McGovern sees Killeen as a major threat in cup decider
By Stephen Leonard
DBS ÉANNA Head Coach Darren McGovern sees Templeogue’s experience and the influence of highly-rated centre Jason Killeen as the two biggest factors they must address as they prepare to face their neighbouring rivals in the National Cup decider this Saturday night.
McGovern has led his side to their first ever National Cup showpiece while Templeogue will be playing in their third final in four years.
DBS Éanna Head Coach, Darren McGovern sees the experience of their Templeogue opponents and the influence of centre Jason Killeen as major factors his side will need to reckon with this Saturday
Yet Éanna have certainly proved the surprise package this season, topping the National League last year and putting together hugely impressive Super League and National Cup campaigns this term.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s massive Cup Final derby, McGovern was in no doubt as to whom he views as the biggest weapon in the Templeogue arsenal.
“I think the danger is in Jason Killeen. He’s 6’10 and the best centre in the league.
“He’s probably the most difficult match-up for us because we’re a smaller team that likes playing a fast game. But when the game slows down, he’s very good in the half court.
“When he plays well, Templeogue normally win so we’ll be focusing on him without forgetting about the other top players they have” he stressed.
Addressing the disparity in National Cup experience between the two sides ahead of this weekend’s much-anticipated showdown, McGovern said “Experience is a big factor. For our players, playing in the National Cup Final is a brand new experience for them.
“But we have lads who have played in bigger venues and in front of more people, so hopefully that shines through.
“We just want to keep the players grounded this week and we’ve preparing for this match like any other. Our training is the same, our recovery is the same.
“We’ll be hoping for a free-flowing game and they will too. Both teams score well and defend well but they will definitely be favourites with the experience they have” he said.
Éanna will be heading into Saturday’s National Cup title match off the back of a disappointing 73-86 point defeat at home to Pyrobel Killester in the Super League in Colaiste Éanna on Saturday.
McGovern’s men now sit six points behind joint leaders Garvey’s Tralee Warriors and Belfast Star although they do have a game in hand on both of them.
The Rathfarnham side was caught cold in the opening quarter on Saturday, falling six points behind, but it was in the second quarter when they were really left eating dust as Killester outscored them 10-35 to race 31 points up.
“We had a tough second quarter” said McGoverm. “They missed only two shots and scored 35. If you’re playing any team that does that you’re going to be behind.
“We went from trailing by six at the end of the first quarter to trailing by 31 and we said we’d give it five minutes in the third to see where were at before we started rotating the bench.
“But we got it back. We held them to eight and we scored 25, but we just ran out of steam in the end.”
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