In the Domino's Women’s Super League Utility Trust St.Pauls won 72-62 at Portlaoise.
Enda Walshe Reports
Utility Trust St. Paul’s Killarney maintained their unbeaten start to the Domino’s Women’s Super League, winning 72-62 at Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers on Sunday. It puts them joint top alongside Killester, Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell and Trinity Meteors, with each having 2-0 records.
The offensive power of the St. Paul's duo Tara Cousins and Maisie Burnham ensured that the Killarney side put on a dominant performance in Portlaoise where they took the lead in minute one and did not give up the lead for the remainder of the game.
Cousins and Burnham were shooting the lights out against the Panthers, scoring a combined 43 points between them including seven threes. The win moves Utility Trust St. Paul's Killarney to 2-0 and gives Portlaoise their first loss of the season.
Utility Trust St. Paul’s head coach, James Fleming, said: “Great win on the road. Ourselves and Portlaoise have a great relationship, never anything between us. We are getting stronger every week with bodies coming back. Our pros have settled in well, we are delighted with the start and look forward to our first home game on Saturday.”
The Killarney side host Catalyst Fr. Mathews next, while Portlaoise Panthers travel to newly promoted side McEvoy's Cavan Eagles, who are still looking for their first win. Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell and Killester face off at GCU Arena Parochial Hall, while the only the other unbeaten team, Trinity Meteors, host SETU Waterford Wildcats. UCC Glanmire and FloMAX Liffey Celtics face off as they seek their maiden wins of the season.
The Men's saw Flexachem KCYMS, Killorglin win 87-81 at Demons.
Ger Nolan Reports
Flexachem KCYMS inflicted a first defeat of the season on defending Domino’s Men’s Super League champions UCC Demons, winning 87-81 at Mardyke Arena on Sunday.
The win put the Kerry outfit joint top of the table, alongside Belfast Star, with 2-0 records.
UCC Demons led 52-43 at half-time and led by as much as 16 points, 59-43, two minutes into the third quarter after David Lehane’s basket. But Flexachem KCYMS hit the front four minutes in the final quarter, 77-76, thanks to Eche Okeke’s three pointer. The game remained tight with the side’s level at 79 apiece following Daryl Cuff’s jump shot with two and a half minutes to go.
Another three from Okeke – his third of the game - with a little over a minute to go put Declan Wall’s side 84-79 up and they’d keep their noses in front. Okeke would finish with a game high 35 points, backed up by Ireland international Jordan Blount (18) and Emiliyan Grudov (17).
Declan Wall, Flexachem KCYMS head coach, said: "A great win on the road on Sunday. Demons for me are one of the top three teams in this league this year and to go and dig out a win like that with Rami (Ghanem) going out injured before half-time and not playing one of our Americans 'til the 3rd quarter, shows other guys stepped up in the roster, which could be good for us going forward. We kept them to ten points in the the 4th was the difference and defensively I thought going to Mardyke - where Demons score big usually - and giving up only 81 points in total showed we worked hard."
Flexachem KCYMS host Killester on Saturday, while fellow table toppers Belfast Star are at home against Limerick Celtics. UCC Demons will look to get back to winning ways when they travel to Garvey's Tralee Warriors. It's a Cork derby as Energywise Ireland Neptune host Ballincollig, UCD Marian are at home against EJ Sligo All-Stars and it's a Dublin derby between Griffith College Éanna and St. Vincent's.
