Eagles’ airstrike grounds Demons title hopes | Stephen Barry

UCC Demons 73UL Eagles 86UCC Demons’ recent run of form went from bad to worse as they lost their third decisive game in a row, in what looks like being a season-defining month for the Leesiders. It was UL’s American star Robert Taylor who put Demons to the slaughter as he drove towards the basket all day, landing a variety of trademark stop-and-pops as well as a few closing threes for the visitors as he amassed 33 points to keep the Demons comfortably at bay.Both sides came into their third and final match-up of the season on the back of heavy losses with both having being knocked out of the National Cup by the league’s form side, Neptune. However, with only three losses apiece in the league, it was likely that this game would prove decisive in the destination of this season’s SuperLeague trophy.Demons started strongly with Kenton Walker stealing to set up Carlton Cuff for a pair before Walker added a three-point play. Niall O’Reilly battled for a baseline two but it was clear that Demons weren’t punishing UL’s early erratic shooting as Jason Killeen collected two offensive rebounds in a row, followed by a Taylor interception which eventually saw the Eagles find the basket at the fourth attempt.An opening three from Shane Coughlan didn’t shake UL’s increasing efficiency as they levelled at twelve in the sixth minute. A Taylor floater ultimately secured the 20-18 first quarter lead just after Walker had been benched by the hosts after getting into early foul trouble.Rob Lynch’s only scores of the game opened the gap for UL as Demons were wasting their attacks with three-point failures. That said, a two from Cuff and a three from Ciarán O’Sullivan tied the match at 30 but Taylor and Matthew Hall, with a central three, reopened the gap and set UL on the way for a 16-5 run in the final four minutes; Killeen now impressing with his mid-range shooting as well as his work under the basket.Back to back big plays from Coughlan, outside the arc, and Walker, with an inside three-point play, had the deficit at seven, but Neil Campbell responded for UL with a hook-shot and extra point from the free-throw line.Taylor increased the lead to twelve before Demons hit back, scoring eight of the next nine points. O’Reilly collected three from inside while a big defensive stand forced the Eagles into a shot clock violation before O’Sullivan again landed a three from the perimeter. However Demons couldn’t get any closer than five as UL ended the quarter with Taylor driving to the basket and Campbell picking up an extra point with his two; 64-56 their third-quarter lead.Walker rejected Campbell early in the fourth, but Walker was stuck under his own basket as it became increasingly one-way traffic. Taylor and Campbell were both left in open court for back-to-back threes before Campbell added a pair going under the hoop.Coughlan came across the screen to take back three points from distance, but the magnificent Taylor came down the court for an immediate three-point reply. That was the final straw for Demons whose tempers became increasingly frayed and, as the game became more stop-start, whose charity line throwing became poorer as the clock counted down.Killeen and Taylor rebounded for twos before Taylor finished off UL’s scoring with yet another driving run to the basket.The win was not only decisive in scoreboard terms, but it also gives the UL a critical advantage in the league table; they take their record to 13-3, with five games to go, while Demons are now 11-4 and have conceded the crucial head-to-head advantage to the Limerick men. The question no longer seems to be whether Demons can catch UL Eagles but if Neptune (11-5) have left their charge too late.