MATCH REPORT

 

Fri 18th November
NEPTUNE STADIUM CORK @7.00pm

SuperLeague South Conference

  Neptune

 (FT)85

 

(FT)91

Abrakebabra Tigers

 

(HT)29

 

(HT)52

 

 

 

 

26

Dave Fanning

 

 

 

20

James Mooney

 

 

 

18

Wilder August

18th Nov 2006

TIGERS WIN PUTTING THEM TOP OF THE LEAGUE

 

In a hard fought battle Tigers went to Cork and took home the points putting them top of the Southern Conference with a game in hand and now a 5 game unbeaten streak.

Match Report By Padraig Falvey

1st quarter

Tigers start strong gaining possession from the tip off giving Wilder a 2pt basket and Mooney hits a 3. A foul on Wilder gives tigers another point putting the score 2-8 with 8:32 on the clock. Good baskets from Quirke and Mooney and a Dunk by Wilder increase the lead to 8-16 with the only score for Neptune coming from their 6’6” American Baker. With 3:31 on the clock Fanning gets a superb steal in his own half and scores a layup and draws the foul giving him an extra point with the free throw. Good defensive play by both sides kept the scoring low at the end stages of the quarter with a hard defensive tackle on Kieran Donaghy. 35 seconds on the clock with a scoreline of 16-23 James Mooney steps up and hits a 2 pointer at the buzzer to make the score 16-25 at the end of the first.

2nd quarter

The quarter starts spectacularly with a super lay up by Mooney giving Wilder a dunk making the scoreline 16-27 with 10:35 on the clock and Neptune called a time out to try and slow things down. Some hard tackles on Mooney give Tigers the foul by they fail to capitalise on it and give away possession. Tigers however regain momentum with some Mooney 3 pointers and  2’s by Fanning and Tehan and some tight defensive play with outstanding defensive rebounds by Auguste extend their lead to 16-34. More 3’s by Mooney puts the score to 18-37. Tigers then receive a technical foul giving Neptune 2 shots and possession and a chance to get back into the game, which they capitalise on led by Baker. Tigers and Neptune go basket for basket with 4 minutes on the clock putting the scoreline 21-39. Baskets by Fanning and Auguste push Tigers on putting the score to 21-43 however Neptune launch some what of a comeback led by Baker and Joyce but Tigers finish strong at half time with a scoreline of 29-52.

3rd quarter

The second half sees a strong Tigers start with a Mooney 3 pointer however that was short lived as they would not score for another 3 minutes as Neptune went basket for basket with some excellent rebounding by Baker and some super 3 pointers by Kieran O’Brien right in the face of the Tigers defence, making the score 43-55. Finally with 7:30 on the clock Michael Quirke gets a basket just after Fanning scored one of two free throws putting the score to 43-58. Neptune then stepped up their game (led on by their screaming coach on the sideline) with some strong defence and offence culminating in a couple of 3 point shots getting them back to 51-58 with 5:20 on the clock. Tigers then launch a comeback with a Fanning 3 pointer and a basket by Quirke putting the score 53-63 with 3:43 on the clock. Neptune reply with a basket from Baker and a 3 from Muzik cuts the deficit to 55-65. The quarter ends with 2 free throws from Quirke and a basket from Auguste and responses from Baker and Joyce leaving the score at 58-69 going into the final quarter.

4h quarter

The quarter starts with both teams going basket for basket and with 6 minutes on the clock the score was 68-82 however some fantastic play between Baker and O’Brien with 5 baskets in a row cut the deficit to 78-84 and then a three by O’Brien puts it down to the wire with 2 minutes on the clock and a scoreline of 81-86. Misses by Mooney and Fanning give Neptune the opener they need however they fail to capitalise and with 30 seconds on the clock and a scoreline of 82-86 Kieran Donaghy lives up to his nickname of ‘Star’ and has a magnificent check as Baker pulled the trigger giving Tigers possession of the ball. Fouls on both Mooney and then on Fanning puts Neptune into foul trouble giving Tigers 2 free shots which Mooney sinks putting it 82-88 with 20 seconds left. O’Brien then steps up and sinks a 3 but fouls on Donaghy and Mooney give Tigers 3 back leaving the score at the buzzer 85-91 giving Tigers the points they need to go top of the Southern Conference with a game in hand.

Post game comments

David Falvey: We started superb in the first half gaining a comfortable lead with some great 3’s by Mooney. However just like last week we sat back and took the foot off the pedal letting Neptune back into the game. But we held on with some great play by our Irish and American players giving us the win. I’m delighted with the win and the fact that we are now 5 games in a row unbeaten and are now top of our conference with a game in hand. We have a tough game at home next week against Killester which if we win will put us in a very comfortable position so we need a huge turnout next weekend in the Sports Complex from the fans to give us that extra boost that only the Tralee fans can give. Keep those drums beating and let us hear the roar.