Limerick Sport Eagles secure Super League promotion following dominant Division One play-off final victory

THE Limerick Sport Eagles will be playing in the Domino’s Men’s Super League next season, following a 82-63 win over Titans in the Domino’s Men’s Division One Playoff Final at the National Basketball Arena. Alex Carlisle was the star of the show, scoring 41 points to earn the MVP award.

Limerick Sport Eagles led from start to finish in this contest and raced to an early 12-0 lead four minute in after Carlisle’s basket. Titans got into their stride and Umar Rashid’s score with the final play of the quarter reduced the deficit to 19-11.

Titans got within six points, 29-23, after Comhghall McCormack’s three and Fortune Igbokwe’s basket and additional free throw. Limerick Sport Eagles would lead by 11 points by half-time, 36-25, Carlisle with the final points of the quarter and he had 22 points at that stage.

Limerick Sport Eagles stretched the lead to 17 points after a five point run from Carlisle -  a three and a layup - to make it 47-30 three minutes into the third quarter. Ryan Leonard, who recently made his FIBA EuroBasket debut for Ireland, landed a three with a minute to go in the third quarter, which saw Limerick Sport Eagles 61-42 up.

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A Nathan Gbinigie’s layup followed for Titans, but the last word of the quarter went to Carlisle, who landed his third three of the contest and it was 64-44.

Limerick Sport Eagles didn’t relent, a Carlisle two-pointer and a Leonard three extended their lead further in the early stages of the fourth quarter. At the defensive end Tobias Christensen put in a huge block on Gbinigie.

A Carlisle layup and an Ajay Walsh dunk had Eagles 73-51 ahead by the midpoint of the quarter. Niall McDermott’s side kept Titans at arm’s length after that to seal promotion.

Limerick Sport Eagles head coach Niall McDermott said: "t’s hard to put into words, this club has a proud history in the Super League, a former Super League Cup and league champions. A long time ago, about 10 years ago they came out of Super League, they weren’t in senior basketball, this is an accumulation of 10 years of work put in by not me, but by the club, the people like Matt (Hall) and Trevor (Moore) and they brought it form the ground up with the Lions club a lot of hard years.

"I came in a few years ago, we had this three-year plan to go up, so it’s hard to put into words, because so many hours from all the players, all the coaching staff, all the volunteers. Since the very first day of pre-season we were very lazer focused on this was our aim this year, so to achieve it, it’s hard to put into word, just so proud of the boys."

 On MVP Alex Carlisile, McDermott added: "Alex is unbelievable, he had 38 points in the semi-final too. The best thing about Alex is that he can have those games, but he can also have a game with nine or ten assists – he’ll do whatever the team needs.

"In the first half some of our guys weren’t making shots and Alex stepped up and he’s just a phenomenal player, phenomenal shooter, he’s a pleasure to coach and 41 points says it all. I am just glad to see him get the recognition that he deserves, two great years in Limerick."

Quarter Scores: Q1: 19-11, Q2: 17-14, Q3: 28-19, Q4: 18-19

Game Scores: Q1: 19-11, Q2: 36-25, Q3: 64-44, Q4: 82-63