SETU Waterford Wildcats exact revenge in top-of-the-table clash while Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU take down leaders

SETU Waterford Wildcats took a firm grip on top spot in Women’s Super League after they served up a comprehensive 74-54 victory over closest rivals FloMAX Liffey Celtics in Leixlip on Saturday night, while in Men’s Super League, Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU ended a run of 12 straight wins in the top tier for Killester after they surmounted the current leaders 89-80 at MTU Arena.

SETU Waterford Wildcats took some measure of revenge for last month’s Paudie O'Connor National Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of eventual winners, FloMAX Liffey Celtics after they stormed to a 74-54 victory over the Kildare side in Leixlip on Saturday night.

The visitors brought huge intensity to bear at both ends of the court in this Women’s Super League top-of-the-table clash, Chelsea Cain inflicting significant damage in the paint with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Sarah Hickey and Ashia McCalla also weighed in with a combined 34 points.

While Wildcats delivered on the offensive front, they also restricted Celtics to their lowest game total of the season so far, as they moved three points clear at the top of the table and with a game in hand over their Leixlip rivals.

“Liffey Celtics showed up in the Cup semi-final and we didn’t, so we definitely had revenge due for that game” insisted Jillian Hayes, SETU Waterford Wildcats head coach.

“Defensively, I thought we were excellent. We stuck to the game plan and shut everyone down that we possible could, and we had a good variety of scoring ourselves as well.

“I think that was probably our best performance of the season to date, and it’s great when you can lift yourself against the top teams.

“We’ve just got to get better at lifting ourselves no matter who we’re playing, but they certainly did that tonight and I’m very proud of them all” she smiled.

Utility Trust St. Paul’s produced a huge fourth-quarter display to turn an eight-point deficit into a 76-72 victory over defending Women’s Super League champions, Killester in Clontarf on Saturday evening.

Alexandra Wittinger put up seven down the stretch, taking her total on the night to a joint game-high 21, while there was further solid scoring for the Kerry side from Gracen Kerr (20), Denise Dunlea (14) and Mathilde Diop (13).

Michelle Clarke drained half of her 10 attempts from beyond the arc as she equalled Wittinger’s effort on the scoreboard, but even that, and the combined 49 from Hannah Thornton, Destiny Strother and Samantha Haiby, could not see Killester return to winning ways in their first game back since their loss to FloMAX Liffey Celtics in last month’s Paudie O’Connor National Cup decider.

“We’re delighted with the win” said James Fleming, St. Paul’s head coach. “We would have lost that game before Christmas, so it shows we’re learning and maturing as a group.

“On our day, we can beat anyone, and every game going forward is a cup final. The play-offs are a realistic goal again” he insisted.

Having suffered an agonising one-point defeat at the hands of Utility Trust St. Paul’s less than a week before, Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell emerged on the right side of an equally tight game against The Address UCC Glanmire, clinching Friday night’s Cork derby in Mardyke Arena 69-68.

The visitors found themselves nine-points down late in the third quarter, but fought back to overtake down the stretch in a game that saw Edel Thornton serve up a game-high 19 points for Brunell ahead of her long-awaited return to international duty this week, as Ireland prepare to take on France and Latvia in their closing FIBA EuroBasket 2025 qualifers.

It was a tough reversal for Glanmire who were looking to bounce back from their five-point loss to leaders, SETU Waterford Wildcats the previous week, but, despite a combined 29 points and 16 rebounds from Aine McKenna and Callie Cavanaugh, they came up just short again.

Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers made it back-to-back wins as they ran out 88-62 victors away to University of Galway Mystics on Saturday afternoon.

A big second quarter performance in which they outscored their hosts by 16, saw the visitors exert a tight grip on this tie, all their players eventually getting on the scoresheet, including Jessica Fressle and Alyssa Velles on a combined 41.

That total was a carbon copy of the return for Galway’s Kara McCleane and Shannon Cunningham, but even their impressive contribution was not enough to inspire the homeside to a first win of the campaign.

The remaining game in this latest round of Women’s Super League fixtures between Catalyst Fr. Mathew’s and Trinity Meteors was abandoned due to a wet floor.

The latest double-game weekend in Men’s Super League saw Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU end a run of 12 straight wins for joint leaders, Killester after they survived a second-quarter wobble to beat their Dublin rivals 89-80 at MTU Arena on Saturday evening.

Down by 11 midway through the third quarter, the Cork outfit battled back for a victory that hauled them to within six points of the table toppers, Quashawn Lane bagging a game-high 27 points, while Todd Wolfe also weighed in considerably on this win with 24 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.

“We’re very happy with the win after a solid performance against the current National Cup champions and regular season league leaders” said Ballincollig head coach, Antonio Lopez.

“We were able to be consistent in our pace, conceding just 32 points in the second half against a really dynamic team” he added.

UCC Demons increased the heat on Killester after joining them at the top of the table when they weathered a severe challenge from Maree to edge a 100-97 victory in Calasanctius College on Friday night.

Scott Hannigan landed two free throws with just 16 seconds remaining, to help see the Cork side over the line, despite Miles Brown amassing a huge 36 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the homeside.

Demons finished with five players in double digits, including Patrick Robinson and Tobias Christensen on a combined 45 points, the former also picking up nine rebounds and eight assists.

Templeogue ended a run of six defeats in the top ranks after they recorded a 92-84 triumph over Belfast Star in the National Basketball Arena, Jacolbey Owens and Samuel Henderson totalling 47 points, 23 rebounds and 15 assists between them for the hosts on the night.

Six players hit double digits for Garvey’s Tralee Warriors, including Daniel Jokubaitis on 21, as they chalked up a 105-74 road win against Bright St. Vincent’s.

UCD Marian returned home from Mercy College celebrating an 89-79 success against EJ Sligo All-Stars, Lovre Tvrdic putting up 28 points for the Dublin side, while Jonathan Brown equalled that game-high total for the hosts.

Ulster University touched off a double-game weekend in Men’s Division One by way of a 102-75 victory over Mater Private Malahide in Jordanstown Sports Village on Friday night.

North Conference leaders, ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers picked up a comprehensive 105-66 victory away to Killarney Cougars in what was their first game back since their President’s National Cup Final loss to Limerick Celtics.

Michael Hayes served up a huge 35 points and 20 rebounds as Titans carded an 88-77 success at home against Joels Dublin Lions, while Drogheda Wolves scooped a 96-78 win on the road against Limerick Sport Eagles.

Carrick Cruisers earned only their third win of the campaign after they surmounted the challenge of Scotts Lakers Killarney 80-73, while Maigh Cuilinn prevailed 75-61 against Team NorthWest in University of Galway Kingfisher and Moy Tolka Rovers chalked up a 108-93 triumph over SETU Waterford Vikings.

McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles returned to Women’s Division One action for the first time in more than a month, the unbeaten leaders and newly-crowned National Cup winners picking right up where they left off as they ran out 83-54 winners over iSecure Swords Thunder in Virginia Show Centre.

Stephanie McBride put up 32 points and 13 rebounds as second place, Limerick Celtics beat Oblate Dynamos 91-75 in Inchicore on Saturday night.

Earlier in the day, Cleveland Rockets carded a 75-63 victory over Moy Tolka Rovers in Lisburn Racquets Club and Templeogue prevailed 82-73 against Abbey Seals Dublin Lions in the National Basketball Arena.