Killorglin’s poor streak continues against Neptune

MEN’S SUPERLEAGUE ROUND 7

Keanes Killorglin 61 C&S Neptune 62

AFTER back to back away games in Dublin, Keanes Supervalu Killorglin welcomed C&S Neptune to Killorglin on Saturday night. Killorglin had a great start to the season when they won three of their first four league games, but the wheels have come off a little in the last few weeks, with back to back heavy losses away to Swords Thunder and UCD Marion.

Neptune had a poor start to the season when they lost their first five games, but finally got their first win in their previous game against Maree, and so were full of confidence. Both teams were promoted last year, with Killorglin getting the better in their battles in that division, but that was now long forgotten.

Killorglin had a great start to the game, and were on the offensive straight from the tip off, with 6 ft 11 centre Marin Brizca making 6 unanswered points in the first two minutes before Neptune got off the mark. However, the remainder of the quarter was score for score, with defence being the order of the day, and it was clear that this game wasn’t going to be a high scoring one. This was confirmed by the score at the end of the first, where it was Killorglin 11 C&S Neptune 7.

Killorglin started the second quarter much better and with American Pierre Newton and Eoin O’Sullvan driving to the board repeatedly and Ivan Bogdanovic starting to get the upper hand under the boards, Keanes managed to reduce the deficit to just one point with 6 minutes left in the period. Neptune were also tipping away on the scoreboard, via the hands of Darragh O’Sullivan and Cian Heaphy, and a basket from Heaphy left the score at half time Killorglin 30 Neptune 29.

The third quarter is known at the ‘championship quarter’ and so it proved here. Neptune’s changes and strategies were working well against the slow build up play of the men from Killorglin.

Daniel Jacobitus was back to his old self, and showing just why he was the division one player of the year last year, but even after he hit back to back three-pointers, Darragh O’Sullivan did the same for Neptune. Indeed, a fast break lay up and conversion from Connelly gave Neptune a 52-46 lead at the end of the third.

Both teams went for it in the last quarter, with Jacobitus and Eoin O’Sullivan to the fore for Keanes, while Darragh O’Sullivan was doing most of the scoring for Neptune. This game was always going to go down to the wire and so it proved, as with 2.5 seconds left it was a one point game.

Killorglin has an inbound ball in Neptune’s half, and tried to feed Eoin O’Sullivan in the corner for the last shot, but Neptune saw it coming, and he was well pressured and was unable to convert. TOP SCORERS

KILLORGLIN: Daniel Kacobitus 21 pts, Ivan Bogdanovic 12 pts, Pierre Newton 8 pts

NEPTUNE: D O’Sullivan 14 pts, C Heaphy 13 pts, O Connolly 11 pts