Preview: National League Division One teams look to lay down further markers

The InsureMyVan.ie Division One will take more shape this week as seven teams look to make it consecutive wins to start the season.

Joels Dublin Lions double overtime win against UCD Marian has raised hopes in Clondalkin that they could be a challenger this year. A road trip to another opening day winner in Drogehda Wolves will quickly establish that. Brendan Trapper vs Christian Simmons is the key matchup to watch, with both heavily influential on the offensive end a week ago. 

SETU Carlow were equally impressive in their 12-point defeat of Scotts Lakers Killarney. Five players made it into double digits in the box score with Kevin O’Donoghue collecting a 15-point, 10 rebound double-double in the process. Limerick Celtics play host to them in Crescent College in another meeting of undefeated South Conference teams. Celtics were up by two in the third when play was halted due to condensation in their opening game.

Elsewhere Limerick Sport Eagles will aim to rub salt into those Scotts Lakers Killarney wounds and solidify another promotion push, Mater Private Malahide are the first visitors to the UCD Sports Centre this season to take on UCD Marian in a Dublin derby and Kavanagh’s Portlaoise Panthers welcome Team North West to St. Mary’s Hall.

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iSecure Swords Thunder had a statement win over Phoenix Rockets on the opening weekend of the MissQuote.ie Division One, this time it’s Abbey Seals Dublin Lions who are the visitors to ALSAA on Saturday evening.

Jensen Caretti sparkled on debut, leading her side in almost all statistical categories in a 20-point performance that included 4 steals and 3 blocks. Former SETU Waterford Wildcat Jasmine Walker also chipped in with 17-points as the home team set their stall out for the year ahead. Conversely Rob White’s Abbey Seals Dublin Lions narrowly lost out to Templeogue in overtime, so will be determined not to begin 0-2 in a league in which it figures to be very tight at the top. New additions Sydney Kin and Sophia Widmeyer accounted for all but 13 of their points a week ago.   

McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles won the first five games of their inaugural season in the MissQuote.ie Division One and there was no sign of a sophomore slump in their opening game against Oblate Dynamos. Irish underage internationals Emma and Niamh Tolan are sure to be at the heart of things in Virginia this year and in Destiny Robinson, it appears they have found a very suitable foil. Templeogue’s spread of scoring (five reached double digits) will be further assessed by a stingy Eagles defense. Seven players shared all the minutes in that overtime win against Abbey Seals Dublin Lions so it’ll be important that they continue to develop that rotation if they hope to achieve sustained success during a marathon campaign.

The tie of the weekend could be St. Paul’s Killarney and Limerick Celtics. They both recorded the best performance offensively and defensively in week one so something has to give. Kyah Gilmore was an assassin on the board against Marble City Hawks, helping herself to 19 in total. Meabh Barry could be the one tasked with stopping her, allowing scorer Jessica Huber to do what she does best.

The division’s other unbeaten team Limerick Sport Huskies will fancy themselves to notch another ‘W’ while in Kilkenny. Scout Frame excelled on debut for Huskies and a similar performance might just be enough to account for a Hawks team that struggle to score just seven days ago.

Elsewhere Phoenix Rockets are back in Dublin looking for their first win of the season against Obalte Dynamos and one of Moy Tolka Rovers and SETU Carlow will end the weekend with a number other that 0 in the win column.