DBS Eanna 69

UG Maree 74

By Keith Kelly in Tallaght

THE Fields of Athenry rang loud around the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght last Saturday night as University of Galway Maree became the first Galway side to capture top-flight silverware when claiming the Pat Duffy Cup in a thrilling end-to-end contest.

Written off and under-estimated – and at times, just simply insulted as well – Charlie Crowley’s side put in a display for the ages to claim a thoroughly deserved win on what was a stunning week for Galway basketball, with UG Mystics capturing the women’s U-20 National Cup, Colaiste Mhuire Mathair claiming the U-16 B Boys Schools’ Cup, and Calasanctius College capturing the U-16 A Girls’ Schools Cup.

Somewhat off the boil in the first half, New York’s Jarrett Haines sprung to life in the second-half when writing his own Bronx Tale at the home of Irish basketball, his 35-points display in the game earning him the undisputed MVP award.

But he was just one of a host of stars wearing jerseys that sported the blue of Maree and the maroon of Galway: Rodrigo Gomez finished with a double-double of 13 points and 20 rebounds; and Zvonomir Cutuk threw in 15 points of his own despite shipping a nasty-looking gash at the side of his head that required heavy bandaging at half-time.

Eoin Rockall and Stephen Commins showed the leadership you want from your captains. It was fitting that Commins opened the scoring with one of his trademark looping shots from beyond the 3-point arc, and he was a monster in a defensive performance from the entire Maree squad that forced Eanna into pot-shots from deep, and a return of 25% from the outside shots they were so heavily reliant on was never going to win the Dublin side the game.

Only Haines topped Rockall for time on the court for UG Maree, showing the importance to the side of a man steeped in the club, and his haul of six rebounds and nine assists was further evidence that he is the beating heart of the side.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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