A Brave comeback by Ballina not enough as they exit National Cup
Mark Cunningham in action for Team Bar Square Ballina during the Domino's MD1 National Cup game against Cariick Cruisers in Ballina Sports Centre. Picture: Angela O'Malley/Wildatlanticimages
A defiant comeback by Team Bar Square Ballina was ultimately in vain as a strong final quarter by Carrick Cruisers ended the hosts unbeaten start to the season, as well as their run in the Domino’s MD1 National Cup.
It was a red-hot sellout crowd in the Ballina Sports Centre last Saturday evening, but the home side were all at sea in the first quarter. The duo of Saheed Abiodun Adedo and Braxton Kyle Brenham combined for 15 points as they raced into a 26-10 lead, with Brenham and Andrew McGeever also hitting one three-pointer apiece.
The difference between Ballina and the visitors Carrick, who play a level higher than Ballina in the National League, was the shooting efficiency. Ballina were poor, scoring only two of eleven two-point efforts while a trio of three-point attempts all went astray. Foul trouble also cost them dearly, conceding eight in the opening period and were they fortunate that Carrick converted only half of their free throw attempts.
Benham, along with Carrick teammate Andrew O’Connor, helped extend the visitors advantage out to 18 points with three minutes of the second quarter remaining. Ballina would respond with eleven of the next sixteen point to reduce the gap back to nine thanks to successful free throws from Miles Felletti and Matthew McHale, a basket from American Joseph Owens, and a pair of three-pointers from Theo Daly that sent the crowd wild. However, Benham led by example again for Carrick as he brought the gap back out to 13 at half-time, with the visitors leading 45-32.
The third quarter was superb from Ballina. Mark Cunningham sunk a three before Felletti began a sixteen-point run with his own three for the hosts as the gap was brought back to one, with Cunningham, McHale, Owens and David Marrey all finding their range. After McGeever brought their lead back out to three, Marrey was unfortunate to see a three-point attempt to level matter come back off the rim, and Adedo fired in another basket as Carrick still led, but the gap dramatically reduced, 56-51.
The final quarter, however, would get away from them as Ballina’s shooting efficiency began to desert them again when it was needed the most. Adedo and McGeever sunk early three-pointers that were a dagger to the hearts of Ballina, while Benham took his own personal tally to 29 points. Owens, who himself finished with 28 points, and Cunningham did their best to mount another comeback, but Carrick saw the final stages out to advance to the quarter-finals on a scoreline of 83-67.
While there will be disappointment for Paul Barrett’s charges, they competed very well against a team who plays in a higher division. Ballina will look to return to winning ways when they return to Division 2 action next weekend when they travel to the capital to take on Trinity College. Tip-off is this Sunday at 2.30pm.
Team Bar Square Ballina: Joseph Owens (28), Mark Cunningham (16), Miles Felletti (10), David Marrey (2), Theo Daly (6), Matthew McHale (2), Ronan O’Malley, Ronan McGarrity (3), Brian Donohue.
Carrick Cruisers: Braxton Kyle Benham (29), Saheed Abiodun Adedo (16), Santiago Manero (17), Andrew McGeever (11), Andrew O’Connor (9), Martins Provizors (1), Lukas Pocevicius, Theo McMahon, Angelo Bumatay, Kevin Provizors, Kieran Farrell.
