Portlaoise Panthers reach Men’s Division One semi-finals for the very first time

ND AUDIT PORTLAOISE PANTHERS 82 

MAIGH CUILINN 73 

FOR ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers head coach, Jack Scully it was all about the result, and that’s exactly what his side served up against Maigh Cuilinn in St. Mary’s Hall on Saturday night, securing a victory that propelled them through to the Domino’s Men’s Division One playoff semi-finals for the first time in the club’s history.

Their Galway rivals certainly served up a more severe test that one they offered two weeks before when Panthers beat them by 22 points on the homestretch to the regular season.

Indeed, while Portlaoise did open up a 20-point advantage in the third quarter on Saturday, Maigh Cuilinn battled back to ensure the North Conference winners were kept on their toes right to the end.

Eric Anderson, James Phelan and Davin McEvoy provided the bulk of the scoring for Panthers, the trio combining for 62 points that went a long way to undoing their opponents who, themselves, had four players in double digits, including Grant Olsson on 20.

Delighted at seeing his side make it over this latest hurdle and record some more club history in the process, Scully told the ****Laois Nationalist**** “Maigh Cuilinn never left us alone. They kept fighting and they fought to the very end.

“As I predicted, it was a much tougher test than the game we had two weeks ago and I'm just delighted that we got over the line.

“At this stage of the season, it's just about winning basketball games. And, while there’s parts of the performance I wouldn't be happy with, we're delighted to reach the playoff semi-finals for the first time in the club's history. It's another little step in the right direction for us” he beamed.

While an Aitor Munoz three-pointer helped Maigh Cuilinn remain neck-and-neck with their hosts over the opening two minutes, Portlaoise strung together an 11-point run over the next five minutes, Anderson and McEvoy both delivering inside, while Xabi Arriaga drained a big effort from downtown.

That surge went a long way to seeing Panthers open up a 22-11 lead by the close of the first quarter, but Maigh Cuilinn accounted for the opening nine points of second to reduce their arrears to solitary bucket, Olsson and Munoz getting in for scores after Liam Moloney had sparked that surge with a timely three.

But just as Panthers looked set to be run down, they kicked back into gear with eight unanswered points, Liam Kinsella playing his part in that run.

The hosts managed to remain out in front, but their Galway rivals were always lurking, and James Loughnane’s effort from beyond the arc with just nine seconds remaining in the half left eight between the sides (40-32) at the break.

Portlaoise did continue to edge further ahead after the interval, Anderson getting in for a deuce before pocketing the same amount from the free-throw line.

McEvoy followed up that early third-quarter contribution with a nice bucket off the three-point line as Panthers eventually opened up a 20-point cushion with just under four minutes remaining in the third.

But Maigh Cuilinn were not about to throw in the towel and cut the gap to 12 (65-53) by the end of that penultimate period, Loughnane again executing from distance late on to help keep them in with a chance.

And a late comeback appeared a very real prospect for the visitors as they again hauled themselves back to within two points of their hosts with just over three minutes gone in the fourth, Munoz and Loughnane both landing three-point attempts either side of deuce for Olsson.

Six unanswered points, including a three-point bucket from Anderson, could not have come at a better time for Portlaoise, who remained looking over their shoulder until the closing couple of minutes when Arriaga drained three free throws to ensure they would make it over the line.

The victory sets Portlaoise up for a clash with Moy Tolka Rovers in the semi-final next Saturday night back in St. Mary’s Hall, and team boss, Scully is anticipating another huge test especially given the Dublin side’s experience at this stage of the competition.

“Tolka are a proven playoff team” stressed Scully. “Last year they came fourth in the conference and got to the final, so they've been there and done that.

“We'll get back to the drawing board on Tuesday and we'll put in a really good week's work. I can't wait to get back to St. Mary’s Hall next Saturday night” he said.

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

Top Scorers: Eric Anderson (23), James Phelan (20), Davin McEvoy (19), Xabi Arriaga (11) MAIGH CUILINN: James Loughnane, Antonio Calvente, Grant Olsson, Cian Walsh, Aitor Munoz, Rory O’Sullivan, Donagh McDonagh, Liam Moloney, John Hynes, Dylan Cunningham, Eoin Cleary, Rhys Plower.

Top Scorers: Grant Olsson (20), James Loughnane (15), Cian Walsh (13), Aitor Munoz (10).