Limerick Sport Eagles lose out in the men's President's Cup national final

LIMERICK Sport Eagles have lost out to UCD Marian in the men's President's Cup Final after the Dublin side registered a 91-78 victory in the final. 

Even with a third quarter comeback, Eagles were not able to claw back the damage that had been done in the opening half. 

The opening quarter of the game was end-to-end plays with both offences scoring baskets one after the other. Sam Finlay and Kealan Coats got off to a fast start on the scoreboard for Eagles while Johnathon Jean for Marian kept their side ticking over. 

Eagles struggled with team fouls in the first leaving UCD Marian on the free-throw line on multiple occasions. 

UCD Marian began to pull away towards the end of the first quarter with scores from Tobias Christensen assisted by Jean pushing them 31-18. 

Sport Eagles were boasted with the return of Captain Jason Killeen who did well under the boards in the opening minutes of the second quarter to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

After their blazing start UCD Marian mellowed out towards the end of the half allowing Eagles back into the game through Ignacio Fologuerias and Killeen's sharp shooting. 

Eagles struggled yet again in this quarter with team fouls allowing UCD Marian to maintain their 47-36 lead at half-time. 

Sport Eagles got three critical three pointers in the third quarter from Fologuerias and two O'Connell to put them level with Marian for the first time with two minutes remaining in the half. 

Three pointers seemed to be a running trend in the third with UCD Marian's Conor Meany scoring one before a fast-break steal from Jean kept them 63-55 ahead. 

The final quarter ended much like it started with both sides running lightning quick transition offences. Johnathon Jean and Sasha French continued to be a problem for Eagles in the remaining minutes of the game. 

Despite Sporting Eagles best efforts in the third quarter they were unable to get ahead of UCD Marian who eventually won on a scoreline of 91-78. 

LIMERICK SPORT EAGLES: Kealan Coats, Reece Barry, Darragh Horkan, Yves Joaquin, Daniel Shahab, Sean Morrissey, Obinna Josephs, Nikola Ivkovic, Liam Price, Sean Cantillon, David O'Connell, Owen Chose, Ajay Ryan Walsh, Diarmuid O'Shea, Ignacio Fologuerias, Jason Killeen, Ronan Cregan.

COACH: Matt Hall

TOP SCORERS: Sam Finlay (26 points), Kealen Coats (15 points), Ignacio Folguerias (11 points). 

UCD MARIAN: Saul Lysaght, Leonardo Marcon, Dimitrios Theocharis, Conor Meany, Padraic Moran, Sean O'Flynn, Luke Gilleran, Ronan Byrne, Matthew McGrath, Roey Stern, Sotiris Miltiadis, Guillermo Palma Romero, Tobias Christensen, Sasha French, James Power, Sean Brady, Johnathon Jean. 

COACH: Ioannis Liapakis

TOP SCORERS: Johnathon Jean (29 points), Sasha French (17 points),Tobias Christensen (12 points).