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ESB Men’s League
Neptune 88(83)(48) 91(83)(45)AET 24 Connect Star of the Sea Charron Watson 24 24 Gareth Maguire/Kenny McFarland Stephen McCarthy 18 18 Scott Summersgill Marcus Wally/Gordon Fitzgerald 15 Neptune played this game with only one American as Andy Meyers did not recover from his ankle injury picked up in the cup against Killester last weekend in time to take part in the game. But in the opening minutes, you would not have known that Neptune were, on paper, the under strength side. Stephen McCarthy put the home side 6-0 in front before Kenny McFarland hit a 3pter to get Star off the mark. McCarthy and Watson were on fire in the first quarter, and it was thanks to their hard work, plus some good buckets from Marcus Wally that Neptune led 29-20 at the end of the quarter. Neptune led for the entire 2nd quarter, but never by more than 8pts, and Star brought it back to 2pt game with 3.30 on the clock, thanks to some good work by Ger Ryan who came off the bench at impressed for the visitors.
Neptune led by 5, 48-43 with 12 seconds remaining, but Gary Connelly got one back for Star before the whistle. Gareth Maguire hit 11pts to inspire Star in the 3rd quarter, his hard work and McFarland’s rebounding giving Star a 9pt lead going into the final quarter, and it really should have been game over at that point. But Neptune, playing at times some of their best basketball of the season, were not giving up and Watson made it a 1pt game again with 6 minutes remaining. Both teams stepped up their defensive and both were guilty of 24- second clock violations. Star pulled away to lead 85-80 with 3 remaining, but Fitzy kept the home side in touch with a vital three-pointer with just under 3 to go. Both sides showed the pressure with some unforced errors and it was 72 seconds before either side could convert, Scott Summersgill hitting a massive three-pointer to extend Star’s lead to 5pts with 1.49 on the clock.
Watson scored directly from the inbounded ball, and was then involved in the equalizer. McCarthy passed inside to Watson who had both McFarland and Jackson in his face to ensure he didn’t score, Watson spotted Wally free on the 3pt line and Wally obliged by swishing home a big three to level the game and force extra time. There was still 43 seconds to go, but both sides gave t/o’s including a 5 second inbound violation on Fitz with 2.1 seconds on the clock and Neptune under their own boards looking for a winner. But it wasn’t to be and for the 2nd time in three weeks that Neptune were involved in an extra-time situation.
Extra time didn’t start well for the home side – McCarthy picking up his 4th foul for a barge on Jackson. Gary Connelly got the first score with his 2nd attempt 2.25 minutes into the extra period and two successive three’s by Star killed of Neptune’s hopes as the visitors went out 91-88 winners, a 3pter from Fitzy with 1.6 seconds on the clock scant consolation for the valiant home side.
Abbey Foods Sligo 81(39) 91(40) O’Hagan Saints Chad Holmes 21 25 Dave Donnelly Davor Halbauer 16 24 Pierre Shuttlesworth Fergal Kelly 14 21 Chris Doyal A magnificent display of three point shooting (7 in total, including 4 from Dave Donnelly) by O Hagan saints in the final quarter was the main reason that the Dublin side ran out easy winners. Abbey Foods were playing a very steady game with the Irish once again giving great displays and there was little between the two teams until the last quarter. Fergal Kelly was superb and had Pierre Shuttlesworth in foul trouble. Kelly ended the game with 14 points along with numerous rebounds.
David Donnelly had a superb defensive job on (Croat) holding him to just 3 points in the last three quarters
O Hagan Saints deserved their win by virtue of that superb 4th quarter. David Donnelly’s 4 three- pointers made sure that O Hagan’s stayed in control of the game as they pulled away near the end.
Gleneagle Killarney 89(45) 83(46) Tolka Rovers Maurice Carter 32 27 Terry Smith David Griffen 14 18 Jay Fazandes Shane Horgan 14 12 Paddy Boylan GLENEAGLE Killarney registered their first home win of the season with a hard fought victory over Tolka Rovers in Presentation Gym Killarney on Saturday night. The only other match that Gleneagle have won in the league already was the corresponding tie against Tolka in Dublin last October. Since then it had all been downhill for this young and inexperienced Killarney side but they bounced back this weekend to give their supporters an early Chritsmas present. Tolka led for most of this game and were actually nine points clear with five minutes left but could only manage just one basket in those closing five minutes and that eventually contributed to their downfall.
Former Killarney star Terry Smith lined out with the Dubliner's for this encounter but it was the home side who started well and with Maurice Carter leading the way Gleneagle led 13-6 after five minutes. However Terry Smith began to discover his scoring touch and Tolka gradually climbed on top and were 21-17 ahead at the end of the first quarter.
Powerful rebounding and some incredible blocks from William Mayfield along with strong offensive play from Maurice Carter and Shane Horgan kept Gleneagle in contention but Terry Smith and Paddy Boylan kept the visitors in front to lead 34-29 with five minutes left in the half. Andrew Fitzgerald replaced the foul troubled David Griffin and made his presence felt for Gleneagle with three successive baskets. Trailing by four points with two seconds left in the half Gleneagle captain Shane Horgan raised his side’s hopes with an incredible buzzer beating three pointer from just inside the half way line.
Tolka led 46-45 at the interval but Gleneagle came out with all guns blazing and baskets from Mayfield and David Griffin pushed the home side 51-46 in front. Paddy Boylan leveled it again but further threes from Horgan and Carter sent Gleneagle 59-53 ahead after five minutes. James Fleming was also making a notable impression for the home side with some brilliant assist play but Jay Fazandes with a brace of three-pointers turned it around for Tolka to lead 66-64 entering the final quarter.
Paddy Boylan opened it up for Tolka to send his side 71-65 in front but went from hero to villain by drawing a technical, which was also his fifth foul of the game with eight minutes left. His departure was a big blow for the Dubliner's but Terry Smith continued to dominate and Fazandes was on fire from three-point land and Tolka led 81-72 with five minutes left.
Gleneagle responded with baskets from Griffin, Carter and a massive three-pointer from the superb James Fleming to cut the gap to 81-79 with 3:49 left. Fazandes added another basket for the Dubliner's to extend it to 83-79 with 3:30 left. However that was their last basket of the night and four free shots from Carter leveled matters at 83 each with 2:19 left. Mayfield followed with a big three-point play with a minute remaining to push Gleneagle 86-83 in front and further baskets from Carter and Fleming from the free throw line secured the victory for the Killarney side.
Frosties Tigers 113(51) 72(38) Big Al’s Notre Dame Ricardo Leonard 29 33 Brandon Hughes John Teahan 28 13 Anthony Jenkins Robbie Turner 22 Frosties Tigers were in control from the start, racing into a 14-6 lead after 5 minutes and Big Al’s were never to take the lead after the opening 2 minutes of the game. John Teahan and Ric accounted for 22 of Tigers 28 first quarter points. The second quarter started with Jenks picking up his 3rd foul and Frosties then started to take control of the game, with only the white hot Brandon Hughes keeping Big Al’ in touch. John Teahan enjoyed his best game of the season so far at both ends, with some great defensive work on Hughes. Roscoe and Robbie combined to see Tigers extend their lead to 13pts at the half.
In the 3rd quarter, Tigers upped the tempo with coach Falvey resting both Big Ric and John Teahan. Anthony Jenkins fouled out of the game 4 minutes into the fourth quarter on a technical foul, but Tralee were up 33pts at this stage. John Teahan was game MVP, with Brandon Hughes giving him a run for his money.
Tyrone Towers 73(43) 87(45) Waterford Crystal Jermaine Turner 19 31 Mike Norris Charles Mason 16 28 Eric Blair Thomas Hughes 12 13 Lester Hunt Twelve turnovers in the second half by Towers more or less handed this game to Crystal on a plate. This has been one of Towers big failings this season and has coach Frade tearing his hair out with frustration as he repeatedly sees his side throw away 2pts. Towers got off to the perfect start hitting three unanswered baskets in the first minute through Hughes and Turner. Waterford got off the mark and came well into the game, mainly through the outstanding Mike Norris and by the end of the quarter they had recovered well to lead 23-19. Norris was the bane of Towers, as the Irish American could not miss. He grabbed 14pts in the second quarter, but despite the fact that Towers were forced to rest Jermaine Turner for most of the quarter after he received an accidental finger in the eye, Towers only trailed by 2, 43-45 going in at the break.
Early in the third quarter, Waterford built up a 9pt lead, but then Mason hit three three-pointers in a row to level the game again. Michael Evans quickly called a time out and revved his team up to lift their game and they came out with all guns blazing. Norris and Blair were awesome, controlling the boards at both ends. The failure of Towers to impact under the boards, coupled with their turnovers, gifted Waterford the victory. Jermaine Turner fouled out for the fifth consecutive game.
Thorn Killester 108(55) 76(42) Burger King Limerick Eric Jackson 24 31 Lance Barnes John Leahy 21 19 Joe Kilroy Damien Sealy 20 7 Matt Hall THORN Killester followed on their Thursday night whitewash of Tolka Rovers with an equally comprehensive 108-76 win over BurgerKing Limerick at the IWA. Limerick were without injured hot shot Cleotis Brown, but did have Lance Barnes, who had been due to depart before the game, while Joe Kilroy came in for Brown. Kilroy hit five three-pointers in the night, but it was not enough to help Limerick see of Killester. THORN was always in control, despite losing Eric Jackson with an ankle injury in the first half when he was on 16pts. Jackson tried to run it off in the third quarter, but with his side clearly in control, Ingle decided to rest him ahead of the big game against Star of the Sea. John Leahy was also benched for the fourth quarter to give him a rest, as Killester never looked in danger. They have five players in double figures, including Michael Westbrooks who had white tailed it back from Thurles where he had played twice to help Killester into the U19’s semi’s for the fifth consecutive year.
Esat Business Demons 73(37) 84(37) Hibernian UCD Marian Toby Carberry 29 22 Kevin Ward Juan Wiley 16 19 Pat Glover Hugo Iturralde 11 14 Chris Akers There was little between the two sides until the final minutes of the game. Demons led at the end of the first quarter thanks to some white hot shooting by Carberry, it was level at the end of the second and Pat Glover inspired Marian into a 7pt lead at the end of the third quarter. Marian maintained their lead for much of the final quarter, Demons bringing it back to a 1pt game with 3 minutes to go, but two crucial turnovers in the final two minutes sealed their fortune as Marian scored from both to extend their lead. Marian held on for the 2pts and their 6th consecutive win in the league.
Thorn Killester 79(50) 64(27) 24 Connect Star of the Sea Eric Jackson 20 21 Gabe Jackson Adrian Fulton/Damien Sealy/Ed Randolph 10 19 Kenny McFarland 10 Gareth Maguire Star of the Sea never really got off the blocks in this, their second game in less than 24 hours, and Killester’s third in less than 4 days in a game which never lived up to the hype which surrounded the first meeting between Adrian Fulton and his former team-mates. His new side lead from the start, enjoying their best first half period in as many games, with Eric Jackson on form and all players combining to give a comprehensive 23pt lead at the break. It was game over at this stage as Killester cruised to a remarkably comfortable win over Star, as the Belfast outfit never looked likely to stage a comeback.
ESB Women’s League
Thorn Killester 37(10)_ 51(26) Tolka Rovers Emer Brophy 11 14 Suzanne Maguire Carmel Kissane 10 11 Sharon Kelly Gillian Ennis 6 7 Denise Walsh/Vanessa Burke THORN Killester fielded a weakened team due to injuries and work commitments and found it difficult to get into a rhythm in the opening quarter, allowing Tolka to build up a 16pt lead, in what was a very low scoring first half for both sides. The second half was more evenly matched. Killester fought back to reduce the deficit to 5pts in the 3rd quarter, and even looked like they might just overtake the defending champions. But Suzanne Maguire kept her cool amid the Tolka panic, and her crucial three-pointer settled the holders nerves and they recovered to storm ahead and win with ease.
Sasha Meteors 53(24) 76(34) University of Limerick Catherine O’Sullivan 17 20 Sinead Leahy Karen Hennessy 12 15 Michelle Aspell Ciara Harvey 7 9 Nicola Farrell UL delivered on the promise they have been showing over the past few weeks with a comprehensive victory over Meteors in Dublin. Sinead Leahy showed she is fully back to fitness with a big job under the boards for UL and a top scoring performance, while Michelle Aspell got back to her scoring ways quickly in only her second game for UL this season.
Bausch & Lomb Wildcats 65(29) 49(22) Thorn Killester Jillian Hayes 22 20 Emer Brophy Olivia O’Reilly 16 13 Carmel Kissane Jenny Coady 6 8 Emma Pierce There was little between the sides in the first half, as neither team played near their full potential. Killester badly missed Sinead Vaughan (work commitments) but Carmel Kissane linked up well with Emer Brophy under the boards to dent her old teams lead.
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