A win against all odds and a winning buzzer beater from the man of the match Rober Fitzgibbon,
The Berks Dragons center was the hero with 20 points and 15 rebounds 6 of which were offensive, what a performance.
He was run very close though by the Dooneen Titans man David Dolan another great performer.
The 33rd ranked Portuguese U21s should have been easy winners on paper against our 67th ranked Irish U21s.
Many would not have seen this outcome possible especially when both teams tactics were to take it easy.
However the Irish stormed out of the blocks to lead the first quarter by 8 points at 30 to 22. Irelands tactics of over loading the inside seemed to be working.
The game quickly changed as the Portuguese came fighting back. It was all square at half time at 50 points each.
The 3rd quarter followed much the same pattern as the 2nd with the Portuguese in control, they took the quarter and were 7 points clear going into the last quarter.
For most the gap would appear as if the Portuguese were going to run away with the match but the spirit the fighting Irish showed was immense.
The great rebounding from the Irish team seemed to be the platform the game turned on as the Portuguese suddenly struggled to convert chances.
A very close ending to the game in which could have gone either way but with only 10 seconds on the clock the Irish down by 1 point missed a jump shot and the game seemed lost,
then another Irish offensive rebound saw us back in possession and Rober Fitsgibbon with 1 second on the clock nailed a jumpshot for a mighty buzzerbeater to give the Irish U21s the win 99 points to 98.
What an upset,
come on the Irish.......