The Address UCC Glanmire pip Killester in overtime as FloMAX Liffey Celtics and SETU Waterford Wildcats stay on track

Killester suffered a setback in the defence of their Women’s Super League title after they were pipped 91-90 in overtime by The Address UCC Glanmire in Mardyke Arena on Sunday, leaving them three points adrift of current leaders, FloMAX Liffey Celtics and SETU Waterford Wildcats who carded respective wins over Catalyst Fr. Mathews (72-59) and University of Galway Mystics (75-65).

An agonising 91-90 overtime defeat at the hands of The Address UCC Glanmire in Mardyke Arena on Sunday cost defending Women’s Super League champions, Killester some ground in the race for the 2024/25 title.

Nine points down with just 46 seconds remaining, Killester produced a stunning comeback as two brilliant efforts from outside the arc by Michelle Clarke book-ended a free-throw and deuce by Hannah Thornton that squared the game at 84-84, subsequently forcing overtime.

Yet Glanmire demonstrated great resolve to ultimately deny the visitors, Miriam Loughrey’s big three being followed up with two buckets from Deljanae Williams to clinch a massive win for Mark Scannell’s side that sees them draw level with Killester in third place.

“We’re delighted with the win, but we made hard work of it” admitted Glanmire boss, Mark Scannell after the final buzzer.

“Killester were really good, especially down the stretch, but having almost blown it, we were defiant and found a way to win” said Scannell, who will see his side go back up against Killester again next month when they meet in the Paudie O’Connor National Cup quarter finals in Clontarf.

Despite a disappointing final quarter in which they were outscored by 11, FloMAX Liffey Celtics still emerged 72-59 winners from their clash at home against Catalyst Fr. Mathews on Saturday night to move to 5 and 1 at the top of the Women’s Super League.

A big third-quarter performance that saw them outgun their Cork opponents by 12, helped propel Celtics 26 points clear with just over seven minutes remaining, Alexis Tucker putting up 15 on the night, while Sorcha Tiernan and Hazel Finn weighed in with a further 24.

And, while it was to prove too wide of a gap for Fr. Mathews to bridge, they will be encouraged by their performance down the stretch, especially ahead of their return to Leixlip Amenities for a date with Celtics in the last eight of the Paudie O’Connor National Cup next month.

“Other than the last four minutes, our defence was really good for the most part, so it’s really disappointing that we finished the game like that” sighed Karl Kilbride, FloMAX Liffey Celtics head coach.

“We did a dreadful job in our transition defence, we did a dreadful job rebounding the ball defensively. I couldn’t be any less happy with how we finished the game, but, at the same time, we won and we held a really good team to 59, so we’ll move on” he said.

SETU Waterford Wildcats kept pace with their Leixlip rivals at the top of the table after they recorded a 75-65 victory away to University of Galway Mystics.

While Sarah Hickey emerged the game’s most prolific scorer on 25 points, Chelsea Gain served up a monster performance under the boards, mopping up a huge 22 rebounds, while also carding 18 points and five assists to help see off a Galway outfit for whom Kara McCleane put up 23 points and 11 rebounds.

Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers bounced back from their heavy loss to defending champions, Killester last week with a thrilling 61-58 road win over Utility Trust St. Paul’s on Saturday evening.

Deadlocked at 21 points apiece at the break, this game saw the hosts continue to snap at the heels of Portlaoise right to the final buzzer, Jessica Fressle and Lynn Tunnah holding their nerve on the free-throw line over the closing minute to help see the visitors prevail.

Both players emerged with 14 points apiece for Panthers, while co-captain Alyssa Velles served up a game-high 18, with Amy Dooley very effective under the boards on 11 rebounds and 10 points.

Every bit of their contribution was essential in fending off a tenacious St. Paul’s who, themselves, had four players in double figures, including Megan Ormiston, who served up 13 points and combined with Lorraine Scanlon for 25 rebounds.

“We knew going down there that there’d be nothing between the sides and that’s the way it turned out” remarked Keith Conroy, Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers head coach.

“I thought some of our execution was good, but they were always going to make a run back at us and they did.

“But we made our free throws and they missed a couple coming down the line and that’s what won us the game” he said.

Facing a 14-point deficit midway through the third quarter, Guarranabraher Credit Union Brunell fought back to see off Trinity Meteors 91-83 at home on Sunday afternoon, thus avoiding a third straight defeat in the league.

Trinity Hudson and Deaja Richardson undoubtedly fuelled this impressive comeback as they served up a combined 57 points to deny a Trinity outfit that looked to be motoring as Emma Merriweather carded 20 points with Morgan Lenahan and Grace Prenter each weighing in with a further 18.

In Men’s Division One, ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers remained top of the North Conference after carding a big 92-74 win on the road against Scotts Lakers Killarney to move to 7 and 0 in the table.

Limerick Celtics, meanwhile, tightened their grip on first place in the South Conference after they stormed to a 103-75 victory over Moy Tolka Rovers in Crescent College on Sunday.

Titans BC made a return to winning ways in the wake of defeats at the hands of the top two sides in Division One, after they fended off Mater Private Malahide for a 75-72 success in Ballinfoyle Castlegar Centre.

Killarney Cougars finally got off the mark in the South Conference, after they recorded a 93-86 victory away to Carrick Cruisers in Phoenix Centre, while Drogheda Wolves ran out 81-70 winners over Maigh Cuilinn in University of Galway Kingfisher and Team NorthWest carded an 83-76 triumph at home to Limerick Sport Eagles in ATU Donegal.

In Women’s Division One, McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles extended their unbeaten run at the top of the table to four games after they beat Limerick Celtics 69-52 in Virginia Show Centre on Saturday evening.

Cleveland Rockets made it three wins on the bounce after they surmounted Abbey Seals Dublin Lions 87-69 in Coláiste Bríde, while Oblate Dynamos picked up their first victory of the campaign at the expense of Moy Tolka Rovers, seeing off their Dublin rivals 78-60 in Inchicore.

Limerick Sport Huskies inflicted a third straight defeat on Templeogue after they weathered a third-quarter wobble to emerge 64-55 winners in St. Munchin’s College.