National League

Nov 07 2021

InsureMyVan.ie National League Round-up: 5th - 7th Nov

Tradehouse Central Ballincollig remain the only unbeaten side in the InsureMyVan.ie Super League after a hard-fought 86-73 win at Moycullen on Sunday. It means they top the South Conference table after Garvey’s Tralee Warriors slipped to their first defeat of the season, 97-91 at NUIG Maree. In the North Conference Griffith College Templeogue also fell to their first league loss this season, beaten 83-78 in a Dublin derby by Killester.

Tradehouse Central Ballincollig responded to the disappointment of their exit from the InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy National Cup at the hands of Garvey’s Tralee Warriors with a 86-73 victory at Moycullen. There was little to separate the sides in the opening half, Moycullen led 42-41 at the break. But Tradehouse Central Ballincollig had a ten point cushion, 69-59, going into the final quarter, before seeing the game out. Andre Nation was again to the fore for the Cork side, with 26 points, with Milorad Sedlarevic contributed 13 and Ireland international Adrian O’Sullivan chipped in with 11. Moycullen’s top scorers were Grant Olsson (24), Joseph Tummon (12) and Josh Marvesley (11).

Milorad Sedlarevic scored 13 points for Tradehouse Central Ballincollig against Moycullen

Tradehouse Central Ballincollig head coach Kieran O’Sullivan said: “We got off to a slow start and got going on offence in the second through transition plays and accurate shooting. We knew we had a run in us at half-time and terrific play by Pau Cami, Keelan (Cairns) and Andre Nation gave us a lead in the fourth quarter. The final score didn’t reflect the closeness of the game. We are happy with the  win, but will need to improve on the performance with Killester coming to town next week.”

On Saturday NUIG Maree followed up their elimination of reigning InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy Cup champions Griffith College Templeogue last weekend with a 97-91 InsureMyHouse.ie Super League win over previously unbeaten Garvey’s Tralee Warriors. Deondre Jackson was again impressive, picking up 26 points, followed by Lovre Tvrdic (16), and Eoin Rockall (15). Nikola Roso top scored for Garvey’s Tralee Warriors with 18, while October’s Super League player of the month Aaron Calixte added 16 points and Darragh O’Hanlon had 16 points.

NUIG Maree head coach Charlie Crowley took a lot of positives from their win. “We came out tonight ready to play, and we had to do if we were to stay in the game. Garvey's Tralee Warriors are a phenomenal outfit with some real star-studded players. And the game was nip and tuck right throughout. (Aaron) Calixte and (Nikola) Roso bring a dynamic which is hard to match, but our guys tonight had their number. When you’re playing such talent it’s about limiting their impact to benefit your own success and I think we did that well. Our defence made it hard on the opposition and that was the benchmark for the game. Some players really stepped up to the mark again to prove why they’re in our team, Eoin Rockall showing the country not to forget about him out in the west! Overall really happy, but again it’s just one win, it kind of makes up for one of the two other losses. We’ll enjoy tonight, recoup Monday and all roads lead to Belfast.”

John Dowling, Garvey's Tralee Warriors head coach

John Dowling, Garvey’s Tralee Warriors head coach, added: “They’re rolling and it’s hard to stop a team that’s rolling if you’re not clinical and I felt we weren’t clinical at all. What can you say after that then, we’ve got to take our medicine, we got beaten, they’re a good team, you are not going to go undefeated in this league I don’t think, but it is something to look at and reassess and see what we can change for next week.”

Griffith College Templeogue slipped to a home 83-78 Dublin derby defeat against Killester in the North Conference. Mark Keenan’s side led at 44-41 at half-time, but Killester rallied and won by five. Kason Harrell shot well for Killester scoring 21 points, backed up by Ciarán Roe (19) and Tomas Fernandez Zerolo (15). Lorcan Murphy continued his early season form with 18 points, with Marquel Murphy also scoring 18 for Griffith College Templeogue.

Killester head coach Brian Dowling was very happy with his team after the game. "We're delighted to come away with the win. It was tense and tight there. We started really well, but they reeled us in during the second quarter. We were a bit sloppy and made too many errors. Third quarter again we were happy with the way we were executing, but credit Templeogue, their experience and their quality put us on our heels. It was a game that could of went either way in the end and thankfully we made a couple of key plays down the stretch there", he said.

There was late drama as Xabier Arriaga’s buzzer beater 3-pointer for Team 360 Financial Killorglin sealed a 90-89 win at C&S Neptune. Arriaga scored well throughout for Team 360 Financial Killorglin, posting 17 points, while Allan Thomas had 30 points and Simon Francis  scored 24 in their win. Nil Sabata (21), Roy Downey (18) and Miles Washington (16) were C&S Neptune’s top scorers.

Head coach of Team 360 Financial Killorglin, Declan Wall, was thrilled with their road victory. “Big win for the team tonight. Another box ticked in our targets for getting our first win on the road as early as possible in the season. It was a game that could have gone either way in the end. Thankfully we had the last opportunity to make a basket and some days you get that rub of the green and it comes off. First half we let them do what they liked offensively, but again like the previous game we knuckled down defensively in the second half and some big performances from our young guys helped us over the line tonight. The aim is to keep building now on what we have done with another tough away game in UCD (Marian) next week to come.”

DBS Éanna fended off a second half fightback from UCD Marian to claim a 70-69 win. Darren McGovern’s side appeared to be coasting with a 21 point half-time lead, 54-33. Big scoring from Stefan Zecevic (24 points) for DBS Éanna was backed up by Romonn Nelson (12), Devin Gilmore and Mark Reynolds (9 each). Top scorer on the night was Jonathan Jean for UCD Marian, who posted 30 points, with Srdjan Stojanovic adding 15 and Dan James 10.

DBS Éanna head coach Darren McGovern was relieved to come away with the victory. “We'll take any win, but we were sweating come that last three minutes. We finished the game off with our defence and I'm delighted by that. We just couldn't get into a rhythm offensively in the second half and credit goes to UCD Marian for that. Our first half put us in a strong position, but that second half is not really acceptable so we can get into practice this week to get ready for a tough away trip to Moycullen.”

Bright DCU Saints are still awaiting their first win, they were beaten 67-59 at home by Belfast Star. Belfast Star’s scoring came from Max Cooper (19 points), Jonny Foulds (15) and Conor Quinn (14). For Bright DCU Saints it was Benjamin Durox (18 points) who was at the forefront, followed by Julius Brooks (16) and Graham Brannelly (12).

Belfast Star head coach Adrian Fulton said: "Pleased and relieved in equal measure. Any win in this league is hard earned and Bright DCU Saints made it difficult as we knew they would. Our bench had a big impact on the game, but I'm very pleased for Jonny Foulds in particular, who has had a frustrating start to the season. He has continued to work extremely hard. We know how good a player he is, and it hasn't quite happened for him, but tonight he was terrific at both ends of the floor. We had to withstand a period in the 3rd quarter when they made everything. The lads made some big shots at crucial periods. It wasn't pretty at times, but we played hard and it gives us something to build on."

"The biggest and most important win of the week was the return of all underage teams. I knew the rule putting restrictions on underage games wouldn't last, but the basketball community made its voice heard and thankfully common sense has prevailed" Fulton added.

Adrian Fulton, Belfast Star head coach

In the InsureMyVan.ie Division 1, McGowans Tolka Rovers took a big home win over Titans, as they beat them by 30 points, 79-49. Their scoring was led by Conor Liston (14 points) and Ramunas Ramanauskas (12). LYIT Donegal suffered a 10-point loss to Abbey Seals Dublin Lions, 77-87, despite Calvin Whipple posting 33 points for them. The offensive efforts of Finn Hughes (31) and Jack MaGuire (18) proved crucial for Abbey Seals Dublin Lions in their win. 

Grand Hotel Malahide continue to be unbeaten in the league, recording a third consecutive win, this time over Drogheda Wolves at home, 85-66. Kevin Foley (24) and Trevor Recio (21) were impressive for Grand Hotel Malahide on the day. Scoring for Drogheda Wolves came mainly from Adam Mullally (19) and Patryk Kopec (11).

Scotts Lakers Killarney recorded the biggest win of the round, beating WIT Vikings by 35 points, 94-59. Although they trailed by one point at half-time, Ben Miller (25), Emilyan Gradov (22) and Jamie O'Sullivan (20) helped Scotts Lakers Killarney to their big win. Connor Fenton posted 21 points for WIT Vikings.

Ulster University beat EJ Sligo All-Stars 87-63, with scoring from Conor O'Sullivan (26), Matthew Rooney (17) and Oisin Kerlin (13) paving the way for their victory. Keith Jordan performed well for EJ Sligo All-Stars yet again, scoring 25 points, while  Zack Powell had 18.

Fr. Mathews beat Portlaoise Panthers 69-61. Brian O'Neill and Jonathan Garcia scored 18 points each for Fr. Mathews, followed closely by Sean McManus (17). Portlaoise Panthers’ points mainly came through Nelson Larkins (25) and Luke Thomas (10).

The fixture between Killarney Cougars and Limerick Celtics was postponed due to Covid-19 and will be rescheduled for a later date.

InsureMyVan.ie Super League Results: 5th - 7th Nov

C&S Neptune 89 - 90 Team 360 Financial Killorglin

Half-time score: 56 - 45

Top scorers

C&S Neptune: Nil Sabata 21, Roy Downey 18, Miles Washington 16

Team 360 Financial Killorglin: Allan Thomas 30, Simon Francis 24, Xabier Arriaga 17

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DBS Éanna 70 - 69 UCD Marian

Half-time score: 54 - 33

Top scorers

DBS Éanna: Stefan Zecevic 24, Romonn Nelson 12, Devin Gilmore 9, Mark Reynolds 9

UCD Marian: John Jean 30, Srdjan Stojanovic 15, Dan James 10

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Bright DCU Saints 59 - 67 Belfast Star

Half-time score: 23 - 35

Top scorers

Bright DCU Saints: Benjamin Durox 18, Julius Brooks 16, Graham Brannelly 12

Belfast Star: Max Cooper 19, Jonny Foulds 15, Conor Quinn 14

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NUIG Maree 97 - 91 Garvey’s Tralee Warriors

Half-time score: 42 - 44

Top scorers

NUIG Maree: Deondre Jackson 26, Lovre Tvrdic 16, Eoin Rockall 15

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors: Nikola Roso 18, Aaron Calixte 16, Darragh O'Hanlon 16

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Griffith College Templeogue 78 - 83 Killester

Half-time score: 44 - 41

Top scorers

Griffith College Templeogue: Lorcan Murphy 18, Marquel Murphy 18, Jason Killeen 12

Killester: Kason Harrel 21, Ciarán Roe 19, Tomas Fernandez Zerolo 15

Sunday 7th November

Moycullen BC 73-86 Tradehouse Central Ballincollig 

Half-time: 42-41

Top scorers

Moycullen BC: Grant Olsson 24, Joseph Tummon 12, Josh Marvesley 11

Tradehouse Central Ballincollig: Andre Nation 26, Milorad Sedlarevic 13 Adrian O’Sullivan 11

InsureMyVan.ie Division 1 Results: 5th - 6th Nov

McGowans Tolka Rovers 79 - 49 Titans

Half-time score: 40 - 20

Top Scorers

McGowans Tolka Rovers:  Conor Liston 14, Ramunas Ramanauskas 12, Danas Smigelskis 8

Titans: P Brown 10, C McCormack 9, M Thiam 7

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LYIT Donegal 77 - 87 Abbey Seals Dublin Lions

Half-time score: 40 - 47

Top Scorers

LYIT Donegal: Calvin Whipple 33, Andy McGeever 15, Luke Cassidy 12

Abbey Seals Dublin Lions: Finn Hughes 31, Jack MaGuire 18, Kevin Anyanwu 11

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Grand Hotel Malahide 85 - 66 Drogheda Wolves

Half-time score: 44 - 29

Top Scorers

Grand Hotel Malahide: Kev Foley 24, Trevor Recio 21, Sean Daly 8

Drogheda Wolves: Adam Mullally 19, Patryk Kopec 11, Tiago Dos Santos Pereira 10

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WIT Vikings 59 - 94 Scotts Lakers Killarney

Half-time score: 37 - 36

Top Scorers

WIT Vikings: Connor Fenton 21, Craig O’Neill 11, Denis Miculescu 8, Osi Oshiogwemoh 8
Scott’s Lakers Killarney: Ben Miller 25, Emilyan Gradov 22, Jamie O’Sullivan 20

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EJ Sligo All-Stars 63 - 87 Ulster University

Half-time score: 34 - 44

Top Scorers

EJ Sligo All-Stars: Keith Jordan Jr 23, Zack Powell 18, Mattie McHale 5

Ulster University: C O’Sullivan 26, O Kerlin 13, G Celms 7

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Killarney Cougars v Limerick Celtics (POSTPONED)

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Fr. Mathews 69 - 61 Portlaoise Panthers

Half-time score: 33 - 32

Top Scorers

Fr. Mathews: Brian O'Neill 18, Jonathan Garcia 18, Sean McManus 17

Portlaoise Panthers: Nelson Larkins 25, Luke Thompson 10, Liam Kinsella 9