Limerick Celtics, ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers and McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles maintain perfect records heading into new year

Both Limerick Celtics and ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers head into the new year with their unbeaten records in Men’s Division One still intact, the former carding a 95-79 road win over Maigh Cuilinn on Saturday night, while Panthers edged a thrilling 79-77 victory at home to Ulster University in St. Mary’s Hall on Sunday. It is a similar scenario for McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles in Women’s Division One, as they moved to 9 and 0 at the summit in the wake of their 75-48 triumph over Cleveland Rockets in Virginia Show Centre on Saturday.

Men’s Division One, South Conference leaders, Limerick Celtics outgunned Maigh Cuilinn by 17 points in the opening quarter on their way to a 95-79 win in University of Galway Kingfisher on Saturday night that extended their perfect league run to 12 games.

Aitor Munoz served up a big performance with 32 points and 15 rebounds, but even that impressive return was not enough to inspire the hosts to a comeback.

Indeed, Limerick were not short on heavy hitters themselves with Ariyon Williams, Finn Hughes and Abdul Wurie putting up a huge total of 78 points between them.

“Our lads had an improved intensity on defence which helped us open up a good lead in the first quarter” said Tony Hehir, Limerick Celtics head coach.

“Maigh Cullen came back well, but we had big contributions on the night from all our team to close out a good away league win” he added.

ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers were forced to weather a much tougher test in their bid to move to 11 and 0 at the top of the North Conference, as they edged a thrilling 79-77 victory over Ulster University in St. Mary’s Hall on Sunday afternoon.

Xabier Arriaga went off outside the arc, draining seven of his 11 attempts from downtown on his way to a 28-point total, every bit of which was needed to stave off a relentless Ulster outfit for whom Conor Liston totalled 24 points, while Nathan Karren and Curtis Larousse soaked up a colossal 31 rebounds.

“This was definitely one where we got out of jail” admitted Portlaoise Panthers head coach, Jack Scully.

“Even before the game started, I felt it was going to be a tight one. They match up with us really well size-wise and we struggled with their physicality for the whole game.

“Our offence wasn’t ticking as efficiently as we would have liked, but we’re absolutely delighted to get another win on the board” he said.

Mater Private Malahide had to go to double overtime to clinch a 111-107 victory over Joels Dublin Lions in Malahide Community School on Saturday evening.

A huge three by Kevin Anyanwu saw Lions level it up at 90 points apiece with just four seconds of regulation time remaining, and while the two sides could not be separated after an additional five minutes, Malahide took control with a seven-point run at the start of OT2, Mattew Harper hitting two threes and as many from the free-throw line in that period.

Romonn Nelson finished up on 29 points for the hosts with Sean Fitzpatrick weighing in with a further 18 on the scoreboard, along with 16 rebounds, to help address Evan Cook’s enormous 39 point-haul and Aidan Igiehon’s additional 25 points and 17 rebounds for Lions.

SETU Waterford Vikings ended a run of six defeats after they beat Killarney Cougars 88-77 in SETU Arena.

Aaron Jackson played a huge part in that much-needed W for the homeside with a game-high 38 points, along with 10 rebounds, while Kani Glover netted 32 for Killarney and combined with Andrew Fitzgerald for 23 possession wins under the boards.

Drogheda Wolves had four players on, or in excess of 20 points, as they recorded an emphatic 122-70 success against Team NorthWest in Ballymakenny College.

Dimitrios Theocharis and Christian Simmons totalled 55 points between them for the homeside, the latter also soaking up 14 rebounds, while Tiago Pereira carded 10 assists against a Team NorthWest side whose own Shakeil Bertrand bagged 25 points and a huge 19 rebounds on the night.

Moy Tolka Rovers hit the afterburners in the fourth quarter to pull clear of Carrick Cruisers and record a 111-89 home triumph.

While only four points separated the sides at the close of the third quarter, the hosts outgunned their opponents over the closing 10 minutes to win by 22.

While both teams finished with five players in double digits, it was the Tolka contingent who delivered the weightier contributions, Emiliyan Grudov carding a game-high 27, while Mike Wallace and Stephen Commins each served up 25.

 

In Women’s Division One, McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles extended their perfect run to nine games after they carded a 75-48 triumph over Cleveland Rockets in Virginia Show Centre on Saturday evening.

Emma Tolan emerged the game’s most prolific scorer with 22 points, while Rahmena Henderson and Lanetta Williams, who each added a further 16 apiece for the hosts, also dominated under the boards with 25 rebounds between them.

“It was great to get the win against the Rockets” remarked John Stephens, McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles head coach. “They’re always a tough, well-coached outfit.

“The first game after Christmas can be tough, and we needed everyone to be switched on from the jump. Thankfully, we executed well and got the win” he said.

Limerick Celtics ended a run of four straight wins for neighbouring rivals, Limerick Sport Huskies as they emerged 105-97 winners from a hugely entertaining derby in Crescent College on Sunday.

Stephanie McBride certainly made a telling impact for the hosts with a haul of 34 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists, while Louise Scannell, Shelby Harmeyer and Amy Buckley weighed in with a further 67 total, all of which countered the combined 63 from Scout Frame and Delia Moore for Huskies.

Oblate Dynamos’ Adia Brisker matched the game-high 31-point tally that Ciara Wheeler put up for Abbey Seals Dublin Lions to help see her side record an 90-84 win in their Dublin derby in Inchicore.

In what was only their second victory of the campaign so far, Dynamos managed to weather a huge push by their neighbouring rivals down the stretch that left just three points between the sides with just over a minute remaining, Brisker draining crucial free throws to help see the hosts to safety.

iSecure Swords Thunder bounced back from their 14-point reversal against Limerick Sport Huskies the previous week with a 67-55 victory away to Moy Tolka Rovers in their Dublin derby on Sunday afternoon.

Makayla Miller produced a game-high 20 points for the visitors, while Peggy Black and Megan Howe did much of the heavy lifting under the boards with a combined 19 rebounds.