08/11/2026
Neptune Hold Off Ballincollig in U16 League Thriller
Neptune produced a dominant second-quarter display to lay the groundwork for a hard-fought 50–43 victory over Ballincollig in an action-packed U16 League clash at Neptune Stadium on Friday night.
The hosts set their stall out early, setting up an aggressive full court press right from the opening tip-off. Ballincollig stayed punch-for-punch in a fast paced opening quarter, trailing by just a single point at 15–14.
However, Neptune made their decisive move in the second period. Combining disciplined defensive pressure with hot shooting from deep, the home team blitzed Ballincollig 21–11 to take a commanding 36–25 advantage into the halftime break.
Refusing to go down without a fight, Ballincollig turned up the heat in the third quarter with a full court trap of their own. The defensive adjustment paid off, as Ballincollig controlled the frame 11–6 to cut the deficit to just six points heading into the final term.
The fourth quarter proved to be a gritty, defensive battle. Though Ballincollig edged the final quarter 8–7, Neptune’s second quarter cushion proved unassailable, holding firm to wrap up a well-merited seven-point win.
Perimeter shooting proved crucial for Neptune, who drained nine three-pointers spread across four different players. Bobby Quinlan led the scoring effort with 17 points, supported by double digit performances from Noah Noonan (12) and Evan Harty (10).
