Limerick Celtics record big road victory over Kavanagh’s Portlaoise Panthers, while McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles return to winning ways

Limerick Celtics inflicted only a second defeat on Kavanagh’s Portlaoise Panthers in this season’s InsureMyVan.ie Division One after they emerged from St Mary’s Hall with a 90-79 victory on Saturday night, while McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles dug out a convincing 92-70 win over MissQuote.ie Division One rivals, Limerick Sport Huskies in the Virginia Show Centre.

 

Limerick Celtics Head Coach, Tony Hehir was delighted to see his team make it out of St Mary’s Hall with all three points following their 90-79 victory over InsureMyVan.ie Division One rivals, Kavanagh’s Portlaoise Panthers on Saturday night.

The visitors made an explosive start, outscoring the joint North Conference leaders by 13 points in the opening quarter and, while a 30-point performance by Ravel Moody helped reduce Panthers’ arrears to just four, they could not stop the visitors from pulling clear down the stretch.

Limerick’s Michael Hood also hit 30 points on the night while Miles Felletti-O’Donnell and Justin Motley chipped with a further 45, the latter also chalking up a huge 19 rebounds.

“I was really happy with our team performance” said Hehir.

“Portlaoise is always a tough place to play and Panthers came back strong in the fourth quarter, but our lads showed great composure to close out this exciting game and take a really important away win” he smiled.

Drogheda Wolves capitalised on that setback for Portlaoise to draw level with them at the top of the North Conference following their 107-95 victory over Limerick Sport Eagles in Ballymakenny College.

Francisco Antonio Cruz Dias landed 29 points, with Adam Mulally and Justin Copman combining for a further 44, as Drogheda battled their way back from a 13-point deficit at the end of the first quarter to win the next three and secure the spoils.

SETU Carlow ensured they remained out in front in the South Conference thanks to their 97-88 success away to Mater Private Malahide.

Lawrence Summers and Michael Wallace were both huge in offence for Martin Conroy’s side with 32 and 30-point hauls respectively, as they overcame a Malahide outfit for whom Daniel Heaney (26 points) and Oisin Rice (25) led the way in attack.

Tearing into 13-point lead by the end of the opening quarter, UCD Marian earned a 75-58 victory over Titans BC in Knocknacarra Community Centre with Tobias Christensen top-scoring on 23 points and Rory Steen bagging a total of 13 rebounds for the Dubliners.

SETU Waterford Vikings saw off the challenge of Joels Dublin Lions 81-74 in the SETU Arena, with five players finishing up on double figures for the homeside, including Jay Kavanagh on 21 points and Ryan Jackson on 19.

Dewan White netted 18 points and soaked up 11 rebounds as Moy Tolka Rovers beat Scotts Lakers Killarney 92-84 in Tolka Rovers Sports Complex.

In what was a meeting of the bottom sides in the North and South Conferences, Team NorthWest won out 77-62 against Killarney Cougars in Presentation Gym, Christian Simmons serving up a mighty display for the victors that featured 33 points and 16 rebounds.

 

In MissQuote.ie Division One, McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles recorded a convincing 92-70 win over Limerick Sport Huskies in the Virginia Show Centre with Destiny Robinson’s again making quite the impact with 20 points and 14 rebounds.

Emillia Sexton Pinon and Niamh Tolan were also in fine form as they delivered a total of 35 points and 14 rebounds against a Limerick side that was driven on largely by Scout Frame’s contribution of 29 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.

“It was great to get back to winning ways after our defeat last week to St Paul's” remarked McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles Head Coach, Maeve Coleman.

“We played good defence for the majority of the game and kept Scout Frame to six points in the first half. All-in-all, it was a good team performance with all 11 players contributing” she said.

Oblate Dynamos also returned to winning ways with an emphatic 79-50 success at home to Moy Tolka Rovers.

Leading by just four points at the half-time break, the Drimnagh side hit the afterburners in the second half, confining their opponents to just 17 points in that period while a 31-point display by Alarie Mayze helped propel them well clear.

Marble City Hawks remain rooted to the bottom of the South Conference this season after they suffered a 73-53 reversal at the hands of Phoenix Rockets in O’Loughlin Gaels GAA Club.

Templeogue bolstered their drive for the North Conference crown after they inflicted a heavy 101-50 loss on SETU Carlow in Nord Anglia International School, Lauren Darcy hitting 19 points for the  Dubliners, while Lynn Tunnah, and Madeline Holland were among a further four players in double figures.

The final match in this round of MissQuote.ie Division One fixtures saw Limerick Celtics take all four quarters to earn a 79-51 victory over Abbey Seals Dublin Lions in Crescent College.

Lucy Devoy emerged the game’s top scorer on 23 points, while Mikayla Brandon and Amy Buckley each chipped in with an additional 18 to help the homeside to a comfortable win.