Short-handed Mayo Meteors lose league final against Atlantic Eagles Sligo

THEY couldn't finish the job this time around. The Mayo Meteors won the regional league and cup last season, and they reached for league honours again this year, after a comprehensive win over Mayo rivals Merry Monk Ballina in the semi-final on Saturday.

However, a day later, at the same venue in Mohill, Leitrim, the Meteors found their master in Atlantic Eagles Sligo and lost their last chance of winning silverware this season.

It's not the end the Castlebar based outfit had hoped for, but low numbers due to different reasons meant they went into that final shorthanded, as player-coach Dan Nyland explained, to The Mayo News after the match: “It was a physical game and we were up against it, we had only six players available. Matthew O'Malley got a knock on the head during the game, early in the third quarter. It was down to the five of us then. And then Bartek Zalewski was in foul trouble and that limited him defensively as well.”

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Zalewski was instrumental in the semi-final win the day before, when he scored 15 points and was a physical presence in defence.

Regarding these circumstances, Mayo Meteors held their own and wouldn't let Atlantic Eagles run away with the score. The final result was 58-67. And a silver lining from a Meteors perspective, teenage talent Craig Neit Sosas-Siose was awarded the Most Valuable Player award for the final, for another brilliant performance.

In the semi-final the day before he had already shown his skills that got him a nomination for the Basketball Ireland U-17 Academy Program. It's rare that a player from the losing team gets the MVP award in a final.

“The Eagles deserved to win on the day,” acknowledged Nyland: “They were just the better team. It was not ideal we only had six players at our disposal. The way the weekend fell, commitments were there for players, and we have many injuries as well. Bruised ribs, ligament damage, hairline fracture on his wrist. These three guys would have given us a good contribution in the final.”

Also missing for Meteors was notably Hermann Heyl, he was down in Cork on training duties for the Ireland Over 40s team and a family event afterwards.

Taking stock now as the season concludes, it is obviously disappointing for Mayo Meteors not to reclaim any of the two trophies won last season. That is always the goal, claiming regional trophies. In the Basketball Ireland Development League, Meteors are aware the opponents would always pose a big challenge, many good teams based in Limerick, boosted by internationals.

“We had two close games against Ballina and Atlantic Eagles. Ballina beat us by four points and Eagles by two. So two losses and only six points between the two. We finished the BIDL with the worst record since we've been in it.”

Nyland expects most players back for the next season beginning in autumn. Experienced guys like Paul Freeman and the aforementioned Heyl don't show any signs of slowing down for now and the young guns have shown their potential.