Enda Walshe reflects on an historic day at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght where St Paul’s Killarney clinched the Under 20 Men’s National League Plate Final with a 78-65 victory over Dublin side Templeogue
St Paul’s men’s under 20 team certainly saved their best until last with an extremely impressive performance that helped them capture the National League Plate Final.
And while Eoin Carroll may have got the official MVP gong, one could definitely highlight other performances for worthy mention.
Shane Daly absolutely lit up the second quarter with a virtuoso display, Mark Sheehan hit a mesmeric seven three-pointers and while Jack O’Sullivan did not feature on the scorers’ sheet, as normal he definitely gave his finest defensive performance ever in a St Paul’s vest.
Pictures: Inpho/Basketball Ireland
After a cagey first half, the seeds of success were definitely sown in that second quarter when they outscored the Metropolitans by 24-16 and that advantage helped them to hold sway for the remainder of the game.
Despite the best efforts of Jacob Fazande for Templeogue, they could never really trouble what was an outstanding rearguard action by the Manuel Suarez coached side. That stoic defensive performance was built on a never-say-die attitude, exemplified by the hustle of Oisin Spring and John Hughes. And while that work doesn’t register on the scoreboard, it is equally important to anything done at the offensive end.
It was something Jack O’Sullivan enjoyed: “We’ve worked hard all year and we feel that this is something our graft deserved. It was physical in the paint but I enjoyed the contact going to the rim”.
Game MVP Eoin Carroll acknowledged the input of the supporters: “The Killarney crowd really got behind early on and once we figured out the Templeogue style of play and got our shooting going through Mark (Sheehan) and Shane (Daly), we really got going.
It was Templeogue who got the scoring underway through their main man Jacob Fazande and Jake Mullins but the old firm of Mark Sheehan, Jack O’Sullivan and Eoin Carroll soon got St Paul’s noses in front.
Mullins and Wilfred Onorusi put Templeogue in front but Mark Sheehan was starting to heat up from outside, a point accentuated by hitting two on the trot. O’Sullivan finished neatly before Carroll did all the hard work himself to put St Paul’s 17-12 clear at the end of the first.
Shane Daly had interchanged with Oisin Spring to great effect in the opening period but he was now about to take centre stage. He hit a swift basket on the break and then nailed a huge three.
Tyrone Gonga and Fazande were trying hard to keep pace but Sheehan and Daly were now rampant, combining for 11 points, to open up a 34-22 lead. Cian Forde was adding his intensity to the effort and Carroll was stamping his authority inside, all those factors helping to maintain a 10-point advantage, 38-28.
Templeogue may have felt the game was in hand at this stage but a superb three from Sheehan put the kibosh on that notion.
The third quarter had a gentle opening which suited St Paul’s with the advantage they had, Mullins and Gian Cabello netting early for Templeogue but Carroll was now imperious inside and with Daly’s confidence going through the roof, Paul’s were cantering.
Jack O’Sullivan was a colossus in defence at this stage but Templeogue were starting to make some outside shots, mainly through Jack Finn and Cabello. But much like the second quarter, Sheehan made his mark from outside with a monster three to give St Pauls a 56-45 third quarter lead.
If Templeogue were to make any inroads into the game they needed a rapid start to the final quarter but Carroll owned that period with his six points prompting a time out. It had a temporary effect as the gap was shaved back to 10 but Sheehan popped in another three which was quickly followed by an awesome basket from Daly.
O’Sullivan was proving himself to be a jack of all trades holding the offence at bay although Gonga was starting to pick up the slack from Fazande.
Adam Whitty got a well-deserved run out as St Paul’s looked in control, thanks mainly to another Sheehan three. Carroll was running amok as the clock ticked and coach Suarez had the luxury of running his entire bench with only the injured TJ O’Sullivan not getting court time.
The icing to the cake was applied by Chris Healy as he hit another three as the final buzzer sounded to the delight of the huge travelling support and the scoreboard made pretty reading, St Paul’s 78-65 to the good.
Captain Mark Sheehan picked the right day to hit top form. His accuracy from outside was integral to the win.
“It was an excellent feeling to get them, especially in the final and anything I didn’t get Eoin and Jack swept up inside. Templeogue were not as big as Killester but they brought a huge physicality to the game and that was tough to compete with,” he said.
Coach Manuel Suarez couldn’t hide his delight post game: “It’s an amazing feeling. The crowd, the team, everyone did their best. The last minute of the game was like a carnival with the crowd on their feet. The people of Killarney are amazing and the team deserves to have a crowd like that.”
Eoin Carroll was MVP with 26 points and 17 rebounds, Mark Sheehan had 23, Shane Daly 20, Jack O’Sullivan six, Chris Healy three and the others involved in the remarkabletriumph were John Hughes, Oisin Spring, Cian Forde, Adam Whitty, TJ OSullivan, Cathal Springand Dara O’Sullivan.
Jacob Fazande was best for his side with 20 points, Tyrone Gonga had 12, Wilfeld Omorusei 11 and Jack Finn six.
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