Templeogue and Éanna set up National Cup Final derby
By Stephen Leonard
Neighbouring rivals Griffith College Templeogue Basketball Club and Eanna Basketball Club will go head to head in this season's Hula Hoops Pat Duffy Men's National Cup decider after both came from behind at halftime to win out in their respective semi finals in Cork yesterday.
Only a week after being edged out by Garvey's Tralee Warriors in Super League action, Éanna exacted revenge against the Kerry outfit by beating them 78-63 while Templeogue prevailed in a thrilling closing two minutes against C&S Neptune for a 78-75 victory.
Pictured: (Left) Éanna's Josh Wilson in action against Garvey's Tralee Warriors, (right) Templeogue's Darren Townes celebrating at the final buzzer in their National Cup semi final against Neptune.
Darren McGovern's Éanna have really turned heads since their return to the top ranks from the National League last season and their tremendous run continued.
Indeed they battled back from two points down at the halftime recess with an impressive third quarter at the end of which they led Warriors by six with Josh Wilson and Stefan Zecevic on fire as they combined for a huge 46 points.
The Rathfarnham side also turned the screw defensively, limiting the contribution of Tralee’s Paul Dick, Daniel Jokubaitis and Eoin Quigley to run out winners and secure their place in the final for the very first time.
Templeogue, meanwhile, are now just one step away from lifting the National Cup for the third time in four years after they saw off the challenge of a dogged Neptune outfit.
While they led by the narrowest of margins at the close of the first quarter, Mark Keenan’s men found themselves five points adrift at halftime and seven down heading into the final quarter.
Yet they summoned up a huge late surge that was sparked by a massive three-pointer from Neil Randolph and fuelled with excellent work by the vastly-experienced Jason Killeen at both ends of the court that helped them clinch further passage.
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