-5 to the good by with 4’35 to go in the opening quarter. Limerick Celtics, who were playing their first semi-final at this level, responded with an eight point run, finished off by Ruairi Cronin’s basket, to put them in front for the first time, 13-11. Keelan Cairns brought parity with a jump shot, before a dunk from Latavious Mitchell and an additional free throw helped give the Cork side a narrow 16-15 lead by the end of the quarter.

It was level at 20 apiece two minutes into the second quarter following Finn Hughes’ three for Limerick Celtics. A layup from Steel had Ballincollig 26-22 up at the midpoint of the quarter. A floater and a turnaround jumphot from Ciaran O’Sullivan, either side of another Mitchell dunk, had Ballincollig 32-22 in front with a little over a minute to go. Limerick Celtics responded with a Ruairi Cronin three, but the last score of the half was Steel layup, to give them a 34-26 advantage. 

Ballincollig stretched their lead to 13 points, 43-30, following a three by Luke O’Sullivan three minutes in. A pair of AJ Williams baskets helped reduce the deficit to 43-36, before a Latrell Jossell three restored a 10 point lead for Ballincollig. Back-to-back threes from Cronin made it a four point game, 50-46, with a little over two minutes remaining in the third. Abdul Wurie brought the game level, before a Cronin layup in the dying seconds completed their 12 point run, to put Limerick Celtics 52-50 ahead. 

Abdul Wurie 🟰 impact 💥

Q4 | 3:37
🔴BAL 59-64 LIM 🟢#BINationalCup pic.twitter.com/PTvOXqFDIa

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) January 2, 2026

Ballincollig needed something to get them going, cue another dunk from Mitchell at the start of the fourth quarter to get their fans off their feet and bring the game level at 52-52. AJ Williams was the Domino’s MD1 National Cup final MVP last season when Limerick Celtics lifted the Presidents’ Cup and he was getting into his groove, scoring the next six points to hand Celtics a 58-52 lead three and a half minutes in. 

The game was finely poised, a pair of Adrian O’Sullivan free throws brought it level at 64 apiece with 1’47 to go. A driving layup from Williams put Celtics back in front, he couldn’t convert the extra free throw and a Mitchell jump shot made it 66-66 each with 36.6 seconds remaining. Both sides had possession and chances in regulation, but overtime was required.

A pair of Mitchell free throws, brining him to a game-high 31 points, nudged Ballincollig in front at the start of the additional period. Two more from Latrell Jossell with 4.7 seconds remaining gave Ballincollig a three point advantage, AJ Williams saw his three point attempt rim out as the full-time buzzer sounded.

Every emotion exhausted after 45 minutes 😴#BINationalCup | #IrishBasketball pic.twitter.com/ejqpkRSgtR

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) January 2, 2026

Ballincollig player/coach Ciaran O’Sullivan said: “A really tough game, it was a really old-school battle, neither team could put the ball in the basket, I think the crowd was trying to will it in there for the last quarter and overtime as well. We dug it out, we didn’t have our best shooting night by any stretch, but we dug it out and showed our experience and delighted to be back in a National Cup final.”

 Asked about a second Domino’s MSL National Cup final in three years, O’Sullivan added: “Last year we didn’t have our best season and it has just been the journey getting back, we’ve beaten (Griffith College) Eanna, Belfast Star and now Limerick Celtics, who had beaten us in the league. Delighted to be back (in the final), it shows a bit of consistency and it’s a great occasion. We’re weren’t successful the last time against UCC Demons, but we’ll put our best foot forward, whether it’s Garvey’s Tralee Warriors or UCD Marian.”

Quarter Scores:

Q1: 16-15, Q2: 18-11 Q3: 16-26, Q4: 16-14, OT: 4-1

Game Scores:

Q1: 16-15, Q2: 34-26, Q3: 50-52, Q4: 66-66, OT: 70-67

Ballincollig:

Adrian O’Sullivan (9), Josh Steel (11), Latrell Jossell (10), Diego O’Herlihy (DNP), Alberto Rodriguez (0), Ciaran O’Sullivan (4), Ronan O’Sullivan (0), Colm Blount (DNP), Luke O’Sullivan (3), Dylan Corkery (0), Latavious Mitchell (31), Keelan Cairns (2).

Limerick Celtics:

Eoghan Donaghy (3), AJ Williams (20), Martin Frawley (DNP), Finn Hughes (5), Ruairi Cronin (13), Abdul Wurie (11), Philip Kearney (2), Vadjikiba Dosso (0) Sean Hauser (13), Matthew Barry (DNP), Jordan Hehir (DNP).