Ballincollig defeated Killester 79-71 to lift the Domino’s Men’s Super League and compete the double in the process, having won the Domino’s MSL National Cup in January. It is the Cork clubs second Super League title in four years, while for Killester it is Domino’s Men’s Super League final heartache for the third year in row.
As the teams sized each other up in the opening quarter, a dunk from Robert Brasswell IV made it 13-8 to Killester midway through. Latrell Jossell, who was MVP in the Domino’s MSL National Cup final, landed a three to put Ballincollig in front, 16-13, with three minutes to go in the first quarter, but it would be level pegging at 17-17 at the end of it.
Another Jossell three had it level at 20 apiece with two minutes gone in the second quarter. Three minutes later an Adrian O’Sullivan layup had Ballincollig ahead by five points, 29-24. A big dunk from Latavious Mitchell with two minutes to go made it an eight point game, 36-28. Josh Steel pushed it to a nine point lead with his basket, Ballincollig were 39-30 ahead at half-time.
Adrian O’Sullivan took a bang to the face in the closing stages of the second quarter, but didn’t show any ill effects when downing a layup for the first score of the third quarter. The Ireland international was dictating the tempo and would finish with 17 points and seven rebounds on his way to earning the MVP.
Paul Dick landed a deep three in the fourth minute of the third quarter to trail 46-40, only for Keelan Cairns to unload with a corner three straight after. Ballincollig stretched their advantage to 15 after a Jossell layup and a Steel three, to lead 62-47 with a little over a minute to go. Down the stretch Adrian O’Sullivan landed a long three with 16 seconds remaining, however Josh Wilson converted two late free throws to leave it at 65-53.
A corner three from Andy McGeever gave Killester the start they needed in the fourth quarter, but it was cancelled out by Dylan Corkery’s effort. Killester kept plugging away, a big block by Baptiste Chazelas on Jossell and swift counter ended with a Dick layup and Jonathan Grennell’s side had cut the deficit to six, 68-62. A Dick free throw followed shortly after, but Ballincollig didn’t panic, with layups from Jossell and Corkery to make it 72-63 with six minutes to go.
Momemtum was with Ciaran O’Sullivan’s side and when Jossell landed his third three of the contest with 2’23” to go it was 79-69 and they safely negotiated the final stages to seal the title.
Speaking after the game, player/coach Ciaran O’Sullivan was asked about completing the double and he said: “Yeah extraordinary, it’s not something you set out to do. If in pre-season someone told you it would end in this after 29 games, I mean what a run! We lost our first two games and it didn’t look likely and we had a poor enough season last season, knocked out in both quarter-finals Cup and League. So to bounce back with a similar group of players, but I just have to say the guys we’ve brought in Latrell Jossell, the Cup final performance here and the three of them Josh Steel and Latavious Mitchell and particularly Adrian O’Sullivan had a brilliant game today – total team effort. It’s tough, it’s a long season, 29 games, different contributions from different guys throughout the year. They’re rare (doubles), I am sure if you look at the roll of honour it hasn’t happened all too often, so delighted to be among those teams who have achieved it.”
Quarter Scores: Q1:17-17, Q2: 22-13, Q3: 26-23, Q4: 14-16
Game Scores: Q1: 17-17, Q2: 39-30, Q3: 65-53, Q4: 79-71
Ballincollig:
Adrian O’Sullivan (17), Josh Steel (16), Latrell Jossell (17), Diego O’Herlihy (3), Rory O’Flynn (DNP), Alberto Rodriguez (0), Ciaran O’Sullivan (0), Ronan O’Sullivan (0), Colm Blount (DNP), Dylan Corkery (5), Latavious Mitchell (18), Keelan Cairns (3)
Player/Coach: Ciaran O’Sullivan
Killester:
Andrew McGeever (3), Josh Wilson (11), Colm O’Reilly (DNP), Daniel Sheridan (2), Paul Dick (19), Tom Byrne (DNP), Matthew McGrath (2), Farouq Raheem (1), Ciaran Roe (0), Kaiwen Yang (DNP), Robert Braswell IV (23), Baptiste Chazelas (10)
Head Coach: Jonathan Grennell
Results
Friday, April 10thU20 Men’s National League FinalTempleogue BC 46-78 Titans BC (full game report available here)Saturday, April 11thU18 Boys All-Ireland League FinalOblates BC 92-68 Titans BC (full game report available here)BIDL Men’s FinalUCD Marian 68-70 Limerick Celtics (full game report available here)U18 Girls All-Ireland League FinalKilkenny Stars 61-59 Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell (full game report available here)Domino’s Women’s Division One FinalCleveland Rockets 68-76 Limerick Celtics (full game report available here)Domino’s Men’s Division One FinalLimerick Sport Eagles 82-63 Titans BC (full game report available here)Sunday, April 12thBIDL Women’s FinalFr. Mathews v Claregalway BC (full game report available here)Domino’s Women’s Super League FinalUCC Glanmire 81-87 Trinity Meteors (full game report available here)Domino’s Men’s Super League FinalBallincollig BC 79-71 Killester BC
