Killester suffer double Championship heartbreak Dublin side Killester came up short in not one, but two ESB National Championship Finals in Cork, suffering defeat in both the Men's and Women's title games.
Their men entered their showdown with city rivals Marathon St. Vincent's as marginal favourites, but came up short by 86-78 at Neptune Stadium. But Vincent's attained the win the hard way, controversially losing coach Joey Boylan to a double technical mid-way through the third quarter before progressing to the title.
Eventually, the match came down to a personal battle between Vincent's American Andy Meyers and his countryman Damon Shoultz of Killester. Meyers pulled down an impressive 31 points and 17 rebounds, his tally more valuable eventually than Shoultz's excellent 39 point display.
Both players were active early, Shoultz hitting two three pointers in the first quarter and three in the second as his team jumped into a 41-36 half time lead.
A 6-0 Vincent's run helped them to tie the match at 43-43 soon after the re-start but a trio of consecutive treys from Shoultz secured his team into a nine point cushion.
Soon after Boylan was on his way out of the arena, but he found himself soon followed by Killester's rebounding king Mike Trimmer, his own technical infringement given for protesting his fourth foul forcing his premature ejection. Without Trimmer's inside strength, Pete Ferrari's side lost their shape, Dave Donnelly marking Shoultz out of the game.
A 8-2 Vincent's run to close the third period made it a three point ball game entering the ultimate period and a further 10-4 spurt took Boylan's men into a 75-66 lead. Killester's Mick McMahon and Paddy Kelly also found themselves red carded and with them went Killester's chances.
In the end, Meyers took the MVP award and his team their fifth Championship crown, the first wince 1995. Karl Donnelly added 23, while Chris Doyal had 18. Trimmer and Queenan had 12 apiece for Killester.
Wildcats overcome spirited Killester to take success
More predictable was the Women's finale result, Snowcream Wildcats returning the title to Waterford once again thanks to a 68-61 over Killester. Wildcats were coached once again by Gerry Fitzpatrick and add the Championship to the SuperLeague title they secured last month.It was no easy win for Wildcats, who trailed 36-35 at half time, thanks to the accuracy for Killester's early free throw shooting.
The Dubliners lost both Sinead McCann and June Blount to injury in a scrappy third quarter but closed the period with six straight points. However, they found themselves short of firepower and Wildcats pulled clear for a 64-56 lead with four minutes left. Killester rallied a little but could not do enough damage to put the result in doubt.
Wildcats' Michelle Maguire led all scorers on 20, her club mate Jillian hayes on 19. MVP of the match was however Killester's Denise Walsh whose 15 point showing did not do her overall performance justice.
Full Statistics from Cork in Tuesday's edition
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