SETU Waterford Wildcats hand FloMAX Liffey Celtics their first loss while Killester unhinge champions Griffith College Éanna

SETU Waterford Wildcats handed FloMAX Liffey Celtics their first loss of the 2024/25 Women’s Super League season, edging a 75-72 win in Mercy College on Saturday evening, while Killester ignited a double-game weekend in the Men’s Super League by unhinging the unbeaten defending champions, Griffith College Éanna 84-80 in Coláiste Éanna on Friday night.

SETU Waterford Wildcats dished out a first defeat of the 2024/25 Women’s Super League season to FloMAX Liffey Celtics, edging the Leixlip side 75-72 in Mercy College on Saturday evening.

The hosts made the early running in this Week Four headliner, opening up a 16-point gap on their opponents who were without the services of the injured Alexis Tucker.

And despite solid scoring from Ciara Bracken (20 points), Sorcha Tiernan (19) and Hazel Finn (19) that helped haul Celtics back on to level terms with two minutes remaining, Wildcats did just enough to make it over the line.

SETU Waterford Wildcats put an end to the FloMAX Liffey Celtics unbeaten train! 🚂 #BISL | #BITV pic.twitter.com/K7bDAXAo6w

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) October 26, 2024

Indeed, late free throws by Sarah and Kate Hickey, who combined for 35 points on the night, along with a timely bucket from the game’s top scorer, Ashia McCalla (25), helped see Waterford make it three wins on the bounce to draw level with their opponents and Killester at the top of the table.

“We’re absolutely delighted for the girls to get the win tonight” said SETU Waterford Wildcats head coach, Jillian Hayes.

“It was a very hard-fought game. We started extremely well and we were cruising, but Liffey kept coming back.

“Overall we worked so hard as a team on defence to secure the win. We still have room to improve and lots to work on, but we are gelling together nicely as a team” she smiled.

Killester produced a big fourth-quarter comeback that saw them turn a seven-point deficit into a 73-68 victory away to Utility Trust St. Paul’s.

Eight points down the stretch by Samantha Haiby took her overall tally to 22, while Michelle Clarke and Ieva Bagdanaviciene each served up 13 to help the defending champions scrape over the line against their newly-promoted opponents, for whom Megan Ormiston mopped up a massive 21 rebounds, 18 of which were under her own boards.

Trinity Meteors bounced back from their loss to FloMAX Liffey Celtics the week before, carding a convincing 85-57 triumph over Catalyst Fr. Mathews in Coláiste Íosagáin.

The home side ended the game with no less than six players in double figures, including Sarah Kenny who totalled 16 points and 14 rebounds, that helped counter the game-high 17 points put up by Fr. Mathews’ Aisling McCann on the night.

It was an exciting start to a double-game weekend in the Men’s Super League on Friday night as Killester brought Griffith College Éanna’s 15-game winning streak to an end after they served up an 84-80 defeat to their Dublin rivals in Coláiste Éanna on Friday night.

This duo came up big for @KillesterBball as they took down the 10 month undefeated streak of Griffith College Éanna last night.

The win lifts them up to 4th place in the Men's Super League! #BISL | #IrishBasketball pic.twitter.com/o5MSfaY3Bm

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) October 26, 2024

Kason Harrell and Paul Dick inflicted the bulk of the damage on Darren McGovern’s side with a combined 53 points and 15 rebounds that went a long way to seeing their side exact some measure of revenge for the loss to their Dublin rivals in the Super League Final back in April.

In the other Friday night fixture, Garvey’s Tralee Warriors were forced to scrap tooth and nail to preserve their own unbeaten record in this season’s campaign, seeing off a tenacious Energywise Ireland Neptune 100-94 in Tralee Sports Complex.

The two sides were deadlocked at 80 apiece almost midway through the final quarter, but crucial buckets down the stretch by Marquavian Stephens, Daniel Jokubaitis and Rapolas Buivydas, took their total to 69 and helped see Tralee make it over the line to go clear at the top on 5 and 0.

UCD Marian picked up their first win of the season as they edged out Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU 83-82 at home on Saturday night.

Jonathan Jean was off target only twice throughout the entire game, as he chalked up 32 points to help the Belfield side battle back from six down early in the fourth for the narrowest of wins.

 Jonathan Jean of UCD Marian

Belfast Star boasted five players in double figures as they recorded an 82-73 road win over Flexachem KCYMS, Max Cooper hitting 22 points, while Maurice Jones and Conor Quinn combined for 31.

That went a long way to cancelling out the combined 45 points and 18 rebounds that Beni Fungula  and Jeffrey Okeke put up for the home side.

In Women’s Division One, McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles ended iSecure Swords Thunder’s winning start to the campaign, while extending their own to three games after they chalked up a 59-30 victory in ALSAA on Saturday evening. Limerick Celtics were taken to overtime by a tenacious Oblate Dynamos in Crescent College, but ultimately prevailed 101-98. 

In Men’s Division One, Limerick Celtics, Titans BC and ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers all extended their unbeaten starts to the season, the former storming to a 111-75 victory in their derby against Limerick Sport Eagles in Crescent College. Titans had just a point to spare as they edged a 69-68 win on the road against Maigh Cuilinn, while Portlaoise fought back to from a slow start to beat Team NorthWest 75-68 in St. Mary’s Hall. Mater Private Malahide shipped their first loss of the campaign after they suffered a 90-82 reversal at home against Moy Tolka Rovers. Joels Dublin Lions finally got off the mark in Division One, winning out 95-91 against a Carrick Cruisers side, who themselves are still awaiting their first win of the season. Another big derby saw Scotts Lakers Killarney dig out a 91-86 triumph over Killarney Cougars in Presentation Gym, while SETU Waterford Vikings recorded a 96-82 success against Tipp Talons in Carrickpherish Hall and Drogheda Wolves ran out 92-85 winners over Ulster University in the lone Friday night fixture in Jordanstown Sports Village.