Strong defence sees Eagles secure another win

Cavan Eagles made the short journey to Dublin last Saturday to take on Moy Tolka Rovers and came away with a 20-point victory built on a frugal defence.

Tolka have a strong basketball history and this year have two strong American players, Tazsa Garrett-Hammet and Bria Dent, in the squad who bring an offensive punch and strong defence. It was not going to be an easy trip for the Virginia based outfit sponsored by McEvoy's.

The first quarter set the tone for a battling contest, with Niamh and Emma Tolan making early contributions for the Eagles. However, Tolka, spurred on by their American duo and resilient defence, stayed within striking distance. Despite some great plays by Destiny Robinson, Casey Mulvey, and Ciara Tolan, the Eagles couldn't pull away, ending the quarter with a narrow one basket lead, 18-20.

Quarter 2 saw an increase in defensive pressure from the Eagles, employing a full-court press that rattled Tolka and disrupted their offensive flow. Scores from Emma Tolan and Jewell Mae Rosagaran saw the Eagles push further ahead. The Cavan team began to gel more offensively, with some nice passing and quick transition offense resulting in scores for Casey Mulvey, Emilia Sexton, and Ciara Brady, along with some nice three point shooting by Emma Tolan. The first half finished with the Cavan outfit firmly in control, leading 30-41.

Tolka faced an uphill battle in the second half as the Eagles continued their relentless defensive efforts. Some nice second half scores from Casey Mulvey, Destiny Robinson, Niamh Tolan, Ciara Brady, and Ciara Tolan further widened the gap. More sharpshooting from beyond the three point arc by Emilia Sexton and Emma Tolan solidified the Eagles' dominance as Tolka struggled to find their way back into the game. The final scoreline reflected a comprehensive but hard fought victory for McEvoy's Cavan Eagles at 52-72. A victory in which all 12 players hit the floor including good play from National League rookies Meabh Kelly and Ciara Brady (junior).

It was another impressive win for McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles and again their defence was to the fore as they repeatedly hampered Tolka efforts. The Cavan team now boast one of the lowest conceded points average in the league.

After the game, Head Coach Maeve Coleman said, “It was a hard, tough game today. We were unsettled at times due to aggressive Tolka defence.

“All 12 players contributed to the game and we came away with a win.”

Watching the Eagles play week after week, one can clearly see the upward trajectory of the team, their aggressive style of play and their now formidable defence. They are clearly a team on the rise, this was their third win on the trot, and it is exciting to see where they go from here.

The Cavan team are now sitting on a 4 and 2 win-loss record and will be keen to add another win on Saturday, November 25 when they host the Limerick Celtics at the Virginia Show Centre, 5pm. The Celtics are one place ahead of the Eagles in the league standings and the Cavan team will be determined to leap frog the Limerick club with a win this weekend. See the Eagles social media for tickets, it promises to be a loud and exciting game.