Utility Trust St. Paul’s shoot down top seeds while Griffith College Éanna remain on course to defend title

Defending champions Griffith College Éanna and Killester have advanced to Domino’s Men’s Super League and Domino’s Women’s Super League playoff semi-finals, following quarter-finals wins over EJ Sligo All-Stars and Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell respectively. Utility Trust St. Paul’s pulled off the biggest result of the weekend playoffs, winning 69-66 at Domino’s Women’s Super League top seeds, SETU Waterford Wildcats on Saturday, while Domino’s Men’s Super League top seeds UCC Demons survived a ferocious challenge from Cork rivals, Energywise Ireland Neptune to win out 100-93 at Mardyke Arena on Sunday.

Utility Trust St. Paul’s, who had only secured their place among the top eight in the Domino’s Women’s Super League on the final day of the regular season, produced a big second-quarter performance, outgunning their hosts SETU Waterford Wildcats by 12 points in that period to take the inside track in this encounter.

Gracen Kerr and Alexandra Wittinger again led from the front, as they served up a combined 43 points, with a huge 33 rebounds also amassed by both the latter and Lorraine Scanlon to help undo a Waterford team that still had four players in double figures, including Sarah Hickey on 21 points.

“Defensively we were superb and we shot the ball really well” remarked a delighted James Fleming, St. Paul’s head coach.

“But, let’s not take away from the year Waterford had. They’re regular season champions for a reason and they deserve all the recognition they get.

“For us, we’ll regroup and get ready for Trinity Meteors. On our day we can beat anyone” he insisted.

Killester came through a tough test against Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell, a big third-quarter display seeing the defending champions turn a nine-point half-time deficit into a five-point lead as they eventually emerged 88-80 winners in Clontarf on Saturday evening.

Samantha Haiby scored 26 points for Killester against Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell in their Domino's Women's Super League Quarter-Final Playoff

Ireland captain Edel Thornton had a big game for the Cork side with 28 points and eight rebounds, but it was not enough to help deny Killester, who boasted five players in double digits by the close of proceedings, among them Samantha Haiby on 26 and Michelle Clarke on 17.

“Brunell were excellent in the first half” admitted Mark Grennell, Killester head coach. “They outworked us and outplayed us, but, in fairness to our girls, they bounced back well in the second.

“Our effort and intensity was impressive and we played some really nice basketball with great variation. The girls did themselves proud” he stressed.

Killester’s semi-final opponents, FloMAX Liffey Celtics served up an impressive display to surmount The Address UCC Glanmire 88-66 when they clashed for the second time in a week on Saturday night in Leixlip.

While they improved on the defensive intensity that they brought to their previous game, Celtics also enjoyed a good spread of scoring with Allie Navarette their most prolific performer on 26 points, while her team mates Áine O’Connor (17), Hazel Finn (15), Sorcha Tiernan (10) and Eboni Williams (10) followed her in among the doubles.

“I was delighted with our defence for three quarters, although we did let Glanmire get going in the third” reflected Karl Kilbride, Liffey Celtics head coach.

“But every time they went on a run, I thought we did a really good job at keeping our composure and answering that run” he added.

Trinity Meteors secured their place in the last four against Utility Trust St. Paul’s after they got the better of a tenacious Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers, winning 80-73 in the Teresian School on Saturday.

Deadlocked at 68 points apiece with just over three minutes remaining, the game saw Trinity open up a little breathing room down the stretch, as Alexandra Mulligan served up a couple of timely buckets, while Grace Prenter and Morgan Lenahan improved their tallies to 23 and 20 respectively on the night.

It was a tough close to a remarkable campaign for Panthers who ended the regular season in fifth place, but still fell just short of a semi-final berth despite Jessica Fressle’s double double of 31 points and 12 rebounds, as well as the 23 that Alyssa Velles added to the scoreboard.

Delighted at seeing his side progress, Trinity head coach, Hillary Netsiyanwa said “I’m immensely proud of the entire team. They fought hard and fought for each other every single possession.

“We faced multiple issues all week outside of our control, so the team, coming together like that and focusing on the goal at hand, was amazing and an absolute credit to the players and the backroom staff that made everything work for us” he smiled.

 

In Saturday night’s Domino’s Men’s Super League playoff quarter-finals, Griffith College Éanna had to negotiate a severe challenge in the form of EJ Sligo All-Stars, the defending champions prevailing 79-70 in Rathfarnham on Saturday night.

There was some solid scoring for the hosts from the likes of Stefan Desnica (17), Tyland Crawford (16) and James Gormley (15), as they made it past a Sligo outfit, for whom Jevonnie Scott top scored on 19 points.

“I think our determination and experience showed up tonight” insisted Darren McGovern, Éanna head coach.

“It was a solid defensive performance and that's what you need in the playoffs. We had energy and contributions from everyone who stepped on the floor, and that's all I ask for” he said.

Éanna’s semi-final opponents, Killester, themselves, weathered a tough challenge from Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU to dig out an 82-74 victory in Clontarf.

Kason Harrell carded a game-best 22 points for the Dublin side, while Paul Dick and Isiah Dasher each weighed in with a further 16, and Baptiste Chazelas won 14 defensive boards to help see off a Ballincollig outfit that finished with five players in double figures, among them Quashawn Lane on 19.

“Ballincollig really forced us to up our game, which I’m happy we were able to do” said Killester boss, Jonny Grennell.

“We probably waned a little bit in the fourth quarter, but that was more testament to Ballincollig and their never-say-die attitude. They never stopped working and we’re just grateful that we were able to get over the line” he smiled.

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors pulled well clear of UCD Marian over the closing six minutes of their quarter-final clash on Saturday evening to finish up 102-80 winners in MTU Kerry.

While Jonathan Jean and Lovre Tvrdic amassed a combined 50 points for the Dublin side, Tralee countered with a good spread of scoring that saw no less than six players finish in double figures, Daniel Jokubaitis and Ryan Leonard spearheading their charge on 20 and 18 points respectively.

“I’m very happy with the performance” said John Dowling, Garvey’s Tralee Warriors head coach. “Six guys in double figures is very pleasing.

“Credit to UCD, they were probably looking at survival after eight games, but the run they’ve been on since has been nothing short of phenomenal” he stressed.

UCC Demons survived a ferocious challenge by Cork rivals, Energywise Ireland Neptune at Mardyke Arena on Sunday afternoon to win out 100-93 and book a date with Garvey’s Tralee Warriors in the playoff semi-finals.

Having led by 16 early in the second quarter, Demons found themselves five points down with just under three minutes remaining.

But Daniel O’Mahony’s men could not have picked a better time to serve up an 11-point run, Elijah Tillman putting up some crucial buckets that took his tally to 25 and helped the hosts pull clear down the stretch.

He was one of five players in double digits for Demons, Patrick Robinson weighing in with a further 22, while Chancellor Hunter, on 35 points, inflicted some serious damage for Neptune.

“It’s very hard to beat the same team over and over again, so we knew today was going to go the full 40 minutes” said Daniel O’Mahony, UCC Demons head coach.

“I felt we held our composure when needed and made the right plays at the right times. Credit to Neptune, they put up a great fight” he added.

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The top two seeds in Domino’s Men’s Division One both progressed to this season’s playoff semi-finals, Limerick Celtics emerging comprehensive 112-71 winners over Drogheda Wolves in Crescent College, before ND Portlaoise Panthers prevailed 82-73 in a much tighter affair with Maigh Cuilinn in St. Mary’s Hall.

The Laois side will take on Moy Tolka Rovers in the last four after the Dublin side survived a fourth-quarter surge by Titans to win out 100-91 in Ballinfoyle Castlegar Centre.

In the early tip-off on Saturday evening, Ulster University battled back from 14 points down early in the third quarter to edge Scotts Lakers Killarney 70-66 in a thrilling quarter-final in Jordanstown Sports Village.

 

In Domino’s Women’s Division One, both Limerick teams secured further passage through to the last four of the playoffs where they will now go head-to-head.

A huge second-quarter turnaround saw Limerick Celtics chalk up a 79-66 success against Abbey Seals Dublin Lions in Crescent College before Limerick Sport Huskies secured their place in the last four at the expense of Templeogue, whom they beat 70-59 in St. Munchin’s College.

Cleveland Rockets maintained their pursuit of the Domino’s Women’s Division One crown after they recorded a 72-51 quarter-final triumph over iSecure Swords Thunder in ALSAA on Saturday evening.

That results sets them up for a meeting with top seeds, McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles who were already assured a semi-final berth ahead of the weekend, as their quarter-final opponents Oblate Dynamos were unable to fulfil their fixture due to injuries and player unavailability.