Demons exact sweet revenge on Killester in Champions final

The senior Irish domestic basketball season came to a close yesterday as National Cup winners C&S UCC Demons lifted the Champions Trophy after defeating Premier League winners Killester 79-60, in Neptune Stadium, Cork.

The clash between Ireland’s two best teams saw some champagne basketball on display, particularly from Demons, who produced maybe their best performance of the season.

Spearheaded by 12 first-half points from American Lehmon Colbert, Demons always looked the likely winners as they exacted revenge on a Killester squad that came out on top when the sides last met in Cork, a crucial league game back at the start of March.

Leading by nine after two quarters, Demons emerged a determined side to start the third and when a superb twisting drive and finish down the lane by Ciarán O’Sullivan ended the period, the Cork team led by 18 points and had one hand firmly on the trophy.

Demons never gave Killester an opening in the closing minutes and ran out deserving winners, a complete reversal of the defeat suffered at the hands of Killester in Cork just three weeks previously.

“I think we had a bit more confidence today for some reason,” revealed Demons guard Kyle Hosford. We had energy today right from the start.”