Portlaoise Panthers 60 Limerick Celtics 72
President’s National Cup Final
Portlaoise Panthers have been beaten in the National Cup final by 12 points by Limerick Celtics.
Jack Scully’s charges were far more competitive than the scoreline suggests.
Ultimately though, a slow start and finish to the game cost them a chance of clinching glory in what was a first ever appearance in this final.
Eric Anderson was their best player on the day but Limerick Celtics’ AJ Williams finished as MVP.
He scored 23 points and showed flashes of pure brilliance to lead the Munster men to glory.
As stated above, Limerick Celtics started like a train with Finn Hughes playing a big role as they led 15-6 early on.
The Panthers eventually got going and finished the quarter well as Eric Anderson, Davin McEvoy, Gary Morrissey, Xabi Arriaga and James Phelan all found their range.
A late AJ Williams basket gave Limerick a 17-15 lead at the end of the first quarter but the momentum was certainly with the Panthers.
Liam Kinsella and Eric Anderson scored when play resumed as Panthers took the lead for the first time.
But Limerick regained their composure and regained the lead to make it 36-31 at half time.
The third quarter saw both teams trade blows and although Portlaoise got the deficit back to two on a few occasions, they could never get level.
Instead, Titans made it 49-44 as we entered the final quarter of the game.
James Phelan briefly made it a three point game but after that it was all Titans who went on to win well.
SCORERS – Portlaoise Panthers: Eric Anderson (25), Xabi Arriaga (10), James Phelan (6), Liam Kinsella (6), Kevin Donohoe (6), Gary Morrissey (5), Davin McEvoy (2)
PORTLAOISE PANTHERS: Cillian O’Connell, Dylan Dunne, James Phelan, Eric Anderson, Davin McEvoy, Kevin Donohoe, Gary Morrissey, Xabier Arriaga, Kyle Burke, Cormac Howson, Aleksandar Kovacevic, Liam Kinsella.
LIMERICK TITANS: Eoghan Donaghy, Ariyon Jamal Williams, Martin Frawley, Cian Gleeson, Conor Donaghy, Dennis Matthews, Finn Hughes, Matthew Barry, Chima Obikwelu, Abdul Wurie, Philip Kearney, Sean Ryan, Vadjikiba Dosso, Jordan Hehir
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