ESB Men's League
ESB Women's League
Britball.com
Front |
Notre Dame take advantage
of Killarney's imported misery
ESB Men’s League
| Big Al’s
Notre Dame |
92(43) |
|
56(27) |
St. Paul’s
Killarney |
| Brandon Hughes |
21 |
20 |
D. Griffin |
| Lennie McMillan |
18 |
18 |
J Leen |
| Mark Kenny/Paul
Cummins |
14 |
12 |
Shane Horgan |
| St. Paul’s
played were hit by a double blow before the game had even started when
they discovered that their two Americans Stretch Robinson and Douglas Hines
had departed unexpectedly leaving them to play with only their young Irish
panel. They started well with big David Griffin proving that he can match
anyone at ESB League level, with 9 first quarter points. Brandon Hughes
was yet again the star of the affair, and he grabbed 7 1st quarter
points, but it could have been so much more. Killarney’s strong start saw
them enjoy an 18-17 lead at the end of the quarter. Big Al’s stepped up
their game in the second quarter, and St. Paul’s suddenly found themselves
under pressure as Big Al’s full court defense kept them on the rack. Lennie
McMillan (7pts) and Brandon Hughes (10pts) kept Big Al’s in control and
they ran up a 16p lead by the half time whistle.
The 3rd quarter continued
in the same vein with Big Al’s coach Jenks resting his experienced players,
as it was clear that Big Al’s were never in danger of losing the game.
Young U17’s star Paul Cummins showed he has what it takes to become a big
ESB League star of the future adding 14pts on his full debut while Mark
Kenny continued to impress in his first ESB League season. |
| Hibernian
UCD Marian |
83(43) |
|
73(41) |
Tolka Rovers |
| Kevin Ward |
18 |
22 |
Jay Fazandes |
| Neville Charles |
13 |
15 |
Paddy Boylan |
| Kevin Meaney |
12 |
13 |
Randal Mounts |
|
| Abbey Foods
Sligo |
63(38) |
|
76(26) |
Team Burger
King Limerick |
| Chad Holmes |
16 |
37 |
Tliotus Brown |
| Mike Trimmer |
15 |
22 |
Rock Winston |
| Paschal Bree |
12 |
10 |
Tim Walsh |
| Abbey Foods
Sligo had their best start this season, with Paschal Bree, back to his
best form ever this season after missing most of last year with injury,
outstanding. Mike Trimmer replaced the departed Victor Ebong and he enjoyed
a good first half, linking up well with Chad Holmes and after a blistering
first half performance Abbey Foods Sligo led by 12 points at the interval.
The second half started with Sligo still dominating the game and the home
side went on to build up a 17 point lead midway through the second half.
But BurgerKing began to press and Sligo
gave away one too many unforced errors and with Tliotus Brown finding his
form, the visitors gradually eroded the lead and in the final few moments
they ran out easy winners. |
| Thorn Killester |
90(45) |
|
58(35) |
Clare Jets |
| Eric Jackson |
31 |
25 |
Lester Hunt |
| John Leahy |
20 |
19 |
Donald Edge |
| Damien Sealy |
10 |
8 |
Willie Gallas |
| Clare Jets
jumped into an early lead leaving the Killester side stunned as Lester
Hunt and Donald Edge combined well for the visitors. The home side battled
back into the game, but at the end of the first quarter Clare Jets led
19-18.
But in the second quarter, Killester
settled into their game and with Eric Jackson on fire both offensively
and in defence, it was clear the points were with the home team. Leading
by 10 at the break, Killester stormed ahead in the 3rd quarter
for what was an easy victory in the end. |
| Big Al’s
Notre Dame |
80(44) |
|
73(35) |
Waterford
Crystal |
| Brandon Hughes |
24 |
31 |
Stacey Massiah |
| Lennie McMillan |
15 |
17 |
Eric Blair |
| Anthony Jenkins |
17 |
12 |
Mike Norris |
| This top of
the table clash was always going to be close and tense, and the fans that
travelled to the National Basketball Arena were not disappointed. Both
sides were neck and neck until the final minute when Big Al’s pulled away
for the win which sees them clear at the top of the table and the only
unbeaten ESB Men’s League side after three weeks action. The pace was frenetic
from the start with end to end action; Big Al’s just shading it with Brandon
Hughes putting them 24-18 in front at the end of the first quarter. With
five minutes to go in the 2nd quarter, Big Al’s led 34-26. Massiah
got 5pts, a basket from a nice fake and spin move past Jenks and a 3pter
seconds later to cut Big Al’s lead to just 5pts, and bring his tally to
18pts. Tony McDonagh came into the game for Big Al’s – and scored with
his first touch as he popped in a rebound from a Hughes miss. McDonagh
made it a 10pt game minutes later with a lovely back door move and the
assist from Hughes. Waterford were under pressure at this point, with Big
Al’s building up a comfortable lead and just over 2 minutes remaining in
the half, but Kavanagh spotted Massiah on the line and set him up for a
3pter to make it 42-34 with 2 .10 on the clock. Blair, who was kept relatively
quiet in the first half thanks to the close attention of Jenks and Nuno,
made 1 / 2 at the line to bring Crystal to 35pts, and Jenks went 0 / 2
at the line with seconds remaining, the half ending 55-35 to Big Al’s
Waterford had by far the best of the
third quarter, Blair coming to life and hitting a big 3pter at the start
of the game to lift his side. Massiah followed up with two quick scores
and a free throw to cut it to a 3pt game, 48-45 with 4 minutes gone in
the quarter.
Hughes set up McDonagh back door for
the 4th or 5th time in the game to put Big Al’s 6pts
in front again. Hughes then set up McEvilly on the break, he was fouled
and made the shot, but the basket wasn’t allowed, but McEvilly answered
that call by scoring from the inbounded pass.
Dean Kavanagh got two quick baskets
to cut the deficit to 5pts, and then Norris hit a big 3pts to make it a
2pt game again, the quarter ending 59-57.
David Cunningham hit a 3pointer to
start the fourth quarter and put Crystal in the lead for the first time
since the first quarter. Hughes made 2 / 2 at the line to put Big Al’s
3pts clear again with just over 1 minute played. Lennie extended their
lead to 5pts seconds later with the assist from Hughes. David Cunningham
took the ball to the hoop for Crystal but then reversed the ball back out
to Norris on the 3pts line as he hit his 3rd of the game to
make it a 2pt game, 65-63. Hughes went for the drive at the other end but
was blocked by Massiah and stripped by Blair. Jenks inbounded the ball
to Hughes, who was stripped again by Massiah and Crystal won back possession.
Norris leveled the game at 65 apiece from the line with 7.33 on the clock
and the action continued basket for basket with both sides giving it 100%.
Massiah, who only contributed 2pts from his 31pts in the fourth quarter,
was not working hard enough to get clear of his marker and Crystal failed
to get the ball to the guy leaving them relying heavily on outside shots.
With the sides leveled at 67 apiece, Blair blocked his old teammate Jenks
and at the other end Jenks was blown for an off the ball offensive foul
on Blair – his 3rd foul of the game. Blair in turn picked up
his 4th foul when involved in a scramble with Hughes on the
ground, Blair blown for a similar foul to one that Lennie had escaped just
moments earlier. Hughes, who went 9 /10 at the line in the game, made both
to tie the game at 71 apiece. Norris was set up on the break by Blair,
but was blocked by Jenks who moments later blocked Cunningham in the same
fast break move. In between his two great defensive moves, Jenks hit a
3pter to put his side 74-71 in front with 1.40 on the clock.
Eric Blair picked up his fifth foul
with 51 second remaining and when Mike Norris checked out 20 seconds later,
it was game over for Crystal. Hughes went to the line 3 times in the last
29 seconds, hitting 5/ 6 at the line to give Big Al’s the 80-73 victory,
and putting them top of the table and the only unbeaten side in the league
tonight. |
| Star of
the Sea |
92(48) |
|
50(14) |
St. Paul’s
Killarney |
| Scott Summersgill |
18 |
24 |
David Griffin |
| Ger Ryan |
17 |
9 |
Shane Horgan |
| Gary Connolly |
11 |
|
|
| |
| Killarney had
it all against them going into this, their second game without their departed
Americans. Trailing 25-5 at the end of the quarter, Star of the Sea kept
their two Americans on the bench, but even with this, they were two strong
for the young Killarney side. Gary Connolly made his debut for Star, having
transferred from Dungannon, but missed their first three games through
injury. David Griffin impressed for the visitors, but it was always going
to be a Star victory without any importss on Killarney’s bench |
| Neptune |
88(50) |
|
104(58) |
O’Hagan
Saints |
| Brian Finlay |
28 |
33 |
Pierre Shuttlesworth |
| Stephen McCarthy |
25 |
25 |
Stephen McGuirk |
| Charron Watson |
12 |
17 |
Joe Kilroy |
| Saints created
an impressive upset in Cork, running back to Dublin with a 88-104 defeat
of Neptune inspired by 33 points from Pierre Shuttlesworth
1st two quarters were scrappy,
Saints passing often leaving a lot to be desired as they gave away too
many unforced errors in the first half. There was little between the sides
in the first quarter, Stephen McGuirk shading it for the visitors, 27-29
at the end of the first period.
It continued basket for basket for
the 2nd quarter, Neptune suffered a blow when Charron Watson
picked up his 4th foul 2mins into the 2nd quarter,
and he sat out the rest of the quarter and the entire 3rd quarter.
But Neptune held their own and trailed the visitors by just 8 at the break.
Stephen McCarthy had an outstanding 3rd quarter and kept Neptune
in the game, but Neptune still trailed 72-79 going into the final quarter.
Joe Kilroy joined Saints from Limerick on Friday, and had a moderate debut,
but Shuttlesworth had his best game to date, with some excellent offensive
moves. Neptune tired in the fourth quarter, and it was only the hard work
of Stephen McCarthy that kept them in touch, but with five minutes remaining
Saints pulled away to run up their first big lead of the game. |
| Tolka Rovers |
88(44) |
|
81(46) |
Esat Telecom
Demons |
| Jay Fazandes |
27 |
22 |
Juan Wiley |
| Javier Jimenese |
18 |
18 |
Tobe Carbery |
| Esat Telecom
Demons suffered their third defeat of the season going down by 7pts to
Tolka Rovers in a tense and close affair. There was little between the
two sides from tipp off, Demons just shading it at the half time break.
Tolka went ahead by 3 with 2 minutes to go, and held on to their lead for
the first time in the game. Demons were forced to foul to stop the clock
and this, combined with some late scores ensured Tolka the 7pt win. |
| Abbey Foods
Sligo |
78(38) |
|
75(44) |
Frosties
Tigers |
| Mike Trimmer |
19 |
23 |
John Teahan |
| Chad Holmes |
17 |
17 |
Robbie Turner |
| Scott McCarthy |
14 |
9 |
Vinnie Murphy |
| Frosties Tiger
Tralee opened up strongly, running up an early 10pt lead. Sligo closed
the gap to 6pts, but Tralee pushed ahead again through John Teahan. Ricardo
Leonard picked up an injury in the first quarter and sat out all of the
2nd and 3rd quarter. Tralee, for whom John Teahan
starred, were still in control of the game and led by as much as 12pts
for most of the game. Sligo cut the gap to 6pts at the half time break
though Trimmer and Scott "Big Mac" McCarthy.
Tralee started the 3rd quarter
strongly and increased their lead to 12pts once more, but Sligo kept in
touch with Paschal Bree working hard in defence for the home side. Leonard
returned to the action in the 4th quarter as slowly Sligo began
to erode the Tralee lead. Sligo moved in front for the first time in the
game with 3 minutes to go and went 4pts clear of the visitors. The home
crowd spurred the side on and they stepped up their defence to ensure they
held on for the narrow 3pt victory, their first win of the season. Frosties
Tigers suffered their first defeat of the season leaving just one ESB Men’s
League side, Big Al’s Notre Dame, unbeaten at the end of the third week
of league action. |
ESB Women’s League
| Sasha Meteors |
67(34) |
|
50(25) |
Tolka Rovers |
| Neassa O’Keeffe |
23 |
19 |
Vanessa Burke |
| Karen Hennessy |
17 |
11 |
Rachel Kelly |
| Orla Nolan |
9 |
9 |
Angie McNally |
| Meteors
took a splendid Saturday night win over Tolka Rivers winning 67-50.
This classic Dublin Derby started with
an electric pace, as both sides were eager to make their mark. A very fast
game, the first quarter saw Tolka outscore the home side by 1pt. Vanessa
Burke and Rachel Kelly on form for the reigning champions. However in the
2nd quarter, Meteors converted more of their chances and scored
20pts to Tolka’s 10pts. ESB League newcomer Neassa O’Keeffe scored 15pts
of Meteors 20pts in the second quarter with superb inside plays. In the
third quarter, Tolka came back to outscore Meteors by 2pts and cut the
home sides lead to just 7pts going into the final quarter. Niamh Furey
played strong defence and also contributed 3pts. Meteors free throws were
decisive in the quarter and by the end of the quarter they were 51-44 up.
The telling point came in the final quarter where Tolka were outscored
16-6 with superb defense and rebounding by the home side. Meteors won the
game emphatically in the end through some great teamwork. Sharon Kelly
was still out for Tolka Rovers. |
| University
of Limerick |
50 |
|
61 |
Bausch &
Lomb Wildcats |
| Nollaig Cleary |
12 |
21 |
Jillian Hayes |
| Maire Guiney |
11 |
17 |
Catriona White |
| |
|
