Killester remain three points clear while Catalyst Fr. Mathews knock SETU Waterford Wildcats off the summit

Killester remain three points clear at the summit of Men’s Super League following their 103-93 road win over Garvey’s Tralee Warriors on Saturday evening, while in Women’s Super League, Catalyst Fr. Mathews served up only a second loss of the season for SETU Waterford Wildcats, the Cork side running out 108-87 winners in Fr. Mathews Arena. 

Killester held on to top spot in Men’s Super League after they emerged 103-93 winners from their top-of-the-table clash with Garvey’s Tralee Warriors in Tralee Sports Complex on Saturday evening.

Looking to avenge their 19-point reversal at the hands their Kerry rivals back in October and remain at least three points clear at the summit, the Dubliners enlarged their narrow two-point advantage at the break into a 22-point lead with some four minutes to go, Kason Harrell and Paul Dick again delivering the heavy hits with a total haul of 52 points.

And while Tralee, with Marquavian Stephens and Brandon Mahan serving up 49 points between them, kept battling right the way down the stretch, they could only get it back to within ten by the final buzzer.

“We’re really happy with the win which was well-earned” said Jonny Grennell, Killester head coach. “It’s a really tough place to play and Tralee are a really good team, so we had to be at our best and we were for long stretches today. We shot the ball really well and we defended really well.

“It was a performance we needed, because they have so much fire power. They’re brilliant on the boards, really long and athletic, so we just tried to survive in the first half and probably got a little more to grips with it in the second half, but they didn’t make it easy for us at all” he stressed.

UCC Demons moved clear of Tralee in second place after they ran out 90-75 winners over Bright. St. Vincent’s in Mardyke Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Elijah Tillman carded a game-high 28 points and won 14 defensive boards for the hosts, while Patrick Robinson also contributed significantly with 23 points and eight rebounds to help weather a strong test from their Dublin rivals, whose challenge was powered largely by JaRon Thames and Samuel Henderson’s combined 47 points.

Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU bounced back from last week’s one-point loss to Belfast Star with an 88-82 triumph over EJ Sligo All-Stars in MTU Arena.

Down by eight points midway through in the final quarter, the hosts, with five players in double digits including Ciaran O’Sullivan on 20, battled their way back for a victory that also served as some measure of revenge for their loss to Sligo in the last eight of the Pat Duffy National Cup in December.

Defending Men’s Super League champions, Griffith College Éanna got the year off to a positive start as they ran out 80-65 winners over Maree in University of Galway Kingfisher, Joshua Wilson bagging 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Dubliners, while Maree’s Miles Brown emerged the game’s top score on 20.

 Griffith College Éanna Head Coach, Darren McGovern

Flexachem KCYMS stole a march on Templeogue in the opening quarter and again in the third to emerge 97-71 winners from their encounter in the National Basketball Arena, Clayton Ladine and Jeffery Okeke totalling 56 points on the night, while combining with Nathaniel Powell for a huge 38 rebounds.

It was a productive double-game weekend for UCD Marian as two home wins against Energywise Ireland Neptune (116-84) on Saturday and Belfast Star (96-85) on Sunday saw them move up four places to sixth in the Men’s Super League table.

Lovre Tvrdic made a huge impact for the Dublin side across the two fixtures as he emerged from the weekend with 55 points, 23 rebounds and six assists, UCD boasting five players in double digits on Sunday, including Jonathan Jean and Oscar Blanco on a combined 37.

 

Cataylst Fr. Mathews marked the start of the new year with a major scalp after they knocked SETU Waterford Wildcats off top spot in Women’s Super League with a 108-87 defeat in Fr. Mathews Arena on Saturday afternoon.

While they trailed by four points at the close of the first quarter, the Cork side took the next three in convincing fashion, as they finished with five players in double figures including Kyra White and Aisling McCann on a combined 44, the former also combining with Shannon Brady for 18 rebounds and eight assists.

Both Sarah Hickey and Ashia McCalla totalled 48 points for Waterford on the day, but it was not enough to prevent them shipping only their second loss of the season so far.

"We're delighted with the performance and getting the win over a really strong team in SETU Waterford Wildcats” remarked Keith Daly, Catalyst Fr. Mathews head coach.

“The fast tempo suited us and we are very happy in how we shared the ball, which allowed us to get a lot of good looks” he added.

FloMAX Liffey Celtics capitalised on that setback for Wildcats by securing an 81-43 victory over Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers that saw them go three points clear at the top of the table, albeit having played a game more than their Waterford rivals.

Karl Kilbride’s side consolidated their position as the best defensive team in the league, with Rachel Huijsdens, Eboni Williams and Allie Navarette totalling 26 rebounds, while Sorcha Tiernan drained four of her six attempts off the three-point line on her way to a game-high 21.

Defending champions, Killester tipped off the new year with a 76-61 success at home to Trinity Meteors, subsequently ending a run of four straight wins in the league for their Dublin rivals.

3rd place Killester battle out a 76-61 home win against 4th place Trinity Meteors in the Women's Super League 💪

📸 Martin Doherty Photography#BISL | #BITV pic.twitter.com/OmS7IIlc2Z

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) January 4, 2025

Samantha Haiby and Michelle Clarke spearheaded the Killester offence, each posting an impressive 25 points and combining for 18 rebounds, while Morgan Lenahan also put up 25 for Trinity.

The Address UCC Glanmire raced clear of Utility Trust St. Paul’s over the closing quarter to copper-fasten a 77-59 win over their Kerry opponents in Mardyke Arena on Sunday.

Just five points separated the two teams by the close of the third, but the hosts made certain of the victory as Callie Cavanaugh carded a game-best 32-point haul, while DelJanae Williams landed five of her seven three-point attempts en route to a total of 21, with nine rebounds and five assists to boot.

Alexandra Wittinger and Megan Ormiston figured strongly in St. Paul’s challenge, the two combining for 37 points and 28 rebounds.

 

In Men’s Division One, ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers barely hung on to their unbeaten run as the North Conference leaders edged an 90-89 overtime victory against Limerick Sport Eagles in UL Arena on Saturday afternoon.

South Conference table toppers, Limerick Celtics moved to 13 and 0 following their 102-84 success against Drogheda Wolves in Ballymakenny College.

Ulster University had to go to double overtime to see off Titans 126-122 in Jordanstown Sports Village, while Scotts Lakers Killarney came through a severe test from Mater Private Malahide, winning out 77-73 on the road.

Joels Dublin Lions ended a run of seven defeats after they surmounted the challenge of Killarney Cougars 88-76 in Presentation Gym, while Moy Tolka Rovers chalked up an 82-70 triumph at home against Maigh Culinn.

 

Templeogue denied iSecure Swords Thunder the chance to move to within six points of unbeaten leaders McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles after they won out 60-36 in Saturday’s Dublin derby in the National Basketball Arena.

Limerick Celtics moved into a share of second place in the table after they beat Cleveland Rockets 93-62 in Newforge Sports Complex, while Moy Tolka Rovers returned home from Coláiste Bríde celebrating an 97-89 success against Abbey Seals Dublin Lions.