Belfast Star fend off Energywise Ireland Neptune as Ulster University surmount The Address UCC Glanmire

Belfast Star remained nine points clear at the top of the North Conference in this season’s InsureMvVan.ie Super League following their 100-95 point victory over Energywise Ireland Neptune, while Ulster University saw off defending MissQuote.ie Super League champions, The Address UCC Glanmire 87-74 for just their third win of the 2023/24 campaign.

Belfast Star needed to produce a late surge in order to see off a dogged Energywise Ireland Neptune outfit 100-95 and extend their unbeaten run in this season’s InsureMvVan.ie Super League to eight games at De la Salle College on Saturday night.

Just a solitary point separated the two sides with less than two minutes remaining, but timely baskets down the stretch from Tamyrik Fields and De' Ondre Jackson, who hit a massive 39 points on the night, saw the leaders over the line.

“I'm delighted with how we closed out the game when we were under extreme pressure” said Belfast Star Head Coach, Adrian Fulton.

“That's another encouraging sign in our growth as a team. Our lads have shown resilience and toughness when questions have been asked of them” he added.

Adrian Fulton gave us his thoughts after his side secured a 100-95 win against Energywise Ireland Neptune 🗣️#BISL | #BITV pic.twitter.com/aZFUQJqbfB

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) November 26, 2023

The opening game of this week’s round of top-flight fixtures saw Garvey’s Tralee Warriors prevail 72-76 in their Friday night thriller against UCC Demons at the Mardyke Arena to keep themselves well in the reckoning in this season’s South Conference.

Deadlocked at 39 points apiece at the break, the match saw Tralee overtake from a point down over the closing minute to a game in which Jarvis Doles and Ryan Leonard combined for 43 points for the visitors.

Narrow margins between UCC Demons and Garvey's Tralee Warriors last night 🤏

Watch all of this weekend's action 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 on #BITV 📺#BISL | #BITV

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) November 25, 2023

Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU kept the pressure on South Conference leaders, Maree as they battled back from three points down at the interval to beat Flexachem KCYMS 81-76 in the MTU Arena.

Shawndale Jones Jr. led the way for the defending champions both in terms of points (28) and rebounds (9) with Adrian O’Sullivan weighing in with a further 20.

Griffith College Éanna improved their record to 5 and 2 following their 100-83 win over Bright St. Vincent’s in Coláiste Éanna.

Five players were in double figures for the Rathfarnham outfit with Joshua Wilson leading the charge on 28 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.

Griffith College Eanna player, Matthew McClain, takes on the opposition

Near neighbours, Templeogue bagged only their second win of the campaign as they edged EJ Sligo All-Stars 95-90.

Lorcan Murphy lit up the court at Nord Anglia International School with a phenomenal tally of 44 points as Mark Keenan’s side battled their way back from eight down early on in the third quarter to secure a much-needed victory.

Despite giving up 11 points in the final quarter, Pyrobel Killester never looked to be in any trouble in their clash with Ulster University, as they ran out 103-80 point victors.

The Dublin side tore from the blocks, racing into a 22-point advantage by the close of the first quarter, and with Kason Harrell planting 31 points and Kerry Richardson and Ciaran Roe adding the same amount between them, there was really no way back for Ulster.

Ulster University surmounted the challenge of defending MissQuote.ie Super League champions, The Address UCC Glanmire on a scoreline of 87-74 for their third win of the campaign.

Trinity Oliver emerged the game’s top scorer on 25 points with Ance Aizsila (17), Alex Mulligan (15) and Abigail Rafferty (15) also on double figures for the hosts.

DCU Mercy bounced back from last week’s heavy loss to SETU Waterford Wildcats by earning the bragging rights in their Dublin derby against Trinity Meteors, as they won out 62-77 at Trinity College.

Brynley Fitzgerald again spearheaded the visitors’ offence with a colossal 37 points and 12 rebounds, while Hannah Thornton was also very effective under the boards on Saturday evening, mopping up as many miss-placed shots.

A huge third quarter saw Catalyst Fr. Mathews rocket 30 points clear of University of Galway Mystics before eventually winning out 74-106 on Saturday evening.

Ariel Johnson turned in a monster performance for the Cork side, bagging 35 points and eight rebounds while her team mates Grainne Dwyer and Shannon Brady also made their presence felt with a combined 46 points.

SETU Waterford Wildcats were made work for their 110-89 point victory over Portlaoise Panthers at Mercy Gym.

Only six points separated the two teams at the half-time recess, but, fuelled by heavy scoring from Shanai’jah Davidson (29 points), Kate Hickey (27) and Helena Rohan (21), the hosts put together a third-quarter run that served to add a further 13 to their advantage, leaving Portlaoise with too much ground to recover.

The only MissQuote.ie Super League game down for decision on Sunday sees Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell entertain FloMAX Liffey Celtics in their battle for top spot in the table.

Fresh from ending Kavanagh’s Portlaoise Panthers’ unbeaten run in the InsureMyVan.ie Division One last week, Moy Tolka Rovers edged another thriller, this time against SETU Waterford Vikings, whom they beat 88-87. SETU Carlow maintained their push for the South Conference crown with a 73-82 triumph away to Team NorthWest, while UCD Marian carded big second and third quarter runs to get the better of Killarney Cougars 67-94 at Presentation Gym. Kavanagh’s Portlaoise Panthers returned to winning ways after prevailing in overtime 92-88 against Limerick Sport Eagles, while Drogheda Wolves remained just three points off the North Conference top spot with a 102-93 success against Titans BC at Ballymakenny College. The only remaining InsureMyVan.ie Division One game in this round of fixtures sees Limerick Celtics play host to Mater Private Malahide at Crescent College on Sunday afternoon. 

St Paul’s Killarney extended their unbeaten run in the MissQuote.ie Division One to seven games after earning a 67-74 victory away to North Conference leaders, Templeogue. Isecure Swords Thunder failed to capitalise on that loss for their Dublin rivals as they went down 55-63 at home to Moy Tolka Rovers. Oblate Dynamos made it two wins on the bounce as they dug out a 64-72 victory at Marble City Hawks, while McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles fought back from eight points down at the break to beat Limerick Celtics 86-74. The one Sunday fixture in this division sees Abbey Seals Dublin Lions welcome SETU Carlow to Coláiste Bride.

Results

InsureMyVan.ie Super League

Friday November 24th

UCC Demons 72 - 76 Garvey's Tralee Warriors

 

Saturday November 25th

Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU 81 - 76 Flexachem KCYMS

Pyrobel Killester 103 - 80 Ulster University

Belfast Star 100 - 95 Energywise Ireland Neptune

Griffith College Éanna 100 - 83 Bright St. Vincent's

Templeogue 95 - 90 EJ Sligo All Stars

Saturday November 25th

Maigh Cuilinn P-P Maree (Postponed)

 

MissQuote.ie Super League

Saturday November 25th

University of Galway Mystics 74 - 106 Catalyst Fr. Mathews 

SETU Waterford Wildcats 110 - 89 Portlaoise Panthers

Ulster University 87 - 74 The Address UCC Glanmire

 Trinity Meteors 62 - 77 DCU Mercy

  

Sunday November 26th

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell 78 - 74 FloMAX Liffey Celtics

InsureMyVan.ie Division One

Saturday November 25th

 Team Northwest 73 - 82 SETU Carlow

Moy Tolka Rovers 88 - 87 SETU Waterford Vikings

Killarney Cougars 67 - 94 UCD Marian

Kavanagh's Portlaoise Panthers 92 - 88 Limerick Sport Eagles

Drogheda Wolves 102 - 93 Titans BC

Sunday November 26th

Limerick Celtics 80 - 75 Mater Private Malahide

 

MissQuote.ie Division One

Saturday November 25th

McEvoy's Cavan Eagles 86 - 74 Limerick Celtics

Templeogue 67 - 74 St. Paul's Killarney

iSecure Swords Thunder 55 - 63 Moy Tolka Rovers

Marble City Hawks 64 - 72 Oblate Dynamos

 

Sunday November 26th

Abbey Seals Dublin Lions 96-64 SETU Carlow

Fixtures

InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy National Cup (Quarter-Finals)

Saturday December 2nd

Ulster University vs Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU, Jordanstown Sports Village, 1715

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors vs Bright St. Vincent’s, Tralee Sports Complex, 1930

Energywise Ireland Neptune vs Pyrobel Killester, Neptune Stadium, 2000

Sunday December 3rd

UCC Demons vs Belfast Star, Mardyke Arena, 1500

InsureMyHouse.ie Paudie O’Connor National Cup (Quarter-Finals) 

Saturday December 2nd

DCU Mercy vs Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell, DCU Arena, 1430

SETU Waterford Wildcats vs FloMAX Liffey Celtics, Mercy Waterford, 1700

Catalyst Fr. Mathews vs Ulster University. Fr. Mathews Arena, 1700 

Pyrobel Killester vs Trinity Meteors, IWA Clontarf, 1815