Limerick’s Nate Moore is the toast of the Irish this evening as his three-pointer with 2.3 seconds to go in the game sent Ireland home to a glorious 93-91 point victory over Monaco in the bronze-medal play off at the FIBA Under 18 European Championship Division C in Kosovo.
Huge performances from across the team this evening kept Ireland in control for the majority of the game - including a 21-point performance from captain Darragh O'Sullivan - but a late, late comeback from Monaco saw them take the lead with 30 seconds to go. Galway’s James Connaire had ice in his veins at the free throw line to send Ireland ahead by one (90-89) with 20 seconds to go, but a turnover by the boys in green led to an easy lay-up for Monaco and they were ahead by one with the clock ticking down rapidly. Nate Moore – who had been one of the sharpshooters for Ireland throughout the tournament – took it in his stride though, and with 2.3 seconds to go, found space and hit the three-pointer as the stadium erupted.
Speaking afterwards, Moore said: “My heart was in my mouth. Somehow we got the ball up the court and James found me with the pass and I just shot it. It’s unbelievable to have a bronze medal now, absolutely unbelievable.”
Also speaking afterwards an emotional head coach Paul Kelleher added: “We were absolutely wonderful today. It was heart stopping stuff – we knew Monaco would come back late, they’ve done it in all of their games, but the lads did the job and it’s nice to come home with the medal too.”
IRELAND: Paul Kelly (inj.), Jay Kavanagh, Nathan Moore (6), James Connaire (13), Cillian O’Driscoll (5), David Murray (10), Eoin McCann (10), Darragh O’Sullivan (21), Oisin Rice (6), Conor Liston, Matt Harper (9), Eoin Nelson (13).
