Limerick Celtics stay clear at the top while Tipp Talons get off the mark and Moy Tolka Rovers see off Templeogue

Limerick Celtics put Titans BC to the sword, winning out 94-52 in Crescent College on Sunday to remain three points clear at the top of the Men’s Division One South Conference, while Tipp Talons finally opened their account in this season’s campaign, beating Killarney Cougars 100-64 in Scoil Ruain. In Women’s Division One, Moy Tolka Rovers fought back from 11 points down to see off Templeogue 81-74 at home. 

Tipp Talons got off the mark in the Men’s Division One as they ran out 100-64 winners over Killarney Cougars in Scoil Ruain on Saturday evening.

Confining their opponents to just seven points in the second quarter, Tipp opened up a 19-point advantage by the break and refused to afford Killarney a way back, Shemarri Miles landing a game-high 32 points with Miles O’Donnell contributing an additional 20.

“It’s a very proud day for our club and for Tipperary basketball.” said Niall Berry, Tipp Talons head coach.

“This game felt like the lads took all the lessons they learned from the last few weeks and used them to put in a top performance, and as a coach, I couldn’t be prouder of the boys and their resilience.

“We’re now looking forward to seeing if we can build on this win with more solid performances and, hopefully, a few more wins under our belt by Christmas” he added.

Limerick Celtics remained three points clear at the summit of the South Conference following their emphatic 94-52 victory over Titans BC in Crescent College in the Sunday afternoon fixture.

The hosts wasted little time in taking command of this game as they rocketed into an 18-point lead by the close of the first quarter, Finn Hughes and Ariyon Williams inflicting the bulk of the damage on their Galway rivals as they netted a 52-point total.

“The lads worked really hard from the tip-off and opened up a commanding lead early in the game” said Limerick head coach, Tony Hehir. “It was great to see our young Irish players contributing so much in this game” he added.

North Conference leaders, ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers were made scrap tooth and nail for a sixth straight win in Division One, edging out Drogheda Wolves 96-93 in Ballymakenny College.

Looking to avoid a third straight league defeat, Drogheda fought right to the final buzzer, Christian Simmons and Tiago Pereira totalling 50 points on the night, but even that was not enough to deny a Portlaoise side, who had five players in double digits, including Eric Anderson and Xabi Arriaga on a combined 42.

Emiliyan Grudov landed seven of his 13 efforts from outside the arc on his way to a huge 37-point haul, as Moy Tolka Rovers stormed to a 112-87 victory over Joels Dublin Lions in Coláiste Bríde.

Daniel Ayoade and Elijah Faapito, together, weighed in with a further 43 to see the visitors run out comfortable winners against their Clondalkin rivals, despite the best efforts of Aidan Igiehon who chalked up 19 points and as many rebounds, 12 of those in defence.

Scotts Lakers Killarney held firm in the face of Maigh Cuilinn’s attempted fourth-quarter revival to earn an 84-77 win in Killarney Sports & Leisure.

Darnell Snyers and Mikah Blackwell delivered the heavy shots for the hosts, finishing with a combined 57 points and 18 rebounds.

Ignacio Folgueiras served up a monster performance with 38 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists as Limerick Sport Eagles fought back from eight points down at the close of the third quarter to run out 92-81 winners over SETU Waterford Vikings in Carrickpherish Hall on Saturday evening.

With Jame Aboaba and Aaron Jackson each contributing 27 points to Waterford’s cause, it looked like the hosts might well arrest a three-game losing streak, but they were outscored by 19 in the fourth period as Limerick made it back-to-back victories in the league.

Team NorthWest dragged themselves back from 13 points down midway through the second quarter to run out 76-69 winners over Carrick Cruisers in ATU Donegal.

Tyler Mutemasango and Alberto Rodriguez again delivered the goods for the homeside as they totalled 54 points on the night in response to the 23 netted by Carrick’s Shamus Kahl, who also mopped up 16 loose balls under the boards.

Mater Private Malahide crucially shut down Ulster University in the third quarter to earn an 84-73 triumph in Malahide Community School on Saturday.

Indeed, the Dubliners confined their guests to a mere nine points in that period to take the inside track to victory, Murray Hendry and Romonn Nelson yet again fronting the Malahide offence with a total of 57 points and 16 rebounds.

 

In Women’s Division One, Moy Tolka Rovers picked up their second win of the campaign as they fought back from 11 points down late in the second quarter to see off Templeogue 81-74 at home on Saturday night.

Jahnae Gyles bagged a game-high 22 points for the hosts as they surmounted a huge challenge from their Dublin rivals who had four players in double digits, among them Hannah Murphy and Caoimhe Gilligan on a combined 35.

“After a game that ebbed and flowed as much as this one, it was great to get over the line” said a relieved Suzanne Maguire, Tolka Rovers head coach.

“We survived the first half despite not executing well and conceding a lot of bad turnovers. We allowed Templeogue too many easy scores and, positionally, found ourselves wanting a little too often.

“But it was a much-improved performance in the second half. We were a lot more decisive offensively and made shots” she added.

It was a return to winning ways in Women’s Division One for iSecure Swords Thunder as they successfully negotiated a tough challenge from Limerick Celtics to win out 72-64 in ALSAA on Saturday evening.

All square at 36 points apiece at half-time, this tie saw the Dublin side retake the lead in the third, helped no end by the combined 49 points that Makayla Miller and Jasmine Walker served up, the former also taking 12 defensive boards on her way to total of 17 rebounds.

It was a carbon copy record in the boards for Limerick’s Stephanie McBride who also weighed in with 22 points, but even that was not enough to see the travelling party prevail on the night.

Cleveland Rockets picked up their second win of the campaign after seeing off Limerick Sport Huskies 75-68 in Lisburn Racquets Club on Saturday afternoon.

Jessica Fairweather chalked up a game-high 19 points for the hosts, while combining with Georgie McGrath for 24 rebounds and 12 assists, as they held firm in the face of a strong challenge from Limerick, for whom Delia Moore and Scout Frame put up a total of 28 points and 26 rebounds.