BASKETBALL/Killester 82 Tralee 74: Killester tamed the Tralee Tigers to win the men's National Cup with an outstanding team performance - led by Paddy Kelly, who was named Most Valuable Player while topping the scoring with 19 points - at the National Arena yesterday.
"We are just delighted to win, it was such a tough game, it's the toughest game we've had all year," said Kelly.
"It was fantastic; they make you play very hard, they're a tough team and physical, so we're delighted to have won it.
"Tigers have been outstanding this season so to beat them and in particular in a final is something to saviour. They fought back towards the end but our guys weren't going to let it slip today."
The Dublin side were always in control of the match from the start and raced into an early 13-4 lead with excellent baskets coming courtesy of Michael Bonaparte.
The Tigers, led by Kieran Donaghy, finally got into their rhythm, but at that stage Killester had a commanding lead thanks to some excellent offensive play from Bonaparte, John Behan and Arnuad Dahi and finished the first quarter with a 29-19 lead.
However, the national cup holders came out in the second quarter fighting to hold onto their title when they outscored their opponents by 17-9. Tralee's fightback was led by the American C J Hadley and their captain, Michael Quirke, whose play around the boards was superb.
With less than 10 seconds left on the clock Tralee's Greek player Paris Katsimpas sunk a magnificent three-pointer to cut his team's deficit to four points as they went into the interval trailing 35-31.
With just over two minutes left on the clock in the third quarter Tralee, courtesy of Quirke, drew level before taking a 52-50 lead into the fourth and final quarter. But Killester and Kelly stood up when it counted most and clawed their way back into the game with excellent offensive play from Dahi and superb defensive play from Kelly.
The Dublin team regained the lead midway through the quarter and battled right down to the wire to finally bring the Cup back to the capital for the first time in seven years, much to the delight of their supporters.
Killester 82 (Arnoud Dahi 22, Michael Bonaparte 21, Paddy Kelly 19), Tralee Tigers 74 (CJ Hadley 20, Michael Quirke 15, Kieran Donaghy 12).
Fahy holds nerve for Glanmire
Glanmire 78 Waterford Wildcats 77:Glanmire's match winner Michelle Fahy was relieved after her side retained their women's National Cup having looked to be in serious trouble against a hugely brave Waterford Wildcats outfit.
Tony Hehir's Wildcats fought back from a 53-38 deficit to force overtime before Fahy cruelly denied them a famous cup win with two free throws inside the last 10 seconds to claim a 78-77 success.
"It looked all over but to snatch it the way we did was phenomenal," said Irish international captain Fahy.
"We were underdogs last year when we won the cup but Wildcats showed why you cannot look at league form when you reach this stage of the competition. They were awesome and to fight back in the manner they did was superb.
"They were superb against DCU in the last round and looked destined for the win after their fine comeback but we have shown against UL Aughinish in the semi-finals and now Wildcats that we are never beaten until the final buzzer."
Wildcats made little of their underdog tag in the first quarter and and led 21-17, their Irish international Michelle Aspell firing several baskets.
Glanmire restored parity shortly after the restart with a basket from Most Valuable Player Jennifer Strong followed by a successful break from Fahy. They maintained their momentum with a string of fine scores from Strong, Fahy and Niamh Dwyer.
Aspell and Jenny Kelly reduced the arrears for Wildcats but Glanmire led at half-time 43-30.
Glanmire looked to be cruising when they extended the lead to 53-38 but Wildcats produced an excellent comeback, the US duo McNamara and Kirstin Zompetti playing a major part in the revival. In a dramatic final quarter, Wildcats fired the game into extra time when Zompetti's three-pointer made it 70-70.
The holders, however, responded with excellent baskets from Strong as their captain, Marie Breen, excelled in defence.
With just over a minute left on the clock Waterford led by two points but a foul on Fahy let her step up to the mark with two outstanding frees.
Glanmire 78 (Jennifer Strong 28, Michelle Fahy 19, Marie Breen 12), Waterford Wildcats 70 (Michelle Aspell 29, Jenny Coady 12, Katie McNamara 11).
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