Galway’s Matt O’Flaherty Chemists Titans will contest the National League division one men’s final for a fourth year in succession.
The Galway outfit will face Ballon in the decider at the National Basketball Arena on Saturday at 4pm after a hard-fought 77 - 72 win over reigning champions St Marys, Castleisland at the weekend.
Titans will be keen to win this title after missing out for the last three years, but they head to Dublin with confidence to face Ballon, who overcame Maree by 75 - 51.
Titans have been the only side to beat Ballon this year and Saturday’s encounter will see two skilled and determined sides look to lift the National League Trophy for 2012.
Titans, led by Conall MacMichael, will need to be at their best to counter the attacking threats from beyond the arc and inside of Ballon.
Last weekend Titans trailed 13-0 after 2 minutes, but they fought back to narrow the deficit to four at the quarter’s end. USNI Victory Scholars Tim Coyne and Will Archambault led the fight back with Coyne containing multiple MVP Declan Wall and Archambault combining well with Paul Freeman to open up the St Mary’s defence in the second quarter and take a 30-37 lead.
This lead was never relinquished. Although St Mary’s threw everything at Titans, the Galway outfit held their nerve at the free throw line to maintain the lead.
St Mary’s did get within three with a minute to go, but Titans closed out the match to record a meritorious victory on the road.
