National Cup

Jan 03 2026

Dublin Lions hold off Oblate BC to reach U18 National Cup final with 74-65 win

Oblate BC cut a 21-point lead down to four points in the fourth quarter but couldn’t capitalise as Lions held on for a nine-point triumph to set up a meeting with St. Brendan’s in Tallaght.

Lions were as clinical on all fronts in the first quarter, with six different players scoring for them in the opening ten minutes. Oblate, on the other hand, only had three scorers, but missed quite a few chances, including going 1-4 from the free throw line. Lions managed to play solid enough defence to bring a nine-point lead into the second period.

The second period brought more of the same, with Oblate being stern and keeping within touching distance of Lions on the scoreboard. Still, a 10-0 run to close the first half with scores from Shareef Elmahi, Bentoy Monshengwo and Markas Mikalickas all coming in the final two minutes of quarter two to go in at the half-time interval with a 19-point lead.

In the third quarter, neither team looked like missing. Majus Raziunas scored 12 of his 22 points in the third, whilst eight points in seven minutes for Michael Kenny gave Oblate a 16-point third, and yet they still went into the final quarter even further behind as Dublin Lions carried a 21-point cushion into the final quarter.

Yet it was anything but, as Oblate came out with a different energy in the fourth quarter. Full-court pressing, which led to Lions turnovers and early foul trouble, gave Oblate a glimmer of hope. A 17-0 start to the fourth cut the lead to just four points as Lions then appeared to lose Mikalickas to injury, and then Shareef Elmahi fouled out for Lions.

As all was looking bleak, Mikalickas checked back into the game and would go on to score five of Lions' last nine points as it appeared the Oblate offensive spark began to fade after an astonishing run and would ultimately fade with Lions securing a nine-point victory to set up a U18 National Cup final against St. Brendan’s Tralee in two weeks’ time.

Quarter Scores: Q1: 19-10, Q2: 24-14, Q3: 18-16, Q4: 13-25

Game Scores: Q1: 19-10, Q2: 43-24, Q3: 61-40, Q4: 74-65

Dublin Lions:

Majus Raziunas (22), Bentoy Monshengwo (13), Alex Field (6), Shareef Elmahi (10), Nicholas Dinca (0), David Ajavon (0), Tiarnan Diffily (0), Robert Dremakovs (DNP), Mykyta Hural (6), Markas Mikalickas (17).

Oblate BC:

Joaquin Pahinag (13), Andrew Gulevski (10), Adam Makaraitis (6), Kyle Galima (DNP), Augustine Farrell (13), Michael Kenny (15), Meyal Monshengwo (0), Lewis Adjinakou (DNP), Lochlan Henry (0), Jack Walsh (DNP), Derick Han Lin (8).