Maigh Cuilinn shock Domino's Men's Division One leaders ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers

ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers suffered their third loss of the season, but remain top of the table after the weekend's action following a 73-58 loss to Maigh Cuilinn in Kingfisher.

Grant Olsson continued his string of strong performances with 22 points and nine rebounds on Saturday, whilst he was helped by a supporting cast of Antonio Calvente with 16 and Ivan Basic with 14 of his own, as Maigh Cuilinn reached 10th with a 4-6 record for the season.

Maree remain in pursuit of Portlaoise after a decisive 104-68 win over Titans BC on Saturday. The result marked Maree’s sixth consecutive victory, moving them to second place with a 7-2 record and a game in hand on the league leaders. Rinor Dragusha and Isaiah Taylor each scored 34 points, while Justin Wickham contributed a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double. For Titans, the loss drops them to a 4-5 record this season.

Ulster University are also at 7-2 for the season after defeating Templeogue, who suffered their first loss in three games in a 76-71 defeat. Ulster University led by as much as 22 points and carried the lead from the opening quarter all the way to the end of the game. A 7-point first quarter for Templeogue left them in a hole that was always going to be difficult to get back from. Prince Ebwea scored 26 to add to a strong season where he is averaging just shy of 30 points. Just like Maree, Ulster University also have a game in hand on the league leaders with a chance to go top with a victory.

Team Northwest endured a ninth straight defeat after a 72-81 loss to Tipp Talons on Saturday. The one constant positive for Northwest has been the form of Thomas DiRienzo, who followed up his 42-point game with another 34 this weekend, shooting 11-18. For Tipp, Aleksandar Kovacevic scored 26 points with an efficiency of 33 in a game in which the lead changed hands 11 times.

Killarney Cougars' poor form also continued with a seventh consecutive loss, 106-90, to SPK Utility Trust Lakers, with four St. Paul’s players hitting double digits in the Killarney derby. For Cougars, 35 points from Sean Conway was not enough as St. Paul’s had four straight 20+ point quarters, which Killarney Cougars couldn’t contend with. Killarney Cougars are now 1-8 for the season, whilst St. Paul’s are now 5-4 and sit in ninth.

In Domino’s Women’s Division One, Limerick Sport Huskies have claimed top spot after defeating Dublin Raiders 78-61 to reach a 5-2 record through seven games, which puts them ahead of Cleveland Rockets, who do not play this weekend. The duo of Clara Gomez and Shelby Harmeyer continued to lead Huskies, combining for 44 points. For Raiders, it is a second straight defeat to a Limerick side, following last weekend's loss to Limerick Celtics, while the loss sees Raiders slip to tenth with a record of 2-5.

Templeogue have slipped further away from the summit of the Domino’s Women’s Division One table after a third straight loss, 67-69, against Clunetech Kilkenny Stars on Saturday evening. The loss for Templeogue has them at 4-4 and third in the table. For Kilkenny, American Stephanie Davis scored 22 as Kilkenny came away from TUD Tallaght with their fourth win in five games.

Limerick Celtics suffered their third loss of the season after losing 61-49 to Swords Thunder. Two single-point quarters for Celtics gave Swords a 30-point lead heading into the final quarter. A 22-4 run in the final 10 minutes got Celtics into a more respectable scoreline, but by then the damage had already occurred. The loss leaves Celtics in fourth with a 4-3 record; however, Kilkenny Stars have a game in hand on them at 4-2. For Swords, the victory gives them their second win of the season and lifts them off the bottom of the table.

Abbey Seals Dublin Lions jumped to eighth after defeating University of Galway Mystics 73-67 in Kingfisher behind a 27-point game from Sinead Keane. Kara McCleane had a strong 22 points, but a 30-point first quarter from Dublin Lions was the starter as they carried the lead from the opening minute through to the final buzzer. The loss for Mystics leaves them at 3-4 and in sixth place.