Vital back to back league wins for Killorglin

MEN’S SUPERLEAGUE

Dublin Lions 76 Keanes Killorglin 93

KEANE’S Supervalu Killorglin made a fourth journey to the capital in as many weeks last weekend to take on Dublin Lions in the Superleague.

Killorglin lost all four league games on the road this season, but the hope was that big win, and maybe more importantly, a much improved performance at home to Belfast last weekend might just be the turning point of their season. Lions won promotion last year, but are finding the top league very tough and went into this game winless, although they did run close on a few occasions.

Killorglin captain Darragh Jones started the ball rolling with the opening score of the game, but Lions answered with a three from Romann Nelson. Keanes American Allan Thomas hit his own score, and after being fouled in the process, got the plus one and made no mistake. Keanes defence was showing up well in this quarter and interceptions from Erik Flood and player coach Colin O’Reilly both led to Killorglin scores.

Declan Wall entered the game at this point in place of Flood with 5.53 left in the period and the score 8 pts to 5 in favour of Keanes and his presence improved the offence side of the house for Killorglin, with scores from Rami Ghanem, O’Reilly and a three from Wall himself increasing the Kerry teams lead. Allan Thomas finished the scoring for the period with two free throws and that left the score at the end of the 1st quarter Dublin Lions 17 Killorglin 26.

Thomas started the second where he finished the first, putting his name in the score sheet for Keanes, but Lions responded with back to back scores. After Thomas made yet another two free throws , the Dublin side went on a run of their own and hit back to back threes and added a two for good measure, with Muhamed Sabic and Finn Hughes doing the damage for Lions.

Coach O’Reilly called a time out at that stage to take away the momentum from Lions with Killorglin’s lead now reduced to a single point, and it had the desired effect, as on the restart, a couple of threes from Ghanem, Thomas and Flood got Killorglins nose in front again, and with 2.55 was Keanes by 5.

Both teams swapped scores via Reilly and Hughes and the second quarter ended the same as the first, with Allan Thomas fouled as he went for a score, and going to the line for free throws – this time 3. He made all of them to leave the score at half time Dublin Lions 43 Killorglin 51

Two fouls by Darragh Jones sent the Dublin teams to the line and they made them all to reduce Keanes lead early in the third, but Allan Thomas showed his quality with back to back threes, interjected by a three for Hughes for Dublin Lions. Keanes had a 6 point lead at this stage, but that was quickly reduced again when Lions made two laid up scores after a period of poor passing by the Kerry men – 58-62 with 4.39 left in the quarter. left, it

Killorglin stepped on the gas at this stage, as 8 point s for O’Reilly and a buzzer beating three for Ghanem gave them a 10-point cushion going into the last. The third quarter score was Dublin Lions 66 Killorglin 76.

Lions were always going to come at Killorglin on their home court in the last period, and they opened with two points to eat into Killorglin’s lead.

Killorglin 6’10” centre Pranus Skurdauskas made a three-pointer to ease the pressure but then fouled on the next play, and as that was his fifth, he had to leave the game.

Killorglin didn’t panic without him though and Colin O’Reilly and Darragh Jones stepped up to rebounding duties to keep Killorglin’s momentum going. They both made scores as well, and with Thomas added to his tally with another three, it looked like there was no way back for Lions. Ronan Fitzpatrick came into the game for Killorglin as they kept the run going and scores from Flood and Ghanem finished off Lions at that stage.

So a solid win for Killorglin on the road to make it back to back victories, which is just the form they need to show as they welcome local rivals Garveys Tralee Warriors back to the Complex next Saturday for the second time in as many weeks, after the cup match last weekend.

TOP SCORERS

DUBLIN LIONS: Romann Nelson 24 pts, Muhamed Sabic 18 pts, Finn Hughes 17 pts

KILLORGLIN: Allen Thomas 29 pts, Rami Ghanem 20 pts, Colin O’Reilly 20 pts, Erik Flood 10 pts