Templeogue sign off on season with superb Cup treble

TEMPLEOGUE Basketball Club made it a clean sweep in all three of their recent DMBB Cup Finals in the Oblate Hall in Inchicore.

Only days after landing the Top-Four title, the club’s Division One Men’s team captured their Dublin Cup, with the Templeogue Under 17 and 18 men doing likewise.

The Division One Men secured their second piece of silverware following their 69-57 point triumph over Ongar Chasers in the decider.

It was Ongar who enjoyed the better of the first quarter by the end of which they had edged into a two-point lead.

But Templeogue began to find their feet and, with Paddy Kelly and Colm Lakes combining for 20 points by the end of the half, the Reds overtook into a 38-33 lead heading into the third quarter.

That period was again tightly contested with Conall Gordan and Baolach Morrison keeping the scoreboard ticking while Ongar were, meanwhile, finding the net from distant, amassing an impressive six three-pointers.

Templeogue Under 18 Men’s Basketball team weathered a very tough challenge from neighbouring rivals Éanna in their Dublin Cup decider (Photo by Sean Phelan)

It helped see them close a 17-point deficit down to just three with the minutes ticking away, but Templeogue managed to steady the ship and claim their second title in a week.

The Templeogue Under 18s, meanwhile, prevailed in a very tight Dublin Cup Final against neighbouring rivals, Éanna.

Eight early points from Shanay Shah helped see the Rathfarnham side into a two-point advantage heading into the second quarter.

But consecutive scores from Jack Wright sparked an offensive surge by Templeogue that saw them overtake into the narrowest of leads by the halftime recess, Dáire Murray ending the half with a free throw.

The pendulum swung again as Éanna countered Templeogue’s zone defence well in the third quarter, leaving them up by a point at the end of the quarter.

Yet Adam Tighe’s impressive defensive performances helped Templeogue keep it close, while back-to-back three-pointers from Murray and Jack Finn kept the scoreboard ticking over for them.

Templeogue Under 17 Men’s Basketball team captured their respective DMBB Cup title following their hard-fought win over Dublin Lions (Photo by Nathan O’Callaghan)

What’s more, the Reds’ tactical switch to a man-to-man defence in the fourth quarter, combined with some fantastic inside work between Daniel Carberry and Hugh Beashel, inspired a late run by them.

And Jacob Fazande’s timely three-pointer together with some crucial free throws helped clinch it for Templeogue.

Surmounting the challenge of a tough Dublin Lions outfit in their final, Templeogue Under 17s managed to add their respective Dublin Cup honour to the club trophy cabinet.

While they eventually won out 63-53, the Reds did find themselves five points adrift of their Clondalkin rivals early on.

But, led by some superb inside finishes from Daniel Carberry along with stellar shooting from Jacob Fazande, Templeogue turned it around to lead by three by the close of the first quarter.

They built on that in the second quarter to lead by 14 at the halftime recess, thanks in no small measure to some incredible outside shooting by Jack Finn and Jack Wright.

The Lions did work their way back to within six, but with all five of the Templeogue players on the floor scoring in the third quarter, the gap was pushed back out to 16.

Some solid shooting saw Lions win the final quarter, but it was not enough to reel their opponents back in by the final buzzer.