Students snatch victory with dramatic last-minute score
Limerick Lions 79 UCC Demons 81
UCC Demons came back from the dead to capture their third Cup title in four years after a nail-biting climax in the SuperLeague Men’s Final over Limerick Lions tonight.
Limerick Lions led at the National Basketball Arena through the entire game but in the last crucial eight minutes UCC Demons came roaring back to snatch a two-point victory, 79-81.
Limerick seemed to have the edge from the beginning. After six minutes they had raced into an 11-5 lead inspired by Jon Steven.
Captain Robert Taylor was outstanding for the Limerick side as he controlled the play from the point and clocked up eight points in the process.
Then Demons’ Polish player Michael Plichta and Colin O’Reilly fought back with nine points between them to level matters with 41 seconds left in the first.
A 10-second scrap for the ball ensued with Taylor finally gaining possession for a two-pointer on the buzzer to put the ahead 17-15.
Limerick maintained their edge throughout the second quarter. Robert Taylor was again on fire for the Lions, netting another eight points.
Robert Lynch and Jon Steven hit two big three pointers in the sixth minute to send their side 30-21 ahead.
The dominance seemed to change hands for the remaining four minutes thanks to Shane Coughlan who went on a scoring rampage of seven points including a three pointer with 47 seconds to put the Cork side ahead for the first time, with the half-time score at 37-39.
In the third quarter, Ricardo Leonard, Robert Lynch and Jon Steven dominated the scoring stakes for Limerick.
The home team found themselves on the line six times in the space of five minutes, converting 11 of the possible 12 points. Their consistency from the free throw line helped them edge further ahead and with three minutes remaining, they led 58-54.
In the final minute of the third, Neil Campbell chipped in a three followed by two baskets from Leonard and Steven to leave the score 35-59 at the third buzzer.
It all changed in the fourth, however. Limerick started strongly with another three from Jon Steven and with 8.46 left in the game the Lions led, 73-59.
It all went downhill from there as Demons coach Pat Price called a time-out. His team talk seemed to galvanise his side and they came out all guns.
A brace by Michael Doles cut the lead to 10 points (73-63). Demons upped their defence causing a lot of turnovers by the Lions.
This came back to haunt Limerick in the dieing moments as they only produced six points in the last five minutes to Demons 14 points.
A dramatic finish followed, as both sides were level pegging with just three minutes to go.
But it was Niall O’Reilly who proved to be the hero of the hour for UCC as his dramatic basket with 15 seconds remaining ensured that the Demons snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and sent Limerick Lions home empty-handed.
