Templeogue take down Swords in Super League
By Stephen Leonard
TEMPLEOGUE men’s basketball team demonstrated great resilience to twice claw back a ten-point deficit, overcoming second-placed Griffith Swords Thunder 78-71 in a top-of-the-table clash in Inchicore on Saturday and subsequently maintaining their 100 per cent record in this season’s Super League.
The 2015 Men’s National Cup winners suffered just one defeat this campaign, and, after being dumped out of this year’s cup competition by the northside outfit, will be happy at extending their lead at the top of the table to six points as the first-half of the season drew to an end.
Mark Keenan, who won The Echo Coach of the Year award 2016, saw his side head into the half-time break trailing 40-41, with Baolach Morrison producing a wonderful three-pointer to keep his side in touching distance as did fine defensive displays from captain Stephen James who has been ever-present this season.
Lorcan Murphy hit 27 points for the homeside, with team-mates Mike Bonaparte and Jason Killeen scoring 19 and 18 points respectively to help hand Keenan’s team a huge win in what was arguably their toughest game to date.
Templeouge will look to make it 12 wins on the bounce when they host the DCU Saints on the December 31 in Inchicore, but Keenan knows that the Saints will pose a serious threat.
“We will take confidence going into the game but we cannot be complacent. DCU had a lot of injuries this year and if a number of their guys return, we could be in for a tough game,” Keenan said.
“We were under pressure for much of the game, but we were on top inthe last quarter and after a slow start, we did well to reduce a ten-point lead twice, we could have easily let our heads drop.
“Collectively we were very good defensively, and we now have a ‘two-game gap’ and look forward to our next game.”
Elsewhere, Commercial.ie Eanna were edged out by a stubborn Kubs BC side 60-57 on Saturday in Greendale.
Despite both teams going into the half-time level at 40 points apiece, 19 points from Brian Edwards and 15 points from Kevin Foley proved enough for the Kilbarrick-based outfit, whose slender win is the first of their league campaign and moves them off the foot of the table, albeit on points difference.
Neil Lynch and Conor White netted for the visitors, but to no avail as the Rathfarnham team fall to tenth in the table.
They will look to rectify the defeat and turn around their difficult start to the season when they travel to face Griffith Swords Thunder on January 7.
