Monk make light work of Fr Matthews
Team Merry Monk’s Ronan McGarrity races up court closely marked by Fr Matthews’ Adam Connolly during Saturday's Basketball Ireland Development League encounter. Picture: David Farrell Photography
A storming third quarter by experienced duo Ronan O’Malley and Ronan McGarrity propelled Merry Monk to the top of the Basketball Ireland Development League after an impressive 31-point win last Saturday evening.
The home side were not at their best by any means but they never looked in any danger of losing this contest either. As half-time approached, their shooting accuracy took a sharp dip while they were guilty of cheap fouls as Matthews racked up their highest quarter tally (18) of the game. The Cork side were back to within 10 points but a 13-point run, with McGarrity and O’Malley prominent, saw them run away with the quarter and they eased away to a third win in four games in the BIDL.
Theo Daly got Merry Monk up and running with a spectacular three, the first of seven in the game for the hosts. David Marry, Mark Cunningham, O’Malley and McGarrity were all prominent in an impressive first quarter, the best move coming early doors as McGarrity launched a near full court pass for Cunningham to finish off, but the visitors only trailed by seven at the end of the first quarter, 22-15, thanks to a trio of threes by Ryan Nolan (2) and Patrick Murphy.
That lead was stretched to 13 on two occasions in the second quarter as Theo Daly (7), McGarrity and O’Malley (both shooting six points), left their opponents reeling, O’Malley sinking his first three-pointer of the game. But a high foul count and drop in shooting allowed Fr Matthews a chance to reduce the deficit and they were back to within nine thanks to the impressive Ciaran Dennehy, who shot 14 points of his 16 points in this quarter, including a three. Adam Connolly, however, missed a trio of free throws to bring the gap back further and Rory Upton, Theo Daly and O’Malley kept the board ticking over to extend the lead back to 12 points, 45-33, at the switching of ends.
Thomas Murphy brought it back to 10 from a rebound after another pair of free throw misses by Connolly and Merry Monk punished them ruthlessly with 13 points on the spin, which included a three from McGarrity. It was their captain O’Malley who led the way with a 10-point return in the third quarter, with Matthews themselves only scoring six points, as Merry Monk put the result beyond doubt at this stage thanks to another three by McGarrity and scores by Cunningham and David Marry, the hosts now leading 65-39.
The final quarter lost much of its intensity as Merry Monk continued to run their impressive bench, including former All-Ireland winner Jamie Forde, Paddy Walsh and a senior debut for Reuben Daly. Cunningham and Eoin Noone both sank threes in the final quarter, while Walsh, Theo Daly, O’Malley and Marry all added to their impressive displays.
Merry Monk will now look to continue their winning ways next Saturday evening when they take welcome Shannon Jets to Ballina. Tip-off is at 7pm.
Merry Monk Ballina: Theo Daly (16), Ronan O’Malley (21), Ronan McGarrity (14), Mark Cunningham (13), David Marry (6), Conor Burke, Paddy Walsh (4), Jamie Forde, Eoin Noone (3), Rory Upton (4), Reuben Daly.
Fr Matthews: Patrick Murphy, Adam Connolly (12), Ryan Nolan (11), Ryan Kenneally (1), Thomas Murphy (10), Angelo Caballero, Ciaran Dennehy (16).
