SETU Waterford Wildcats exact revenge in top-of-the-table clash while UCC Demons overtake at the summit

SETU Waterford Wildcats took a firm grip on top spot in Women’s Super League after they served up a comprehensive 74-54 triumph over closest rivals FloMAX Liffey Celtics in Leixlip on Saturday night, while in a double-game weekend in Men’s Super League, victories over Maree (100-97) and Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU (102-85) saw UCC Demons overtake Killester at the top of the table, the Dubliners having seen their 12-game winning streak in the top tier ended by Ballincollig (89-80) on Saturday evening.

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 heavily 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.

Kate Hickey’s thoughts following a 74-54 road win over FloMAX Liffey Celtics to remain at the summit of the Women’s Super League 🗣️#BITV | #BISL pic.twitter.com/9xyFi5OGbM

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) February 2, 2025

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.

Utility Trust St. Paul's edge out cup finalists Killester at IWA! ⚫️

Killester 72-76 Utility Trust St. Paul's

📸 Martin Doherty Photography#BISL | #BITV pic.twitter.com/NZK8Lud99G

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) February 2, 2025

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 19 points for Brunell.

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 victorsaway 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 condensation build-up on floor.

 

It proved a productive double-game weekend for UCC Demons in Men’s Super League, a narrow 100-97 victory over Maree in Calasanctius College on Friday night being quickly followed by a 102-85 derby win over Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU at Mardyke Arena on Sunday that saw them overtake Killester at the top of the table.

Patrick Robinson, Kyle Hosford and Elijah Tillman inflicted the bulk of the damage on Ballincollig with the three players combining for a huge 77 points, the latter also soaking up 13 rebounds on the day to help see Demons move three points clear at the summit, albeit having played two games more than Killester in second.

“This had all the makings of a really good derby game” said Daniel O’Mahony, UCC Demons head coach following his side’s victory over Ballincollig.

“We stuck to the game plan to get the ball inside as much as possible. I thought we had a bit of an advantage with Elijah and Toby Christensen there and that worked well for us in the first half.

“Credit to Ballincollig, they came back, but I was really happy with how the guys closed out the game in the end” he said.

It was a disappointing reversal for third-place Ballincollig who were hoping to add to their 89-80 victory over Killester at MTU Arena on Saturday evening, a result that ended a run of 12 straight wins for the Dubliners in the top tier.

Templeogue arrested 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.

Templeogue with a massive three points at the National Basketball Arena!

They move level with Bright St. Vincent's on points in the Men's Super League...#BISL | #BITV pic.twitter.com/sL4djJat8o

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) February 2, 2025

Star did bounce back on Sunday after they ran out 109-100 winners at home to Garvey’s Tralee Warriors in De la Salle College, De Ondre Jackson amassing a huge 37 points for the hosts, while Darweshi Hunter weighed in with a further 22.

For Tralee, it was a disappointing reversal, as they, only the night before, had 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 on Saturday night, Lovre Tvrdic putting up 28 points for the Dublin side, while Jonathan Brown equalled that game-high total for the hosts.

Sligo themselves bounced back on Sunday with a strong fourth-quarter surge that saw them come from a point down to beat Bright St. Vincent’s 95-87 in St. Vincent’s CBS, Robert Montgomery draining four of his seven efforts from downtown on his way to a game-best 30 points for the visitors.

The Men’s Super League double-game weekend continues on Monday with a further three ties down for decision.

Defending champions, Griffith College Éanna play host to Energywise Ireland Neptune, while Killester will be looking to bounce back against Flexachem KCYMS in Killorglin Sports Complex and UCD Marian entertain Templeogue in a Dublin derby.

 

Having 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, Ulster University put up a real battle against Limerick Celtics in Crescent College on Sunday afternoon, but were pipped by the unbeaten South Conference leaders 82-81.

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 on Saturday as Titans carded an 88-77 success at home against Joels Dublin Lions.

The Clondalkin side, however, ended their weekend on a high after they recorded a 92-74 Dublin derby success on Sunday away to Moy Tolka Rovers, who, only the night before,chalked up a 108-93 triumph over SETU Waterford Vikings.

Drogheda Wolves scooped a 96-78 win on the road against Limerick Sport Eagles, while Carrick Cruisers earned their third win of the campaign after they surmounted Scotts Lakers Killarney 80-73, and Maigh Cuilinn prevailed 75-61 against Team NorthWest in University of Galway Kingfisher.

This Men’s Division One double-game weekend will be concluded on Monday with a further five games being played.

 

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.