Limerick Celtics show no signs of faltering as Templeogue tip-off the new year with Dublin derby success

Limerick Celtics dug out a 102-84 victory over Drogheda Wolves in Ballymakenny College on Saturday night to take their record in Men’s Division One to 13-0, while in Women’s Division One, Templeogue started the new year with a 60-36 Dublin derby win over iSecure Swords Thunder in the National Basketball Arena.

Men’s Division One South Conference table toppers, Limerick Celtics moved to 13 and 0 in the table following their 102-84 success against Drogheda Wolves in Ballymakenny College on Saturday night.

The visitors had five players in double figures by the close of proceedings, Ariyon Williams proving their most prolific scorer with a 32-point haul, while Abdul Wurie weighed in with a further 24 and Finn Hughes again dominated under the boards with a massive 18 rebounds.

They were much-needed contributions in the face of a Drogheda team that did their best to hang around, Christian Simmons netting 24 points for the hosts, while both Stephen Safo and Francisco Dias each served up 17.

“We were happy to get out of Drogheda with an away win against a tough Wolves team” remarked Tony Hehir, Limerick Celtics head coach.

“We had big contributions at both ends of the court from all our players on the night, with AJ leading all scorers” he said.

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

The visitors battled back from 12 points down in the first quarter to lead by nine heading onto the fourth, only to see Limerick, aided by Alexander Carlisle’s huge 38-point total, produce a comeback that forced overtime.

Yet a combined seven points by James Phelan and Xabier Arriaga over the additional five minutes proved just enough to nudge Portlaoise over the line, Eric Anderson finishing on 22 points for the visitors as they moved to 12 and 0 in the table.

Ulster University had to go to double overtime to eventually get the better of Titans 126-122 in Jordanstown Sports Village on Saturday evening.

Michael Hayes was the stand-out performer for Titans, amassing a colossal 43 points, 29 rebounds and seven assists, but even that remarkable contribution was not enough to see the Galway side prevail against an Ulster outfit, for whom Robert Graham, Nathan Karren and Curtis Larousse tallied 74 points between them.

That loss for Titans afforded Scotts Lakers Killarney the opportunity to move three points clear of the Galway side in second place in the South Conference, albeit having played a game more, and they duly took it after winning out 77-73 on the road against Mater Private Malahide.

Darnell Snyers and Mikah Blackwell again delivered the heavy blows for the Kerry side as the two tallied 48 points and 18 rebounds, Eoin Carroll also making his presence felt under the boards after mopping up nine loose balls.

Joels Dublin Lions ended a run of seven defeats after they surmounted the challenge of Killarney Cougars 88-76 in Presentation Gym.

While Evan Cook and Kevin Anyanwu bagged 45 points for the Clondalkin side, Aidan Igiehon and Aran Lee provided the necessary cover, as they won 17 defensive boards on their way to a total of 24 rebounds on a night that saw Joshua Strongman and Kani Glover put 44 on the scoreboard for Killarney.

Moy Tolka Rovers extended their winning run in all competitions to four games after they ran out 82-70 victors at home against Maigh Culinn.

Mike Wallace proved very efficient on the inside for the Dubliners, draining all, but one, of his 12 shots in and around the perimeter, as he top-scored with 27 points, while Daniel Ayoade and Emiliyan Grudov, together, contributed a further 35.

 

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

Genovea Johnson and Lauren Darcy put up 29 points for the hosts, who also benefitted greatly from the presence of Hannah Murphy and Aoife Whelan under the boards, the two soaking up 18 rebounds between them.

“It was pleasing to get a good start and that gave us good control over the game” said Mark Byrne, Templeogue head coach. “We know Swords have a lot of talent and fire power, so we needed to play well.

“We’ve a young team with a few new players this season, so I feel that, now we’re back to full strength, we can keep developing and put a good run of performances together” he added.

Limerick Celtics moved into a share of second place in the table after they shackled Cleveland Rockets in the second and third quarters to secure a 93-62 victory in Newforge Sports Complex.

Yet again Stephanie McBride and Shelby Harmeyer accounted for the bulk of Limerick’s scores, with a total of 52 points, along with an even more impressive 37 rebounds.

Moy Tolka Rovers returned home from Coláiste Bríde celebrating an 97-89 success against Abbey Seals Dublin Lions.

Sofia Paska registered a new club scoring record of 41 points for Lions, together with 15 rebounds, while Ciara Wheeler took 10 under the boards and produced nine assists, but even all of that was not enough to see the Clondalkin outfit prevail against a Tolka side that had four players in double digits, including Brahe Ashton on 27 and Meagan Hoffman on 19.