Killorglin fail DCU exam

MEN’S SUPERLEAGUE DCU Saints 85 Keanes Killorglin 70

KEANES SuperValu Killorglin made their third journey to Dublin in as many weeks to take on DCU Saints in the latest round of the Superleague.

Killorglin haven’t had the best of starts to the season and went in with a record of one win from four games. However, player coach Colin O’Reilly was ready to play again after injury, and Eoin O’Sullivan also returned, so Killorglin were confident they could get a result from this game. Saints were two wins from four games, but got a big beating from the warriors last week, and of course, would be anxious to get back to winning ways.

The first quarter was a real ding dong battle, with both teams starting brightly, going score for score. With 2.59 left in the period, there was only a point between the teams, 16 to 15 in favour of Saints. Killorglin though were playing much better than in recent weeks, and were moving the ball much quicker. Declan Wall and Eoin O’Sullivan came into the game for Flood and Jones, and Wall immediately rolled back the years with a three pointer from the corner. Saints responded with their own score though and when the quarter came to a close, it was DCU saints 20 Keanes SuperValu Killorglin 20.

The second started the same as the 1st with both teams going for it. O’Sullivan made a great steal from the pocket of one of Charlie Coombes and O’Reilly banked a three-pointer from the resulting possession. One problem from this quarter for Keanes though was a few silly fouls and American Allan Thomas and Pranus both found themselves on three. However, they kept going and by the end of the quarter, it was still all to play for DCU Saints 40 Killorglin 39.

Pranus picked up a fourth foul early in the third period and was starting to show his frustrations with the lack of protection he felt he was getting from the referees. He had to go off eventually with a suspected broken thumb and without his height on the floor, Killorglin were going to be up against it. Saints went on a run and put daylight between the sides, 57 to 43, but baskets from O’Reilly and O’Sullivan kept Killorglin in it. Saints regrouped though and by the end of the period, had a 17-point lead, with the score DCU Saints 70 Killorglin 53.

The Killorglin lads really tried hard in the last to get within touching distance of DCU, but a 17-point lead was always too difficult to catch.

Killorglin didn’t give up and kept going right to the end. The defensive side of their game was excellent but they struggled a bit at the other end of the court, although they weren’t helped by some questionable refereeing decisions. O’Reilly, Jones and Wall kept the scoreboard going but when the buzzer went, Killorglin were on the wrong side of a 15-point margin between the teams.