Marsh and Troy honoured as Cunningham leads Merry Monk shooting exhibition
There was also a standing ovation for the members of the St Muredach’s U19 boys basketball team as they displayed their National Cup and National League titles. Picture: SJ Walsh Photography
It was a nostalgic night at the Community Sports Centre in Ballina on Saturday night as two of the greats of Irish basketball were honoured.
Presentations in recognition of their contribution to basketball were made by Ballina Braves Basketball Club to Deora Marsh and Kelvin Troy, two US players who came to Ireland where they made a huge contribution to the Superleague.
Deora Marsh became a household name in Ireland and Mayo when he joined Ballina to win two National Cups. Deora took to Ballina as if he had been born there and Ballina took to him, effectively adopting him as one of their own. Deora went on to raise a family and work for Western Care and he will be inducted to the Basketball Ireland Hall of Fame later this year.
There was also a standing ovation for the members of the St Muredach’s U19 boys basketball team as they displayed their National Cup and National League title, a remarkable double which they achieved under their coach Barry Murphy, another legendary figure of the sport in Ballina.
The crowd had come to see the collision between Mayo Meteors and Team Merry Monk Ballina in the BIDL (Basketball Ireland Development League), two teams who have not failed to entertain this season and while the usual edge was missing from this encounter what the crowd did get was an exhibition of shooting and dribbling skills from the young guns that are now forming the solid platform to build the future of the club on.
With Paul Freeman out injured and Mattie McHale suspended for the rest of the season, Meteors coach Terry Kennedy always knew his team was going to struggle and while they clung to the coattails of Merry Monk in the first two quarters, the home side started to pull away.
Ronan McGarrity who announced his retirement from basketball on the night, was rested for the fourth quarter as the young Merry Monk guns cut loose in a game that produced no fewer than 14 three-pointers.
Eight came from Ballina hands and three of those came from one of the youngest players on the court, Theo Daly. Meteors pitched in with six of their own, three of those coming from Alex Evans and Daniel Nyland also landing three big ones.
The opening quarter was tight with Merry Monk leading 21-15. Meteors struggled in the second quarter and didn’t improve in the third as tiredness led to mistakes. They couldn’t break down the Ballina defence and Merry Monk kept extending that lead, leaving a gap of 32 points at the end.
Despite losing, Meteors have booked a semi-final home game in the Plate and that should see Terry Kennedy’s team gain some reward from a season which veered off the tracks with injuries and a suspension to a top player.
