Big weekend for Limerick Celtics as men secure South Conference title while women extend unbeaten run

Limerick Celtics locked down top spot in the Men’s Division One South Conference following their 75-63 road win over Scotts Lakers Killarney on Friday night, while the club’s women made it seven league wins on the bounce after they triumphed 84-71 at home to iSecure Swords Thunder in Crescent College on Saturday.

Limerick Celtics secured the South Conference title in Men’s Division One after they chalked up a 75-63 road win over Scotts Lakers Killarney on Friday night, AJ Williams amassing a huge 40 points to help see his side move to 18 and 0 in the table.

Darnell Snyers and Mikah Blackwell bagged 39 points and 18 rebounds between them for Killarney, but it was not enough to derail this season’s President’s National Cup winners.

“I’m delighted for this super bunch of lads, securing the South Conference title with our away win in Killarney” smiled Tony Hehir, Limerick Celtics head coach.

“Not our best performance to-date, but Scott’s Lakers really put it up to us and we’re just happy that we came away with the win on the night” he added.

It was a hugely productive weekend for North Conference leaders, ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers as they arrested a run of two straight defeats by dishing out a 107-83 loss to Moy Tolka Rovers in St. Mary’s Hall on Saturday night before emerging 95-68 winners over Carrick Cruisers at the same venue on Sunday afternoon.

While it was Liam Kinsella, on 27 points, who emerged top scorer against their Dublin rivals on Saturday, James Phelan led the way in attack against Carrick the following day with 31 points for the Laois side.

“It was a huge weekend and it’s great to come out the back of it with two wins after a rocky few weeks” remarked Jack Scully, ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers head coach.

Joshua Reynolds put up 36 points as Tipp Talons made it three wins in four outings by recording a comprehensive 100-63 victory over Titans BC in Scoil Ruain.

Reynolds was very effective under boards as he teamed up with Justin Wickham for 22 rebounds, while Miles O’Donnell drained seven of his 10 attempts off the three-point line en route to a haul of 27 points on the night.

Ulster University moved clear in second place in the North Conference after they picked up a 91-72 road win over Joels Dublin Lions in Coláiste Bríde.

A big first-quarter show in which they opened up a 14-point advantage, set the stage for Ulster’s latest success in which Nathan Karren top-scored on 26 points, while Curtis Larousse also made a significant contribution with 17 points, 14 rebounds and six assists.

The in-form Drogheda Wolves fought back down the stretch to edge a 73-69 victory over Carrick Cruisers that extended their winning run to five games.

Christian Simmons bagged 22 points and 13 rebounds, with Denzel Ebose adding a further 17 on the scoreboard as the visitors ended a run of four wins for a Carrick team that still had as many players in double figures on Saturday night, among them Benyi Gomez and Shamus Kahl on 17 apiece.

Aitor Munoz amassed 34 points to help guide Maigh Cuilinn to a 115-95 win over SETU Waterford Vikings in Carrickpherish Hall, despite Aaron Jackson delivering a huge 38 points for the hosts.

Down by seven after ten minutes of action, the Galway side recorded big second and fourth-quarter displays, during which they outscored their hosts by 27 to stamp their authority on this fixture.

It was a much tighter affair in ATU Donegal where Team NorthWest had just two points to spare in their fierce battle with Mater Private Malahide, the hosts emerging 82-80 winners.

Both sides were deadlocked at 73 points apiece with just over three minutes remaining, but some crucial buckets down the stretch by Tyler Mutemasango (28 points), along with a big three from Shane Malone, helped nudge the hosts over the line.

Alberto Rodriguez and Shakeil Bertrand also delivered weighty totals with a combined 43 points that went some way to seeing Team NorthWest arrest a three-game losing streak.

Limerick Sport Eagles fended off a strong challenge from Killarney Cougars to secure a 94-82 success in UL Arena, Alexander Carlisle putting up 21 points for the hosts.

There were double doubles for Ajay Walsh and Ignacio Folgueiras, the former netting 15 points with Folgueiras just one shy of that total, while each soaked up 11 rebounds to help address the huge 33 points that Joshua Strongman amassed for Killarney.

 

Limerick Celtics comfortably weathered a fourth-quarter surge by iSecure Swords Thunder to chalk up an 84-71 win that stretched their unbeaten run in Women’s Division One to seven games.

While Makayla Miller racked up an impressive 34 points for the Dublin side, Amy Buckley and Stephanie McBride combined for 42 points and 14 rebounds, as Limerick remained three points off leaders McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles, albeit having played three games more.

“We’re on a great winning streak in the league and we’re improving on both ends of the floor” said Limerick Celtics head coach, Jordan Hehir. “Our young players coming off the bench are making a real impact.

“Our focus is now on Cavan this weekend trying to get another win and keep improving before the playoffs” he added.

Leaders, McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles tightened their grip on top spot following their 90-70 victory over Oblate Dynamos in Virginia Show Centre on Saturday afternoon.

Rahmena Henderson again spearheaded the Eagles offence with a 34-point haul, together with 11 rebounds, while Emma Tolan weighed in with a further 22 on the scoreboard.

Cleveland Rockets recouped 11 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime and ultimately edge Limerick Sport Huskies 94-92 in St. Munchin’s College.

Down by 13 points early in the fourth, the visitors dug in and restored parity when Megan Ormiston put up a deuce with 13 seconds of regulation time remaining, the same player taking her tally to a massive 38 points in overtime.

While Ormiston added a huge 22 rebounds and eight assists to her days work, Caitlin Gloeckner also had a big say in this fixture with 23 points that helped counter the 29 points and 20 rebounds that Scout Frame delivered for Limerick.

In Saturday night’s Dublin derby, Templeogue delivered a big first-half display that laid the groundwork for a 70-48 triumph over Moy Tolka Rovers in Nord Anglia.

The hosts opened up a 17-point gap on their guests by the half-time recess, helped no end by Genovea Johnson and Lauren Darcy who teamed up for 40 points and 16 rebounds on the night.