The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Agony and ecstasy for clubs on Cup weekend
HULA HOOPS PAT DUFFY CUP QUARTER-FINAL
KEANES Supervalu Killorglin made the long journey north last weekend to take on Superleague leaders Belfast Start in the quarter-final of the Hula Hoops Pat Duffy Cup. Killorglin went into the game on the back of a poor run of form with four losses on the trot while Belfast Star were flying, with only one loss this season. These teams had also met in the league the previous weekend, and while that was a 10-point win for Star, the game was actually much closer than the score line suggested.
Killorglin opened the game when American player Pierre Newton stole the ball, and after a fast break, he finished the lay-up but Thiep immediately did the same for Belfast at the other end to draw level, and these opening exchanges would set the tone for the rest of the game with nothing between the sides. With 4:30 left in the first quarter, Belfast led by ten points to eight and on the restart after a time out, Killorglin drew level, again from the hands of Newton. Johnson found his range early from the three point line for Star but Killorglin stayed in touch, primarily via strong play from Ivan Bogdanovic and Daniel Jacobitus. At the end of the first quarter, there was a single point between them with the score Belfast Star 16 Killorglin 15.
The start of the second quarter saw both teams trading three pointers with Johnson for Star and Adam Donoghue for Killorglin both finding the net from outside. Young Belfast super star CJ Fultan was coming more into the game while Bogdanovic was winning most of the ball under the boards for Keanes. With 2:27 left in the second, Killorglin were ahead by four but by the time the half ended, it was back to a one point game with the score Belfast Star 41 Killorglin 40.
The third quarter saw both teams go hell for leather to win the game in what was turning out to be a smashing cup game. Mike Davis dunked the ball for Belfast to get the crowd going but Bogdanovic cancelled that out with an old fashioned lay-up. Killorglin went a bit sloppy at this stage and a coup le of scores from Davis and Fultan saw Star in the lead by eleven with five minutes left in the period. Both teams then traded scores until the end of the third which ended with Belfast in the lead by ten, on a score line of Belfast Star 69 Killorglin 59.
The last quarter was always going to be a tense affair, with a cup semi-final place on offer for the victors of this game. Killorglin came roaring back into the game, with strong play and scores from Bogdanoivc and Newton. With 6:03 left on the clock, it was back to a three point game – 74 to 71 and it was game on. However, Belfast are not league leaders for no reason, and Johnson nailed a huge three to settle them down again. Adam Donoghue was playing great in defence for Killorglin and was urging his team on but with time running out, it was Belfast by 6, 77-71. Bogdanovic got two baskets but Star responded with yet another three, before Killorglin missed two three point attempts. With 1:44 left, it was Stars game to lose as they were up by seven, 82 to 75, and the Game started to get away from Keanes. Mike Davis made two free throws after a foul by Newton and time just ran out for Killorglin.
So unfortunately, that’s the end of the cup ruin for Killorglin this year but they will have to dust themselves down quickly, as they have a massive game this weekend, when they are away to DCU Saints in what is fast becoming a must win game for the men from the Laune.