Coach’s advice to ‘trust your ability’ reaps rich dividend for Monk

As Cavan Eagles began to eat into Merry Monk's sizeable lead in the final quarter, one would forgive anyone connected to the Ballina side if suffering a dose of the jitters. Derek Cunningham was not one of the nervous ones, however. He has watched this brilliant side come up with the answers when needed most before and when Merry Monk found themselves four points down in the BIDL Plate Final in Tallaght last Saturday, all his players needed was a little reminder of what they were capable of.

“The first-half, we didn't really play well,” admitted Cunningham. “I think we were down four points. I don't know was it nerves or what it was. We just didn't click, and they're a good side. They came out and they made shots, and their point guard was very good. We had trouble with him man to man.

“We had a chat at half-time. I just told the lads, ‘You’re all fantastic basketball players, each and every one of ye. You’ve just got to start trusting each other out on the court,’ and literally in the third quarter they just come out and they just punch the hole right through it.” 

No one did that more so than Theo Daly, as the Gortnor Abbey student hit four three-pointers to put Merry Monk into a lead they ultimately would never surrender.

“Absolutely delighted,” beamed Derek Cunningham. “He’s 17. I've coached him since he was seven or eight years of age. Lovely kid, lovely family. He put so much time into it and I’m absolutely delighted for him. He was on fire.” 

A place in the league play-offs and final had been denied by last year’s BIDL champions Tralee Warriors, but Merry Monk regrouped to win the Plate, which is an eleventh national title for the club. Derek Cunningham reflected on a ‘great season’ and on what could be a ‘foundation’ for bigger and better things.

“It was a Plate final, and we're delighted with that. If we had beaten Tralee at home, we would have been in a league final, but we were close to them. We learned so much from that game because we were down a good few points, we came back, we could have won it.

“I think the lads learned a lot. As the levels go up, the intensity has to go up, the fight has to go up, and they can't take anything for granted. Even there, I think we were up at [21], two and a half minutes left. I want to try get everyone in, and I did, thankfully. When you get to this level, anything can happen in basketball, but we think we have the foundation.

“This club has a great history going back 20, 30 years. We're having another rerun, I think, and we have the foundation there. Hopefully we'll get our opportunity.” A massive plus for the team has been that much of its young side has also been playing U20 National League, testing themselves against some of the best players in the country at that level.

“A lot of the lads, they had played county level and they had played a bit of senior, regional. They weren't sure of their abilities. They weren't sure of the team.

“We had some great results in our under-20s, beating Super Club, Division 1 teams, beating teams who had fantastic Irish players, and it just boosted their confidence.

“When they're playing senior basketball and playing grown men with experience and who are more athletic, they're able to hold their own. It's just backing themselves, particularly the young players. They've grown up playing basketball, they genuinely really like each other, hang out with each other, they love it.” 

Theo Daly was MVP with 20 points while other top performers on the day were experienced duo Ronan O’Malley (22 points and 10 rebounds), Ronan McGarrity (22 points) and Mark Cunningham (six points and eight rebounds), with his six coming from two three-pointers late in the second quarter following a run by the Eagles. Derek Cunningham heaped praise on every member of his side.

“[Mark] had a great game, he made a couple of big threes there when things could have went either way. And his defence, he got in foul trouble early, but every one of them, every one of them, Ronan McGarrity, Ronan O’Malley, Peter [Papik]…. name them all, fantastic, fantastic.

“David Marrey would have played the guard in the zone, not a job he usually does for a big guy, but he was fantastic there. Theo was fantastic. I couldn't say anything bad. Everybody just dug in.

“I'm delighted for the older lads. To get back up to Tallaght, they may or not continue playing but to win a bit of silverware late on in their career, it’s fantastic.” 

Finally, Derek Cunningham paid tribute to Merry Monk proprietor Joe Lavelle, who re-established his connection and sponsorship of the club again two years ago upon their return to senior basketball.

“Joe has been such a big part of Ballina basketball for many, many years. His sponsorship and support have been invaluable and we’re delighted to be bringing back a national title under his name once again.”