Ireland 88 Notre Dame 90

The paying punters got full value for their money at the National Arena as the highly rated Notre Dame team were pushed all the way by the Irish in the second of game of the Emerald Hoops tournament.

Ireland who begin their European Championship Division B Group C campaign away to Sweden on September 6 welcomed back Donie McGrath to the fold and he certainly made a telling impact for the Green Giants.

The Virtus Bologna point gaurd contributed 23 points to the Irish cause and was narrowly pipped to the MVP award by Notre Dame’s three point specialist and captain, Kyle McAlarney.

McAlarney shot seven scores from the outside but in the end it took a breakaway score from Ryan Ayres with two seconds remains to decide what was a gripping contest.

So close and yet so far for the Irish but they definitely assumed the mantle of the "fighting Irish" after it looked like the Americans would run away with the game.

Ireland were very quick out of the blocks having opened a 12-4 lead courtesy of baskets from Colin O’Reilly, Damian Matacz, Mc Grath and  Paul Cummins, the latter shooting a three pointer to open up an eight point lead for the Irish.

But  McAlanrney soon served notice of his talent with the first of his seven big baskets  and although Notre Dame rising star, Luke Harangody was then to put just three between the sides, Ireland picked it up again with Justin Killeen, Chris Bracey and Mc Grath all finding the basket to shoot the home team into a 23-19 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

Ireland again picked up the running on the resumption with a great drive to the line by player coach, Jay Larranaga, spurring the Irish on.

The baskets from O’Reilly and Conor Grace had opened up a double digits lead for Ireland only for Staten Island man, McAlarney, sinking three baskets from the outside to help the Americans into an 41-40 lead at the interval.

The third quarter was a fantastic affair, the two teams shooting eight outside baskets between them. Nonetheless by the end of the period, the Americans had opened up a substantial lead with Luke Zeller registering a basket shortly before the buzzer to the leave the Americans 71-62 in front.

The "Fighting Irish" maintained their lead up until the last three minutes when  Ireland mounted a spectacular comeback.

With the Americans 87-81 in front ,  Conor Grace and then McGrath landed successive baskets with Damian Matacz then converting one of his three throws to put just the bare minimum between the two.

And then incredible Ireland were in front when Grace dropped in a lovely score with thirty seconds to go. 

But the Americans were not done and after Zach Hillesland had converted one free from the line, Ryan Ayers after intercepting an Irish play, broke up court with two seconds to go to land the winning scores for the Americans.

Scorers: Ireland - D McGrath 23, C O’Reilly 12, C Bracey 11

Notre Dame - K McAlarney 25, R Ayers 23, L Harangody 18