Portlaoise Panthers denied again by Limerick in pulsating Division One final

LIMERICK CELTICS 81 

ND AUDIT PORTLAOISE PANTHERS 70 

NOT for the first time this season, Limerick Celtics broke the hearts of Portlaoise Panthers as they pulled clear in the closing minutes of their Dominio’s Men’s Division One final to land the title and, with it, promotion to the Super League.

Jack Scully’s side had been outpaced on the homestretch by Limerick when they faced off in the President’s National Cup decider back in January, and it was a similar scenario when they locked horns again in the National Basketball Arena on Saturday night, Celtics outscoring their opponents by eight in the fourth quarter to secure the win.

Portlaoise appeared to have figured out a way to contain Limerick’s talisman, AJ Williams, restricting him to eight points in the opening half, but the American lit up in the second to finish on a game-high 30.

Panthers, themselves, had four players in double digits by the close of proceedings, including Kevin Donohoe and James Phelan on a combined 35, but they still came up just short in the end.

The Laois side certainly started this title game on the front foot, scores from the free-throw line and floor by Donohoe either side of a Davin McEvoy deuce propelling them 6-0 up.

A put-back and triple from Finn Hughes did help narrow the gap to four, but Xabi Arriaga picked the perfect moment to land Portlaoise’s first three, putting the ball through the string right on the buzzer to see his side lead 22-15 at the end of the first quarter.

Limerick did, however, account for the opening seven points when the teams return to the court, levelling the game up at 22 apiece, after which Williams struck from both sides of the arc to help Celtics move eight points clear.

Portlaoise fought back through scores from Eric Anderson, Donohoe and Phelan before Hughes responded down the other end to see Limerick take a narrow 37-35 lead into the half-time break.

The third quarter proved a real arm wrestle as the two sides found themselves deadlocked on no less than five occasions throughout that period, but Williams again executed from either side of the D to leave his side 58-55 in front heading into the fourth.

It was imperative that Portlaoise remain on the heels of Limerick in order to turn the heat up down the stretch, but the South Conference winners took the opening five points of the final quarter before, later, producing an eight-point run to take and hold the inside track to the prize.

“The better team won on the night,” admitted Portlaoise Panthers head coach, Jack Scully when speaking to the *****Laois Nationalist*****.

“We came out with a plan and it worked for long periods, but Williams just destroyed us. He ended up with 30 points. We just couldn’t get a handle on him.

“Every time we made a mistake they punished us, but I couldn’t be happier with my lads. Our home-grown lads have really stepped up. Davin McEvoy has been phenomenal all year, James Phelan too. It’s been a great season. This’ll hurt, but I’m just proud of them,” he said.

LIMERICK CELTICS: Eoghan Donaghy, AJ Williams, Martin Frawley, Finn Hughes, Chima Obikwelu, Abdul Wurie, Philip Kearney, Sean Ryan.

Top Scorers: AJ Williams (30), Abdul Wurie (17), China Obikwelu (10).

ND AUDIT PORTLAOISE PANTHERS: Cillian O’Connell, James Phelan, Eric Anderson, Davin McEvoy, Kevin Donohoe, Xabi Arriaga, Aleksandar Kovacevic, Liam Kinsella.

Top Scorers: Kevin Donohoe (18), James Phelan (17), Eric Anderson (14), Davin McEvoy (10).