Oct 14,2024
Griffith College Éanna's strong start to the defence of their Men’s Super League title continued with two wins over the weekend. They are joined at the top of the table by Kerry duo Garvey’s Tralee Warriors and Flexachem KCYMS.
Éanna’s 82-79 derby win at Bright St. Vincent’s on Saturday - where five players hit double figures, including Stefan Desnica and Joshua Wilson on 16 points apiece - was followed by a battling 93-89 success over Maree on Sunday, Wilson and Desnica again top scoring with 18 apiece.
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors have also made a 3-0 start to the season, a 86-74 home success over Templeogue was backed up by a 82-63 road win over Killester. Marquavian Stephens and Gregorio Adon amassed 48 points and 23 rebounds against Templeogue, while it was Irish international Rapolas Buivydas who top scored, on 23, against Killester.
Flexachem KCYMS picked up a pair of home wins, defeating EJ Sligo All-Stars 85-70 on Saturday and Templeogue 93-85 the next day to stay among the pacesetters. Jordan Blount had 24 points against Ej Sligo All-Stars, followed by 21 points and 14 rebounds against Templeogue, while Jeffrey Okeke hit 22 points in each of the games.
Energywise Ireland Neptune are the only other unbeaten side, defeating UCD Marian 81-75. The scoring was evenly spread, with five players hitting double figures, Jaksa Sola topping the charts on 15.
It was a mixed weekend for Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU, they prevailed in overtime 87-79 against Belfast Star at the MTU Arena, thanks to by the combined 51 for Jordan Rawls and Todd Wolfe.
That may have taken its toll, as they were edged 70-68 by EJ Sligo All-Stars on Sunday at Mercy College, Ireland international John Carroll top scored for the victors on 24 points, amassing 10 rebounds too.
UCC Demons picked up a pair of road wins in Dublin accounting for UCD Marian 94-89 on Saturday. Elijah Tillman was to the fore with 30 points and 13 rebounds in their 90-82 victory.
Maree began the weekend with an 89-71 success over Killester in University of Galway Kingfisher - Jarett Haines serving up 35 points and six assists in that win.
Defending Women’s Super League champions Killester defeated Trinity Meteors took a huge scalp just a week into the season, after they downed defending champions, Killester 66-62 in Coláiste Iosagáin on Saturday evening.
Sarah Kenny and Emma Merriweather proved a massive combination under the boards for the home side, accounting for 27 rebounds and a total of 32 points, with Morgan Lenahan weighing in with a further 16.
That went a long way to countering another huge display by Killester’s Samantha Haiby, that saw her top score on 31, while also mopping up 12 loose balls under the boards.
A 74-51 victory over Midland Park Portlaoise Panthers in St. Mary’s Hall saw FloMAX Liffey Celtics make it two from two and take the outright lead in the race for this season’s crown.
The home side, who had stunned Paudie O’Connor National Cup holders, Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell with a 19-point defeat on the opening night of the season, found themselves facing a 17-point deficit at half-time in their clash with their Leixlip opponents.
Alexis Tucker and Sorcha Tiernan again made their presence felt on the night with a combined 31 points and 15 rebounds for the visitors, while Kate O’Flaherty made half of her six attempts from beyond the arc on her way to a total of 11.
Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell bounced back from their opening day loss with a ruthless 104-48 demolition of University Galway Mystics.
Trinity Hudson stole the show in this emphatic road win for the Cork side on Saturday afternoon, carding a colossal 49 points and 24 rebounds, as they built on a blistering start that saw them outscore their hosts by 25 points in the first quarter alone.
Kelly Sexton also made quite an impact for the visitors, with 13 points and nine rebounds, to help see them ease past a Mystics team for whom Ava McCleane and Shannon Cunningham still combined for 28 points, with 10 rebounds apiece.
SETU Waterford Wildcats got off the mark in their bid for a league title bid by way of a 90-68 triumph at home against Catalyst Fr Mathews in Mercy College.
Chelsea Cain and Ashia McCalla dominated under the boards, racking up a total of 27 rebounds, as they saw off last season’s National Cup finalists, for whom Grainne Dwyer bagged 20 points and nine rebounds.
The only other unbeaten side in the league, The Address UCC Glanmire, travel to Utility Trust St. Paul’s at 8pm on Monday.
