Pyrobel Killester edge out fellow title contenders FloMAX Liffey Celtics while Garvey’s Tralee Warriors battle back to deny UCC Demons

Lead Image: Rachel Huijsdens of FloMAX Celtics defends against Claire Melia of Killester // Michelle LaGrue Photography

Pyrobel Killester ensured they remain well in contention for this season’s MissQuote.ie Super League crown after they edged a narrow 81-78 win over FloMAX Liffey Celtics, while in the InsureMyVan.ie Super League, Garvey’s Tralee Warriors fought back from 26 points down to beat UCC Demons 90-84 in Tralee Sports Complex. 

Pyrobel Killester underscored their title credentials in the race for this season MissQuote.ie Super League crown after they dug out an 81-78 home victory over fellow contenders FloMAX Liffey Celtics on Saturday.

Both sides were looking to bounce back swiftly from their InsureMyHouse.ie Paudie O’Connor National Cup elimination the previous week and it was the Claire Melia-inspired Dubliners who returned to winning ways to keep the heat on Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell at the top.

“Sometimes you have to win while not being at your best and that's what I feel we did today” said Pyrobel Killester head coach, Mark Grennell.

“The win is obviously important as we can't afford to fall any further behind. We needed to keep the pressure on those in front” he stressed.

Killester’s next opponents, SETU Waterford Wildcats made it three wins on the bounce in the top tier after they saw off defending champions The Address UCC Glanmire 81-72 in Mercy Gym.

Shanai’jah Davison produced another impressive display with 27 points for the homeside, while Sarah Hickey, fresh from her 40-point performance for Waterford’s Under 20s in their National Cup semi-final victory over FloMAX Liffey Celtics the week before, mopped up 13 rebounds and as many points on Saturday.

For Glanmire, Cheah Real Whitsitt was the star performer, with 26 points and 14 rebounds, but even that weighty contribution could not stop the champions suffering their fifth loss in the league so far this season.

Ulster University returned home from St Mary’s Hall having weathered a spirited challenge from strugglers, Portlaoise Panthers to earn a 71-57 victory.

Finding themselves 11 points down against their hosts almost midway through the second quarter, Ulster increased their physicality under the boards to produce a comeback that was largely fuelled by Trinity Oliver’s 28 points and 15 rebounds.

Jessica Fressle battled hard for the hosts, as did Alyssa Velles and Brahe Ashton, but their combined 47 points, could not drive Portlaoise on to a much sought-after win.

Head coach, John Dowling was unequivocal regarding how he felt about his players following their remarkable comeback against UCC Demons that earned them a 90-84 victory in Friday night’s InsureMyVan.ie Super League clash in Tralee Sports Complex.

Indeed, the hangover from an agonising InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy National Cup exit at the hands of Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig@MTU the week before, looked set to be prolonged for Tralee who found themselves 26 points adrift of Demons just over three minutes into the second quarter.

But, inspired by Daniel Jokubaitis, who emerged with a game-high 21, Tralee began to the turn the tide and won all of the three remaining quarters, as Caleb Jordan served up nine assists while Kieran Donaghy and Rapolas Buivydas made their presence felt under the boards with a combined 17 rebounds.

“The performance by this group, to come from 26 down, shows the belief we have in Tralee and I am so proud of how hard they battled to pull this one out of the fire” said Dowling.

Belfast Star head coach, Adrian Fulton was equally proud of his side’s battling qualities as they survived three rounds of overtime to eventually see off a dogged EJ Sligo All-Stars outfit 98-97 in De La Salle College.

The North Conference table toppers appeared to be coasting by the half-time recess, at which point they led by 21 points, but, inspired by Chrishon Briggs who bagged 31 on the night, Sligo battled back to draw level at 77 points apiece by the final buzzer.

But, with Frenki Lilaj serving up 24 points and 17 rebounds and Patrick McGaharan and Conor Quinn also delivering big displays on the night, Belfast did just enough to clinch this one.

“It was a titanic struggle and both sets of players left everything on the floor” said Fulton.

“We’re just pleased that we managed to show terrific spirit and find a way to grind out an excellent win” he added.

Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig managed to keep pace with their Kerry rivals at the top of the South Conference after they edged a 90-87 victory away to Flexachem KCYMS in Killorglin Sports Complex.

While Terry Winn carded 24 points and 19 rebounds for the hosts, Shawdale Jones Jr drained a huge 34 points and Adrian O’Sullivan and Andre Nation combined for 38 for the visitors, who will now be turning their attention to Saturday’s InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy National Cup decider against UCC Demons.

Kason Harrell served up a monstrous 50 points as Pyrobel Killester beat Griffith College Éanna 110-91 to draw level with their Rathfarnham rivals in second place in North Conference.

Only a solitary point separated the two sides as they approached the midway point of the third-quarter, but, with Harrell on fire throughout, the visitors eventually stormed to a 19-point victory.

Even a 35-point haul by William Jenkins was not enough to inspire Bright St. Vincent’s to success against Energywise Ireland Neptune, who bounced back from their InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy Cup semi-final exit with a 105-94 triumph over their Dublin rivals in Neptune Stadium.

The Cork side finished this tie with five players on double figures, including Cian Heaphy and Jordan Blount who each chalked up 21, the latter also serving up 17 rebounds and seven assists.

A disappointing second quarter, in which they were outscored by 15, proved costly for Templeogue as they went down 80-70 to Ulster University in Nord Anglia International School.

Eric Anderson led the way for the visitors with 18 points and 11 rebounds while Conor Liston netted 16 to see off a Templeogue side for whom Lonzia Tyson chalked up 18 points and as many rebounds.

Meanwhile in the Kingfisher Sports Arena, Maree surmounted a tough challenge from Maigh Cuilinn to win out 82-76 with Terence Lewis II accounting for 20 points and 12 rebounds for the winners while Grant Olsson carded the exact same for the visitors.

In the MissQuote.ie Division One, Abbey Seals Dublin Lions were unable to carry the momentum generated by their InsureMyHouse.ie Division One Cup semi-final success into their latest league outing against St Paul’s Killarney, losing out 87-64 to the South Conference leaders in Killarney Sports & Leisure Centre. McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles maintained their interest in the battle for the North Conference top spot following their 80-56 win over Marble City Hawks in the Virginia Show Centre, while Phoenix Rockets picked up only their third league win so far this season when they saw off Moy Tolka Rovers 70-50 in Lisburn.

In the InsureMyVan.ie Division One, joint North Conference leaders, Kavanagh’s Portlaoise Panthers were taken to double overtime before digging out a nailbiting 106-105 victory over a tenacious Scotts Lakers Killarney in St Mary’s Hall. Drogheda Wolves kept pace with the Laois side at the top of the table following their 80-75 triumph over SETU Carlow in Ballymakenny College, while UCD Marian delivered an emphatic 106-68 home win over Limerick Celtics. Team NorthWest denied Titans BC a second win of the season after they emerged victorious 93-81 in the Foyle Arena, Limerick Sport Huskies returned home from Coláiste Bríde celebrating a 96-83 win over Joels Dublin Lions, SETU Waterford Vikings were back to winning ways following their 91-81 success at Mater Private Malahide and Moy Tolka Rovers ensured it was a long trip home for Killarney Cougars after their beat their Kerry opponents 82-66.

 

Results

 

MissQuote.ie Super League

Saturday January 13

Pyrobel Killester 81 - 78 FloMAX Liffey Celtics

SETU Waterford Wildcats 81 - 72 The Address UCC Glanmire

Portlaoise Panthers 57 - 71 Ulster University

Sunday January 14

DCU Mercy vs University of Galway Mystics

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell vs Trinity Meteors

 

InsureMyVan.ie Super League

Friday January 12

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 90 - 84 UCC Demons

Saturday January 13

Belfast Star 98 - 97 EJ Sligo All-Stars

Energywise Ireland Neptune 105 - 94 Bright St. Vincent’s

Templeogue 70 - 80 Ulster University

Griffith College Éanna 91 - 110 Pyrobel Killester

Maree 82 - 76 Maigh Cuilinn

Flexachem KCYMS 87 - 90 Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig@MTU

 

MissQuote.ie Division One

Saturday January 13

Phoenix Rockets 70 - 50 Moy Tolka Rovers

McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles 80 - 56 Marble City Hawks

St. Pauls Killarney 87 - 64 Abbey Seals Dublin Lions

Sunday January 14

Limerick Sport Huskies vs Oblate Dynamos

SETU Carlow vs iSecure Swords Thunder

Limerick Celtics vs Templeogue

 

InsureMyVan.ie Division One

Saturday January 13

Team NorthWest 93 - 81 Titans BC

Joels Dublin Lions 83 - 96 Limerick Sport Eagles

Moy Tolka Rovers 82 - 66 Killarney Cougars

Mater Private Malahide 81 - 91 SETU Waterford Vikings

UCD Marian 106 - 68 Limerick Celtics

Drogheda Wolves 80 - 75 SETU Carlow

Kavanagh’s Portlaoise Panthers 106 - 105 Scotts Lakers Killarney

 

InsureMyHouse.ie National Cup Final Fixtures

 

Friday, January 19th InsureMyHouse.ie IWA National Cup: 1800 Rebel Wheelers v South East Swifts InsureMyHouse.ie U18 Men’s Billy Coffey National Cup 2015 Joels Dublin Lions v Phoenix BC   Saturday, January 20th InsureMyHouse.ie U20 Men’s National Cup 1000 Limerick Celtics v Titans BC InsureMyHouse.ie Women’s Division 1 National Cup 1215 Limerick Celtics v Abbey Seals Dublin Lions InsureMyHouse.ie Presidents’ Cup 1430 Limerick Sport Eagles v UCD Marian InsureMyHouse.ie U20 Women’s National Cup 1645 Waterford Wildcats v Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy Cup: 2000 Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU v UCC Demons   Sunday, January  21st InsureMyHouse.ie Women’s National Intermediate Cup Competition 1000 FloMAX Liffey Celtics v Portlaoise Panthers InsureMyHouse.ie U18 Women’s National Cup 1215 Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell v Meteors InsureMyHouse.ie Men’s National Intermediate Cup Competition 1430 Éanna BC v Carrick Cruisers InsureMyHouse.ie Paudie O’Connor Cup 1730 Catalyst Fr. Mathews v Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell