MATCH REPORT
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Sat 9th December
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NATIONAL
CUP
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Ballina
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68
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81
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 Abrakebabra
Tigers
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39(HT)
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33(HT)
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Smyth
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24
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29
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Wilder August
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Taylor
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17
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19
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Dave Fanning
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Mc Garrity
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17
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10
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James Mooney
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8
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John Teahan
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TIGERS RESSURECT IN THE
FOURTH QUARTER TO DEFEAT MERY MONK AND ASSCEND TO THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE CUP
By Padraig Falvey
Tigers found themselves in a world of trouble facing the fourth quarter
with a ten point deficit and the daunting prospect of failing to reach the
semi-finals of the National cup and TV coverage. However Dave Falvey heroically
rallied his troops and sent them out with a new battle plan and pulled off one
of the most unexpected comebacks I have personally ever witnessed. Tigers left
Ballina victorious through the inspirational leadership of John Teahan and some
superb shooting and driving to the board by Dave Fanning and Wilder Auguste and
now prepare them selves for the Semi-finals and RTE television.
Match Report
1st Quarter
The game started strong from Ballina with a basket from Freeman followed
by a missed three point attempt from Marriot. Then Star linked up under the
board with Quirke giving Tigers their first points of the game. At the 9 minute
mark both Marriot and Mooney missed 3 point attempts. This was followed by 2
points from Quirke under the board and then a huge 3 from Fanning putting the
score to 2-7 at 8.12. Taylor
then missed a 3 point attempt and hen fouled Fanning intentionally showing a
building frustration leading to Ballina calling for a time out the score: 2-7
time 7.50. After the time out Wilder missed a dunk giving Taylor
a 2 point lay-up on the fast break. Tigers then struggled to break down a tough
Ballina defence leading to Wilder being fouled with 1 second on the shot clock
giving him 2 free throws which he stuck both. Quirke showed some big defence
stopping Smith and giving Mooney the ball and an excellent 3 pointer. Taylor
then missed another 3 point attempt but Smith was fouled on the rebound by
Fanning giving him 2 free shots, the first was a miss and the 2nd good.
Putting the score at 5-12 with 6.19 on the clock. Ballina scored another 2 then
Wilder had a big checked Taylor but
missed a shot of his own. Smith missed a 2 point attempt leading to Star
driving to the board and dramatically tipping in his own rebound jumping higher
than any of the Americans in typical Donnaghy style putting the score 7-14. Taylor
then missed another shot and Mc Garrity fouling on the rebound giving Tigers
possession. 4.46 Teahan comes in for Mooney. Star then had a great steal and 2
points. Freeman hit a 2 followed by a 3 from Taylor and a 2 from Smith bringing
Ballina back into the game 14-16 and a time out for Tigers with 3.01 on the
clock. Wilder was then fouled and hit his 2 free shots. Marsh then missed
giving Quirke the rebound who threw a quick pass to Fanning who missed a lay-up
but Wilder caught the rebound and stuck a 2 under the board putting the score
to 14-20. Another 2 for Taylor on
the 2 minute mark saw Mooney come back in replacing Donnaghy. Smith checked
Mooney and hit a 2 pointer. Wilder then missed a 3 pointer but rand back to
stop the fast break checking Smith. The quarter ended with Fanning hitting 2
out of 4 free shots to finish up at 18-22 to Tigers.
2nd Quarter
The quarter started with Mooney fouling Taylor
giving him 2 points from the free throw line. Wilder then traveled giving
Ballina possession and then rebounded a shot from Smith leading to Wilder
hitting a big 3 pointer putting the score to 20-25. Wilder then checked Smith
giving the ball to Mooney who then linked up with Tehan giving tigers another 2
points. 20-27 with 9.13 on the clock. Mc Garrity hit 2 points followed by 2
from Wilder which then led to Mc Garrity hitting a 3 pointer putting the score
to 25-29. Misses by Smith and an air ball by Patterson were followed by Quirke
loosing possession and Patterson Fouling Taylor giving him 2 shots and hit both
leading to Dave Falvey calling a time out with 6.17 on the clock. A miss by
Fanning gave Quirke the rebound but he then missed himself but Patterson made
good on a rebound of his own. A botched 3 point attempt by Fanning gave Monks
another 2 points due to basket interference by Auguste. Mooney followed this
with 2 of his own and was answered by a Mc Garrity 2 putting the score to 31-33
at 4.31. Patterson, Taylor and Mooney all had 3 point attempts missed Mc
Garrity then scored a 2 and Patterson the missed under the board. Tigers then
called for a 3rd time out which was allowed due to a table error. Mc
Garrity then missed and Donnaghy answered with a basket on the fast break.
Misses from Wilder and Mc Garrity was followed by a check from Donnaghy giving
Auguste the score. 33-37. Mooney was then fouled with 46 secs on the clock
giving tigers the possession. Wilder the got fouled as he stuck a huge dunk but
missed the free throw. Smith then Missed giving Quirke the rebound with 11
seconds on the clock he passed to Mooney who put up a 3 point attempt which
just missed right on the buzzer leaving the half time score at 33-39.
3rd Quarter
Monks ball and Smith was denied by
Quirke but Donnaghy missed a three point attempt. Freeman then stuck a 2
putting the score to 35-39 with 10.02 on the clock. Taylor
then missed a 3 point attempt as did Mooney which was followed by 2 from Smith
cutting the gap to 2 points. Wilder was then fouled by Smith and hit both free
throws. This was followed by 2 from Freeman. A miss by Quirke, a turnover by
Mooney and offensive foul by Donnaghy all led to Tigers woes. Kinevane then hit
a 3 pointer giving Ballina the lead at 42-41 to thunderous applause of the home
crowd. A miss by Fanning led to Quirke getting the rebound who was then fouled
by Freeman and stuck 1 of his 2 free throws and tying the game. Smith then hit
a 3 pointer which led to Falvey calling his first time out of the second half.
This seamed to be affective as Wilder then hit 2 in a row putting Tigers back
in the lead 45-46. However this wasn’t going to last very long as Ballina answered through a 2 pointer from
Freeman and misses from Wilder and a miss and a foul by Teahan gave Ballina
another basket and a free throw point putting the score at 50-46. More misses
by Mooney and another foul by Fanning gave Ballina another point. Smith then
got another 4 points and suddenly both teams found themselves in foul
trouble. The next 7 points came from
free throws with Ballina getting 4 points and tigers getting 3. This finished
the 3rd quarter at 59-49 and Tigers looked in trouble.
4th Quarter
Tigers opened strong with Wilder scoring 2points and Fanning
scoring 3 points 1 from the free throw line put the score to 50-54. Smith then
scored a 2 pointer. Tigers failed to answer with the only highlight coming from
Quirke stepping up with some impressive defensive work to win Tigers
possession. However Wilder lost the ball and Taylor
fluffed his 3 point attempt. Mooney then got a basket and a bonus free throw
putting the score to 61-57 with 7.45 on the clock. Fanning then stole
possession and set Wilder up for a big dunk and suddenly the crowed were quiet
sensing the impending doom. 61-59. Wilder then won possession and Ballina
looked burned out as Fanning hit a 2 pointer followed by another Wilder dunk.
Ballina then called a time out on the 6.15 mark with the score being 61-63 to
Tigers. Both teams went to the free throw line with Marsh missing both and
Quirke scoring 1 out of 2. Tigers then stepped it up a gear through some great
defensive team work leading to a monster check by Auguste giving Fanning 2
points 61-70. Tehan, who had come in for Donnaghy, then fouled Mc Garrity
giving him 2 points from the line and a score of 63-70. Fanning was then fouled
and got his team another point. Misses by Wilder and Marriot then followed and
Fanning went to the line twice more scoring 3 out of 4. 63-74. Marriot then
failed in a 3 point attempt leading to Tehan hitting a 3 pointer as he was
fouled and made good from the line increasing the score to 63-77 and Tigers
looked on fire. Smith hit a 2 pointer and Teahan answered with 2 of his own
putting the score to 65-79 with 46 seconds left in the game. Wilder then got 2
points from the free throw line and Kevin O’ Donnaghue entered the game. Smith
then stuck a belated 3 pointer but it was not enough. With just 3 seconds on
the clock Kevin O’Donnaghue attempted a 3 pointer which hit nearly every side
of the ring before agonizingly rolled out at the buzzer giving Tigers the win
with a score line of 68-81
POST MATCH COMMENTS
DAVE FALVEY
I’m absolutely delighted for the team they worked hard and stuck
at it even when we looked in trouble. They gave a tremendous effort it paid
off. Ballina were a tough opponent tonight and we knew it wouldn’t be and easy
game. I'd like to personally thank Kieran Donnaghy for being here tonight and
all the fans who took the long trip with us on Saturday. We must now return to
concentrating on the league and continuing to top the Southern conference.
Ballina Team List