Pyrobel Killester got back to winning ways with a bang on Saturday evening in the Men’s Super League as they ran out 73-86 point winners over Dublin neighbours and National Cup finalists, DBS Éanna.
A huge first half performance from Brian O’Malley’s charges saw them lead 17-23 at the end of the first, while a massive second quarter display saw Killester outscore the hosts 10-35 to hold a big 27-58 point cushion at the half, behind superb scoring from Kason Harrell. Éanna bounced back in style after half time though, and with Stefan Zecevic leading the charge, began to claw back at the lead, with Zecevic and Marko Tomic landing some big scores to close the gap back to 52-66 going into the last. Superb work from Killester’s Ciaran Roe, Isaac Westbrooks and Tomas Fernandez though helped them stem the tide of the comeback and despite Zecevic and Mark Reynolds chipping in with some nice scores for Éanna, Killester ran out 73-86 point winners in the end.
Speaking afterwards, Killester head coach Brian O’Malley said: “The shots were falling and the most impressive thing for us was we came out and defended really hard. We made them take a few more outside shots then the last time we played them. The guys battled really hard. Éanna might have had one eye on next week, and they maybe weren’t in proper league form. But it’s good for our guys, we had a good performance up in Star and knew we were there or thereabouts. We’ve had a good few weeks of practice, now we need to make sure we build on the good performance here.”
The other National Cup finalists, Griffith College Templeogue, got a big road win in Kerry meanwhile as they drove past Colin O’Reilly’s Keane’s SuperValu Killorglin to win out 54-67 in a tense and tight game. A cagey first half saw Rami Ghanem and O’Reilly to the fore for the hosts, as they worked hard to contain Xabier Arriaga and Darren Townes for the visitors to see just two in it at the break, Templeogue leading 28-30. The third quarter remained neck-in-neck with Arriaga getting some nice scores for Templeogue, while Ghanem continued to dominate offensively for the hosts, and just four separated them going into the last. A big push from Templeogue down the stretch in the fourth though saw them open up some breathing room on the scoreboard as the clock wound down, and they held on to win 54-67 in the end.
Belfast Star continued their impressive run of league form in Galway on Saturday, winning out 59-76 over Maree in Oranmore. A standout display from Keelan Cairns helped the visitors on the road to victory, as they led 38-44 at the break behind a solid performance from the big man. Good work from Darin Johnson, John Burke and Paul Freeman for Maree kept their scoring ticking over but Cairns, Delaney Blaylock and Aidan Quinn put in a solid second half display to win out 59-76. Moycullen and UCD Marian battled it out right down to the wire in NUIG meanwhile, with UCD just pipping it, 66-71 in the end. The game was neck-in-neck throughout, with Marian holding a five-point lead at the break, 31-36, behind good scoring from Marius Markowicz and Scott Kinevane. Good work from Moycullen’s Grant Olsson and underage international star, James Connaire, kept the game on a knife-edge though, and just four points separated the sides going into the last to ensure a nervy finish. Big work from Markowicz, Kinevane and Garrow helped keep Marian just in front, but with six minutes to play, it was back to a two-point game thanks to good work from the hosts. Marian managed to stretch it out once more as the clock ticked down though, and held on to win out by five in the end.
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors were 103-78 point winners over DCU Saints in Castleisland meanwhile. A solid first half from the Kerry outfit saw them into a 59-32 point lead, with Andre Berry and Darragh O’Hanlon bagging some big scores for the hosts. A 23-point game from Mike Bonaparte for DCU Saints and good work from Kevin Lacey and Charlie Coombes just wasn’t enough for Saints, as Warriors upped the intensity in the second half, with Jonathan Lawton and Daniel Jokubaitis adding more scores to see them home to a comfortable victory in the end. Coughlan C&S Neptune denied Abbey Seals Dublin Lions their first win of the year in Clondalkin meanwhile as the Cork outfit took home the win, 82-96. A tough first half saw Jarrett Gray – who finished the game with a whopping 35 points – the stand out for Dublin Lions, as he combined well with Finn Hughes and James Gormley for some big scores. Roy Downey was on song at the other end for Neptune though to see them into a 37-49 point half time lead. A massive third quarter from Lions followed to see just four between the sides at the end of the period to tee up a big fourth quarter. Downey and Lehmon Colbert continued to work hard for Neptune in the fourth though, combining for a game total of 42 points, while a big display from Nil Sabata helped silence the Lions’ roar down the stetch, as Neptune pushed on to win out 82-96.
In the Women’s Super League DCU Mercy bounced back from last weekend’s Cup semi final loss with a bang in Waterford on Saturday evening, as they won out their top of the table clash with Maxol WIT Wildcats, 63-82. A 27-point game from Meredith Burkhall led the charge for Mercy as they opened up a 10-point lead at half time, 34-46, with strong work under the boards from Burkhall and some strong play from Ashley Russell. A massive third quarter from DCU Mercy saw Sarah Woods, Burkhall and Russell dominate offensively to send them into a big 47-71 point lead at the end of the quarter, leaving Wildcats with a big mountain to climb in the last. Big work from Stephanie O’Shea and Cathy Kavanagh helped close the gap back, but DCU were comfortable 63-82 point winners in the end.
Speaking afterwards, Coach Mark Ingle said: “We’re delighted with that win because we had to bounce back after last week’s performance in the Cup. We were a bit of a wounded animal. It was a tough week for everybody involved because we don’t think we played last week they way we can and today was more reflective of how we can play. Wildcats are a very good team and they’re very tough down here. We knew that coming in, but the girls’ intensity was good, and our execution was good. We held them to 63 points, so that’s a good defensive performance. “
Maree got their revenge over Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics in Kildare on Saturday evening winning out 62-78 over the hosts. Liffey had previously beaten Maree at their home court in Galway earlier in the season, and Joe Shields’ charges returned the favour, with Fiona Scally, Aine McDonagh and Dayna Finn in particular in superb form for the Galway outfit. Liffey got the better start, with a blistering first quarter performance led by strong work from new signing, J’aiamoni Welch Coleman, fellow American, Briana Green and strong shooting from Niamh Masterson to see them into a 21-16 first quarter lead. Maree came out all guns blazing in the second though, outscoring Celtics 8-30 in the period, behind superb work from Claire Rockall, Scally and Finn to lead 29-46 going in at half time. A big second half followed, with Alison Blaney, Carol McCarthy and Finn to the fore for the visitors and despite good work by Ailbhe and Aine O’Connor for Celtics, Maree pushed out to win 62-78.
Cup finalists, Pyrobel Killester, also claimed a big road win on Saturday evening, winning out over Marble City Hawks in Kilkenny, 54-67. A big first quarter from the Hawks saw them into an 18-11 lead, with great scoring from Cassidy Williams and Katie Fox. Killester regrouped well during the break though, and put in a massive 25-point second quarter, with Aisling McCann in superb shooting form to drive them into a 29-36 point lead at the half. Good work from Elaine Kennington under the boards for the hosts, as well as strong work by Williams once more, kept Hawks right in the mix but again it was McCann who was to the fore and good scores from her, along with great work from Christa Reed and Adella Randle El kept Killester out in front, and they marched home to a 54-67 point win in the end.
Fellow Cup finalists, Singleton SuperValu Brunell, lost out to Ambassador UCC Glanmire in their big Cork derby on Sunday afternoon, with underage star, Katie Walshe picking up a hand injury during the clash – which will be a worry for Tim O’Halloran’s charges ahead of next weekend’s final. Brunell had the better of the opening proceedings, before Glanmire knuckled down in the second quarter, with Aine McKenna, Shrita Parker and Tatum Neubert to the fore to open up a 37-26 half time lead. Good work from Brunell’s Laura Morrissey and Treyanna Clay kept the scores coming for Brunell, but Glanmire put in a big 21-point third quarter and finished the game out strong to win out by 20 in the end, 69-49.
Fr Mathews took home a road win on Saturday afternoon, winning out 76-104 over IT Carlow Basketball in a fast-paced, high-scoring clash. A huge first quarter from both sides saw a big 22-37 point end of quarter score in favour of Mathews, with Grainne Dwyer and Shannon Brady in flying form for the visitors – combining for a whopping 53 points in the game – while Alyssa Velles and Kaitlyn Slagus at the other end were also in stunning form, finishing the game out with 30 points and 24 points respectively. The frantic pace continued in the second, with the half time score reading a big 42-61 in favour of Mathews, as Velles and Slagus continued to shine for the hosts, while Dwyer, Brady and Chantell Alford drove home some big scores. The scores continued to rain in throughout the second half, and with both teams in superb form, it was Mathews who managed to maintain momentum, finishing out 76-104 winners.
