DART KILLESTER CROWNED

CHAMPIONS IN NBA

Cup Final Photo's

The National Basketball Arena has probably nevere seen or heard anything like the colour and noise levels that we witnessed yesterday as DART Killester won the men’s Superleague Cup beating Abrakebabra Tigers 82-76 and Hotel Montenotte Glanmire rescued the ladies equivalent in an overtime classic against Bausch and Lomb Wildcats.

The men’s final produced one of the best games since the venue was opened and the fans from Dublin and Kerry helped to make it an occasion to behold.

DART Killester with Michael Bonaparte really on song got off to the best possible start and led 26-14 at the end of the first quarter.

Abrakebabra Tigers Tralee came more into things in the second quarter with CJ Hadley and Micheal Quirke finding their range but the Dubliners were still ahead 34-31 at the interval despite a late Paris Katsimpas three pointer.

All the while MVP Paddy Kelly was doing a superb defensive job on Chris Jordan while he was scoring at will.

Tigers drew level for the first time in the game when Kerry footballer Micheal Quirke stepped up and hit a three with 2-49 to go in the third quarter.

Had the DART Bubble burst we asked as Kieran Donaghy hit two free throws following a Jordan three to put the Kerry side ahead by five but our question was answered with baskets in succession from Michael Goj, Kelly and Goj again and the winners were one up again with just over 5 minutes to go in the game.

Arnaud Dahi hit the second of three three pointers immediately afterwards and DART never looked back as Tigers began to mount up the fouls. In the last few minutes Qurrke, Donaghy and Hadley were fouled out and there was no way back for the gallant Tigers who must now concentrate on the league if they are to get some silverware this year.

DART Boss Mark Keenan made the most of his bench strength and his team ran out deserving winners to take the cup back to Killester for the first time since 2001.

Keenan was relieved after the game. “I am really happy for the lads and relieved myself. All along I believed that we had the team to win the cup but when they came back and went into a five point lead the doubts came but I thought the lads reacted brilliantly and I was so proud of them”

“We will celebrate for a few days but its back to the grind on Wednesday and then we go to Limerick on Sunday in the NIVEA FOR MEN Superleague. We have got to be in the right frame of mind for that one so that we don’t slip up”

Paddy Kelly who has been at Killester since he was a ten year old was a popular winner of the MVP award and scored 19 points.

“This is not about me this is about the team and how well we did. Mark and Ed have done a super job and to win the cup after the league last year is special. Hopefully we can go on and win the double as we did in 2001” said Kelly.