FloMAX Liffey Celtics remain out in front while Templeogue battle back to clinch first win of the season

FloMAX Liffey Celtics marked their first home game of the 2024/25 Women’s Super League with a 77-65 victory over Trinity Meteors to remain top of the table, while Templeogue got off the mark in the Men’s Super League, battling back from 13 points down to card a narrow 90-86 road win over Energywise Ireland Neptune.

FloMAX Liffey Celtics remain three points clear at the top of the Women’s Super League table after they easily weathered a late surge by Trinity Meteors to win out 77-65 in what was their first home game of the 2024/25 campaign.

The Leixlip side finished with five players in double figures, including Alexis Tucker and Sorcha Tiernan who totalled 29 points, with Kate O’Flaherty draining four of her six attempts from beyond the arc on her way to 12 to help see the hosts past a Trinity outfit that relied heavily on Emma Merriweather and the 31 points and 11 rebounds she put up on the night.

“I was frustrated at how we closed the game out” admitted FloMAX Liffey Celtics head coach, Karl Kilbride. “We went up by about 20, but we took our foot off the gas and they’re way too good for us to take them lightly.

“But, look, we just won a game by 12 against a really good team, and yet we’re still not happy with that, which is a good sign. We’ve got a lot more to come” he insisted.

Catalyst Fr. Mathews made a return to winning ways after they surmounted a tough challenge from Midland Park Portlaoise Panthers to win out at home 83-73.

Just the 1️⃣ point in it at the halfway mark 😮

Catalyst Fr. Mathew’s 46-45 Midland Park Portlaoise Panthers#BISL | #BITV pic.twitter.com/5PKFPuIZ9Y

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) October 19, 2024

Just a point separated the two sides at the half-time break, but the homeside began to pull further ahead in the second half, Kyra White putting up 14 in that period to take her overall tally to a game-high 23 points, just two the better of Portlaoise’s Lynn Tunnah.

 Midland Park Portlaoise Panthers' Lynn Tunnah

In what was a titanic battle, SETU Waterford Wildcats edged a 69-65 win on the road against The Address UCC Glanmire, Chelsea Cain recording a big night with 20 points and a stunning 21 rebounds for the visitors.

The two sides tied three of the four quarters, with Waterford carving out that decisive four-point cushion in the third, on a night that saw Kate and Sarah Hickey combine for 31 points and 17 rebounds for the winners, to help counter the impressive 27-point haul that DelJanae Williams recorded for Glanmire.

Defending Women’s Super League champions, Killester bounced back from their four-point reversal at the hands of Trinity Meteors the week before, to serve up a 112-50 rout of table props, University of Galway Mystics in Clontarf on Saturday evening.

Mark Grennell’s side ended the match with five players in double figures, including the game’s top scorer, Destiny Strother on 29 points that included 15 from beyond the arc, with Ieva Bagdanaviciene amassing a further 24 points and eight rebounds.

Templeogue finally got off the mark in this season’s Men’s Super League, battling their way back from 13 points down almost midway through the second quarter to emerge 90-86 winners away to Energywise Ireland Neptune on Saturday night.

Hear from Templeogue Head Coach Mark Keenan on his side’s win against Energywise Ireland Neptune in the Men’s Super League 🗣️#BISL | #BITV pic.twitter.com/gHDB1PnbrO

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) October 19, 2024

Immanuel Allen enjoyed a huge night for the Dubliners, amassing 42 points and 14 rebounds, while Tavias Fagan’s additional 20 points also helped address and damage inflicted by Neptune’s Ar’mond Davis and Nil Sabata Vila who combined for 55.

“I’m delighted with the win” said Templeogue head coach, Mark Keenan. “The guys were immense tonight. We dug a hole for ourselves early on, but credit to the lads, they never gave up and put in a great fourth quarter.”

Reigning Super League champions, Griffith College Éanna kept their unbeaten record intact at the expense of that of Flexachem KCYMS, whom they beat 80-68 in Coláiste Éanna.

It was a decisive third quarter that saw Darren McGovern’s side make it four from four as they outscored their opponents by 22 points in that period, Joshua Wilson and Sean Jenkins accounting for 16 on their way to a combined 37 against a Killorglin outfit for whom Jordan Blount put up 21 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.

The only other unbeaten side left in this season’s campaign, Garvey’s Tralee Warriors chalked up a big 101-87 road win against UCD Marian.

Despite a 33-point haul for Jonathan Jean on the night, the hosts were unable to stop their Kerry rivals making it four from four as Marquavian Stephens and Daniel Jokubaitis led their charge with a combined 47 points.

Belfast Star found another gear in overtime to see off UCC Demons 121-110 in Newforge Sports Complex.

Max Richardson drained a vital three-pointer in the closing minute to see Star draw level at 102 points apiece and force extra time, during which Maurice Jones put up a further 10 to take his overall tally to 28 and effectively propel the hosts over the line.

Aidan Quinn and Maximillian Cooper also delivered for Star with a combined 45 points which was essential in fending off a Demons side for whom Elijah Tillman, James Hannigan and Sean Clancy combined for a colossal 84 points.

Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU took off in the second half to chalk up an emphatic 96-61 win over Maree in the MTU Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Just two points separated the two teams at the half-time recess, but the homeside clicked into gear when they returned to the court, Todd Wolfe proving key to that surge as he hit 25 second-half points to take his overall tally to 35, with Jordan Rawls and Joshua Tomaic weighing in with a further 33 between them.

Killester picked up their second win of the new campaign after they prevailed 87-80 against EJ Sligo All-Stars in Mercy College.

Kason Harrell emerged the game’s top scorer on 26 points with Paul Dick adding a further 23, while Jevonnie Scott was Sligo’s most prolific scorer on the night with 22.

In Women’s Division One, iSecure Swords Thunder made it three from three by way of a 75-67 triumph over Oblate Dynamos in ALSAA on Saturday evening. Limerick Sport Huskies shipped their first loss of the campaign after they went down 67-53 against McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles in St. Munchin’s College. Templeogue chalked up a 58-51 victory away to Cleveland Rockets in Lisburn Racquets Club, while Abbey Seals Dublin Lions enjoyed a 100-86 success at home to Limerick Celtics in Coláiste Bríde.

 In Men’s Division One, Limerick Celtics, Titans BC and Mater Private Malahide all extended their unbeaten runs to three games, the former chalking up an impressive 96-73 road win over SETU Waterford Vikings, while Titans returned home from Kerry having beaten Scotts Lakers Killarney 93-84 and Malahide carded a 97-85 home win over Drogheda Wolves. Moy Tolka Rovers registered their first loss of the season against an Ulster University side who, subsequently, got off the mark in Division One following their 79-71 success in Tolka Rovers Sports Complex. Joels Dublin Lions still await their first win after they were beaten 73-61 by Team NorthWest in Coláiste Bríde. Killarney Cougars and Tipp Talons have also yet to open their account in Division One after losing out on the road against Maigh Cuilinn (98-84) and Limerick Sport Eagles (87-82) respectively.