National League

Feb 12 2024

Moy Tolka Rovers earn big road victory while iSecure Swords Thunder move to within one win of North Conference title

Moy Tolka Rovers carded a big 94-86 success on the road against Limerick Sport Eagles to ensure they remain in the shake-up for the InsureMyVan.ie Division One North Conference title, while iSecure Swords Thunder moved to within one win of securing the same in MissQuote.ie Division One after they saw off Oblate Dynamos 86-73 in ALSAA on Saturday.

Moy Tolka Rovers kept themselves very much in the reckoning for the InsureMyVan.ie Division One North Conference crown after they finished strongly to beat Limerick Sport Eagles 94-86 in UL Arena on Saturday night.

Fuelled largely by Dewan White’s 31-point haul and the combined 44 from Jaja Davis and Elijah Faapito, the Dubliners outscored the Kealan Coats-inspired Limerick by 12 down the stretch to secure a valuable victory on the road that keeps them within six points of conference leaders Drogheda Wolves.

“It was a great game, more like a play-off than a regular league game” said Moy Tolka Rovers, head coach Hunor Harkai.

“Well done to my players for their passion and how they managed to rotate well in the different team defences, with different team structure.

“This win will give us big confidence ahead of some hard games” he insisted.

Drogheda Wolves remained out in front at the top of the North Conference after they recorded an 86-80 road win against Joels Dublin Lions.

In a battle that saw each side take two quarters, it was Drogheda who prevailed in Coláiste Bríde as Justin Copman emerged one of four players on double figures with 20 points to help edge out a Lions team that was kept in it by the combined 44 from Brendan Trapper and Evan Blackmon.

Kavanagh’s Portlaoise Panthers secured a play-off berth after they dug out a hard-fought 74-65 victory away to Team NorthWest.

Liam Kinsella put up his biggest total ever in National League basketball, emerging with 31 points, as Portlaoise fought back from six down at the outset of the fourth quarter to see off their hosts, for whom Christian Simmons netted 29.

Limerick Celtics and SETU Carlow remain deadlocked at the top of the South Conference after they both carded victories on Saturday.

The former turned the screw on Killarney Cougars down the stretch to win out 101-87 in Presentation Gym, Da’kquan Davis spearheading their attack with a huge 38 points while Andrew Whistett was just six off that total and also soaked up 16 rebounds.

Limerick Celtics' Da’kquan Davis in action for his previous club, UCC Demons

Martin Hill and Darius Hopkins, together amassed 61 points, but it was still not enough to salvage a win for Killarney who were outscored by 11 in the final quarter.

SETU Carlow pulled clear in the second and third quarters as they recorded an emphatic 101-77 triumph over Titans BC in Barrow Centre.

Michael Wallace notched up 24 points for the hosts while Xabier Arriaga drained six of his nine attempts from the three-point line on his way to a total of 23 as they denied a Titans side, for whom Deontae Robertson finished top scorer on 26.

Tobias Christensen picked up 18 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists as UCD Marian won out 88-71 away to Mater Private Malahide.

The victory keeps them third in the North Conference table, six points off leaders Drogheda Wolves.

Scotts Lakers Killarney edged a 77-73 victory over SETU Waterford Vikings thanks in no small measure to Leondre Washington’s 35 point-haul and the combined 23 rebounds from Paul Clarke and Eoin Carroll in Killarney Sports & Leisure Centre.

Idris Joyner nailed six of his eight efforts from beyond the arc en route to a game high 36 points, but even that contribution was not enough to see Waterford pick up, what would have been, their fourth win on the bounce.

In the MissQuote.ie Division One, iSecure Swords Thunder moved to within one win of the North Conference title after they beat Oblate Dynamos 86-73 in ALSAA.

Jensen Caretti and Jasmine Walker delivered huge performances for the homeside, with a combined 52 points, 22 rebounds and nine assists as Swords hit the afterburners in the fourth quarter, outscoring their opponents by nine in that period.

 Jensen Caretti of iSecure Swords Thunder

“We’re really happy to get the win against a tough Oblates team” said iSecure Swords Thunder head coach, Paul Carr.

“We haven't had a home game since the 12th of December, so it was nice to be back in ALSAA and we needed the home support to get us over the line with so many players missing through injury and illness.

“Jensen Caretti again showed why she is one of the best players in the league, not only as a scorer and a rim-protector, but also as a playmaker” he added.

Swords’ closest challengers Templeogue fought back from six points down late in the third quarter to earn a 79-70 victory over Phoenix Rockets in the National Basketball Arena.

Alisha Lewis hit 27 points for the hosts, while also registering 13 rebounds and seven assists, which proved crucial in countering the effects of Phoenix’s heavy hitters Aaliyah Rice and Jay Ashby who combined for 35.

Emilia Pinon and Destiny Robinson served up a total of 42 points as McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles carded an 88-74 triumph over Abbey Seals Dublin Lions in the Virginia Show Centre.

Sydney Kin had a huge game for Lions with 20 points and 19 rebounds, but even that impressive record could not inspire the Clondalkin side to a victory over Cavan who could still finish anywhere among the top three in the North Conference.

 Abbey Seals Dublin Lions player Sydney Kin

South Conference champions, St Paul’s Killarney showed no signs of taking their foot off the gas as they beat Moy Tolka Rovers 64-55 in Killarney Sports & Leisure Centre.

Sofia Paska continued to make her presence felt for the Kerry side, top scoring on 23 points and soaking up 11 rebounds, as St Paul’s put together a strong third quarter that went a long way to securing this win.

Limerick Celtics took the inside track in the race for second place in this group after they beat neighbouring rivals, Limerick Sport Huskies 84-56 in Crescent College on Sunday.

A dominant first-half performance saw Celtics open up a 24-point gap by the break as Mikayla Brandon top-scored on 22 with 12 rebounds, while Samantha Coleman weighed in with a further 19 points.

SETU Carlow picked up only their second win of the season when they beat fellow strugglers Marble City Hawks 93-79 in O’Loughlin Gaels GAA Club.

Miah Ryan and Jahnae Gyles, together put up 51 points and 14 rebounds for Carlow who really took off in the fourth quarter to pull clear of a dogged Marble City side for whom Aoibhin Dunphy drained four of her six three-point attempts on her way to a total of 25.