Ballincollig secured a thrilling 70-67 overtime victory against Limerick Celtics at Neptune Stadium on Friday, earning their spot in the Domino’s MSL National Cup final-their second appearance in three years.
A Back-and-Forth Battle Decided in Overtime
The game was a nail-biter, showcasing intense competition and dramatic swings in momentum.
- Josh Steel played a pivotal role for ballincollig, contributing key baskets throughout the game.
- Limerick Celtics, in their first semi-final at this level, demonstrated resilience and determination.
- Latavious Mitchell led all scorers with 31 points, proving a dominant force for Ballincollig.
- The game featured multiple led changes and a dramatic finish, ultimately decided in overtime.
Ballincollig initially surged ahead, with Josh Steel’s second three-point shot giving them an 11-5 lead with 4:35 remaining in the first quarter. However, Limerick Celtics responded with an eight-point run, capped by a basket from Ruairi Cronin, to take their first lead at 13-11. Keelan Cairns leveled the score, and a dunk from Latavious Mitchell, along with a subsequent free throw, helped ballincollig finish the quarter with a narrow 16-15 advantage.
The second quarter saw the teams remain closely matched, tied at 20 apiece two minutes in after a three-pointer from Finn Hughes for Limerick Celtics. A layup by Steel put Ballincollig up 26-22 at the quarter’s midpoint. Ciaran O’Sullivan added a floater and a turnaround jump shot, and another Mitchell dunk extended Ballincollig’s lead to 32-22 with just over a minute left. Cronin responded with a three-pointer for limerick Celtics, but Steel’s layup closed the half, giving Ballincollig a 34-26 lead.
Ballincollig extended their advantage to 13 points, 43-30, early in the third quarter with a three-pointer from Luke O’Sullivan. AJ Williams scored a pair of baskets for limerick Celtics, reducing the deficit to 43-36, before a three-pointer from Latrell Jossell restored a 10-point lead for Ballincollig. Back-to-back three-pointers from Cronin narrowed the gap to four points, 50-46, with a little over two minutes remaining. Abdul Wurie tied the game, and a layup by Cronin in the final seconds completed a 12-point run, giving Limerick Celtics a 52-50 lead.
Ballincollig needed a spark, and Mitchell provided it with a dunk at the start of the fourth quarter, tying the game at 52-52. AJ Williams, who was last season’s domino’s MD1 National Cup final MVP while playing for Limerick celtics, then scored the next six points, giving Celtics a 58-52 lead three and a half minutes into the quarter. the game remained intensely competitive, with Adrian O’Sullivan’s free throws bringing the score level at 64 apiece with 1:47 to go. A driving layup by Williams put Celtics back in front, but he missed the ensuing free throw. Mitchell’s jump shot tied it at 66-66 with 36.6 seconds left. Both teams had opportunities in regulation,but the game headed to overtime.
Mitchell’s pair of free throws at the start of overtime, bringing his game total to a high of 31 points, gave Ballincollig the lead. with 4.7 seconds remaining, Latrell Jossell added two more points, giving Ballincollig a three-point advantage. AJ Williams’s three-point attempt at the buzzer rimmed out, sealing the 70-67 victory for Ballincollig.
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