Emphatic third quarter seals national crown for Mayo basketball side
An emphatic third quarter by Merry Monk Ballina helped them secure a 81-68 win over Cavan Eagles to lift the BIDL Men’s Plate at the National Basketball Arena.
Trailing 45-41 at half-time, a pair of Theo Daly threes either side of Brian Donoghue’s basket kick-started a 10-point run for the Mayo side at the beginning of the third quarter.
Daly was the driving force in the third, landing four threes as he picked up a 14-point haul. He would finish the game with 20 points and six rebounds, enough to see him awarded the MVP.
Cavan had the better of the opening half and led by 12 at one stage, 40-28, following Alex Kelly Flynn’s basket with three and a half minutes to go in the second quarter.
But Merry Monk Ballina got themselves back into contention with three three-pointers in the closing stages from Mark Cunningham, Ronan O’Malley and Ronan McGarrity, while Sean Brady notched one for Cavan Eagles as they held a four-point lead at the break.
But once Merry Monk Ballina hit the front at the start of the third quarter, it was a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, outscoring their opponents 29-8 in the quarter to lead 70-53 going into the fourth.
Ronan O’Malley, who posted a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds, got the opening score in the fourth quarter as Merry Monk Ballina rattled off another six points to start and extended their advantage to 76-53.
Cavan Eagles did reduce the deficit, Sean O’Donoghue’s three with a minute and a half to go making it 81-68, but they couldn’t close in further and the BIDL Plate was headed to Connacht.
Quarter scores: Q1: 21-25, Q2: 20-20, Q3: 29-8, Q4: 11-15
Game scores: Q1: 21-25, Q2: 41-45, Q3: 70-53, Q4: 81-68
Merry Monk Ballina: Conor Burke (0), Theo Daly (20), Reuben Daly (0), Peter Papik (2), Jamie Forde (2), Paddy Walsh (0), Ronan O’Malley (22), Mark Cunningham (6), Ronan McGarrity (22), David Marrey (3), Eoin Noonan (0), Brian Donoghue (4).
Cavan Eagles: Jason Eronmhonse (DNP), Sean Brady (9), Ben Kelly-Flynn (18), Sean O’Donoghue (12), Glenn Ryan McCann (3), Ivors Zubrickas (10), Jack Tobin (0), Dominikas Kersys (4), Dan Debosz (2), Petras Jankauskas (0), Alex Kelly-Flynn (10).
- Report: Basketball Ireland