Lakers face Kilkenny in likely 1B title game

MEN’S NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 1B Dublin Lions 86 Scotts Lakers 81

FOLLOWING a recent run of good form, Scotts Lakers suffered their first league defeat since December when they were toppled away to Dublin Lions last Saturday. A disastrous opening quarter where they fell 18 points behind meant Lakers were always chasing the game.

The Lions led 34-16 at the end of the first quarter as Lakers reduce the deficit to 53-47 at half-time. Lakers continued their resurgence in the third quarter and trailed 7369 entering the final quarter. Both sides were guilty of squandering opportunities but the Lions cancelled out the threat of the Lakers big men under the boards and gave away no easy shots as they secured a five-point win.

While the loss to Dublin Lions was a setback, Paris Texas Kilkenny’s loss to Limerick Celtics means Scotts Lakers remain top of Division 1B with nine 27 points, three points ahead of Kilkenny who have a game in hand. Kilkenny are fancied to defeat bottom club Titans this Friday and will go level on points with Lakers.

This means Sunday’s showdown in Killarney at 3pm between Scotts Lakers and Kilkenny will decide who wins the Division 1B Plate title. The sides clashed in Kilkenny earlier in the season with the Lakers losing 86-72. Kilkenny have some quality players in Taylor Young, Brian Hogan, Julian O’Keeffe , James Butler and Lukasz Szulc and Scotts Lakers will need a huge improvement on their overall team performance from last weekend.

It is the last home game of the season for Lakers and fans are urged to come out in force to support the team. It has been a remarkable season overall for Scotts Lakers with the return to national league action after an absence of nearly a decade. The huge crowds supporting the team in Killarney Sports Centre all season is bigger than any attendance at any other Division 1 venue and bigger than the majority of Superleague venues. With a plate title up for grabs, the Killarney supporters can make a difference this Sunday. SCOTTS LAKERS: Antuan Bootle 31, Dailian Mason 25, Dylan O’Sullivan 6, Philip O’Connor 5, Con O’Mahony 4, Andrew Fitzgerald 4, Mark Greene 3 and Cian Clernon 3.

DUBLIN LIONS: Muhamed Sabic 29, Igor Markiewicz 16 and Chris McNairney 11.

Daniel Jokubaitis Keane’s Supervalu Killorglin and Ger Noonan Neptune in action at the Killorglin Sports Centre Killorglin Co Kerry . Photo By : Domnick Walsh