Galway’s St Joseph’s College is on course to successfully defend its national basketball cup crown after comprehensively defeating Dublin champions Colaiste Eanna in UL on Friday.
The Bish secured their place in Basketball Ireland’s National Cup u-16 A final with a 51 - 37 victory.
The Galway school will now face Douglas CS (Cork ) in the final next week in a repeat of last year’s thrilling u-15A final which the Bish won by a single basket.
Coach Brendan Doheny says the Bish will “ need to turn up in character if we are to win the final”.
Last weekend’s fixture started with the Bish racing into a nine-point lead with some superb set-up play and assists from their international point guard Mark Rohan who controlled the pace of the game.
Ben Ntumba and Sean Candon were the main scorers, while Peter Cooke put in some big rebounds in the absence of Padraig Doran through injury. Ciaran Conlon, when introduced, controlled the boards and neutralised the big scoring threat of Eoin White and Robert Tornsey.
Although the Bish lost their half-time lead of nine points shortly into the third quarter through good shooting from Eoin White, the introduction of Liam Egan and his immediate contribution of two three-pointers forced the Colaiste Eanna defence to move outfield. That gave the Bish post players enough room inside to get some easy scores on the board and, when Peter O Connor converted two fast breaks the final was in sight. The All Ireland champions went into overdrive and, with Demu Matabisc fouling out, it effectively ended the hopes of a comeback by Colaiste Eanna.
