11890 Killester 58 Team left Bank Kilkenny 59
The agony and the ecstacy perhaps best describes last nights Men’s Basketball Ireland Senior Cup first round at an almost packed IWA.
The game was won and lost in the first half as Killester never settled and the visitors ran into a 36-21 lead thanks in the main to the experienced Dean Kavanagh, the big man James Butler and a purple patch from the diminutive Tommy O’Mahony.
But little were we to realise what would happen in the second half as Jermaine Turners side threw away their inhibitions and clawed back the lead in what turned out to be a thriller.
St Fintan’s youngster Ciaran Roe who was playing along side his school coach Jerome Westbrooks took over and began to shoot the lights out as the home side took control and the crowd suddenly came to life.
Jason Berry and Colin Berry also chipped in with 10 and 11 points respectively but it was Roe with 25 who really made the difference. The visitors led by four going into the final minute when Roe was fouled on a three point shot. He stepped up and hit all three. Kilkenny tried to play down the clock but lost possession and Roe was fouled again with seconds to go and was back at the free throw line.
As he settled Dean Kavanagh walked over to have a chat with the youngster but it didnt matter and as cool as a cucumber he hit both to give Killester a 58-57 lead with the last possesion and just 8 seconds on the clock going to Kilkenny.
The ball eventually got into the Killester key and bounced all around before Butler got a hand to it and bounced the ball on the ground, it shot up in the air and hit the back board and to the dismay of the home side and the fans the ball dropped into the basket and Kilkenny were through to round two of the cup.
After the game the likeable Dean Kavanagh told us what he said to young Ciaran Roe before the free throws.
“Either hit both or miss both, I haven’t got the legs for overtime” He hit both but then tragedy struck.
Top Scorers
Killester Ciaran Roe 25, Colin Bernard 11, Jason Berry 10
Kilkenny James Butler 16, Julian O’Keefe 12, Dean Kavanagh 11.
An added attraction for the near capacity crowd was a demonstration by the clubs thriving DEVELOPMENT SQUAD under the watchful eyes of Leesa Grennell, Nicola Sheridan, Colm Kelly, Ciaran Roe,Dave Kenny, Paddy Sullivan, Cian Lynch, Sarah Cassidy and Rachel Jameson.
There is no doubt that these boys and girls are the future of Killester Basketball Club.
Basketball Ireland Men’s Senior National Cup
It’s the turn of the Killester D1 team to take centre court this Saturday night in the IWA at 8pm.
The Dublin League and Cup champions are hosting Team left Bank Kilkenny in the first round of the Senior men’s National Cup.
On their team will be former Superleague players Jonny Grennell, Jerome Westbrooks , Colin Bernard underage coach to many Killester teams and Conor Air Gordon who started out the season with the Superleague team who will be hoping to use his new found fitness to shoot the lights out this week.
We are calling on all members and supporters to turn up and give some vocal support to the team. The D1 are unbeaten so far this season and are hoping to retain their Dublin league and Cup crowns. It would be nice to add a senior national title sometime soon to the trophy cabinet.
As a curtain raiser we will have the Development players showboating their newly acquired skills and club gear, so let’s all get behind the lads and lend them our support
Killester D1 Men off to winning start.
Killester’s men’s Division One team got off to a winning start with a comfortable 51-22 victory against last years D2 Champions Lucan.
Our new Spanish signing Jaoquin Andres debuted with an impressive 24 points while the legendary Jerome Westbrooks and Malisso Liboni who played in the French Pro B before coming to live in Ireland were impressive. Malisso also played in the NCAA D1 for four years.
Following th move of Tom Doherty to assistant coach of the Nivea For Men Superleague, Jermaine Turner and Jonny Grennell have taken over the coaching duties.
Next up for the men in ORANGE is a home clash against arch rivals St Vincent’s in Sutton on Wednesday.
Killester play their first game in the National Cup on November 11th in St Fintans against the highly talented Kilkenny who boast the acquisition of former Waterford star Dean Kavanagh.
