One down, one to go for Mayo Meteors
Mayo Meteors ended a five-game losing streak against Ballina Braves when they clashed in the LLR Top 4 Senior Men's Cup final at Mohill on Sunday evening, where it finished 81-64, writes John Melvin.
Both sides came into the final on the back of impressive semi-final wins, Ballina very comfortable winners over Sligo All Stars (90-71) on Friday night, while Meteors put in a huge performance to best Donegal (82-61) in their last four encounter on Saturday.
Only two weeks ago Ballina Braves had produced a compelling display to claim the LLR League title, with Ronan McGarrity scoring 39 points as they outscored Meteors 99-70.
Meteors had prepared well defensively for this final, with McGarrity held to 12 points, Terry Kennedy’s team taking control of the game by winning the first quarter 31-15, and they were never trouble in after that as they maintained that 16-point stronghold on the game until the final buzzer.
Herman Heyl, who had been injured early in the second quarter of the game two weeks ago, which was played at the De La Salle Hall in Castlebar, was back to his very best and his defensive display on McGarity earned the Castlebar man the MVP award, but as coach Kennedy pointed out, this was a team effort.
Kennedy, who is taking a break from his coaching role with Meteors after the BIDL Plate final on Friday night (April 12), said it was one of his team’s best performance all season.
“We were up for it for sure,” he commented. “We knew after beating Donegal that we could take the Top 4 title as we didn’t perform to the level we knew we are capable of when we last met them (Braves) in the league final.”
He added: “Full credit to the team, who played some great basketball. We did a massive defensive job because we knew the threat Ballina posed and that first quarter, when we hit 31 points, set us up nicely.”
Not alone had Meteors worked on their defence, but their shooting, which had let them down on more than one occasion this season, was clinical. A total of nine three-pointers were scored, six of those alone coming in the opening quarter as Alex Evans popped three, Daniel Niland hit two, and Herman Heyl also nailed a big one from outside the arc as Meteors shot the lights out.
Ronan McGarrity and Ronan O’Malley both nailed a three-pointer each in that opening quarter, but Meteors were running the floor and controlling the boards, the 31-point run putting them in charge.
The second quarter was shared 21 apiece, also the third 13 each, while the fourth was also close, Meteors edging it 16-15.
The damage had been done in the opening quarter, however, and there was no turning back.
It was redemption for Kennedy’s side, who had been beaten a few too many times this season.
Now their thoughts turn to the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght this Friday night when they play Dublin Raiders in the Plate final of the Basketball Ireland Development League (BIDL). If they can reproduce this form, another title could be on the way to Mayo.
Mayo Meteors: A. Evans (25), D. Niland (15), P. Freeman (14), J. McManamon (12), H. Heyl (10), S. Crowley (4).
Ballina Braves: M. Cunningham (17), R. McGarrity (12), C. Burke (9), R. O’Malley (7), B. O’Donoghue (7), R. Upton (6), D. Marrey (3).