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Griffith College Éanna’s strong start to the defence of their Men’s Super League title continued with two wins last weekend to move to 3-0 while defending Women’s Super League champions Killester suffered a 66-62 defeat at Trinity Meteors.
Griffth College 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.
Speaking after the Maree victory, Griffith College Éanna head coach, Darren McGovern, said: “I thought it was a really good, tight contest between two really good teams. It’s early in the season, we all know that, but wins are wins and we’re happy to be in a good place.”
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 on Sunday to stay among the pace-setters. 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 on Sunday to move to 2-0. The scoring was evenly spread, with five players hitting double figures, Jaksa Sola topping the charts on 15.
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 at Bright St. Vincent’s on Sunday.
Maree, who fell to defeat Griffith College Éanna on Sunday, 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 2024/25 Women’s Super League 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.
Delighted a seeing his side get off the mark following last week’s agonising two-point reversal at the hands of The Address UCC Glanmire, Trinity Meteors head coach, Hillary Netsiyanwa said: “It means a lot to the girls to get a win like that. We executed our plan well and that put us in a good position. Even though our shooting percentage wasn’t the best, our fight was there, and that’s all I can ask for from the girls.
“Picking up a win at home against Killester is always something we can be happy about. We had an amazing crowd at the game, which is such a plus having that ‘sixth player’ with us” he added.
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 Women’s Super League 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.
Kate Hickey top scored on 25 points as SETU Waterford Wildcats got off the mark in their bid for the 2024/25 Super League title 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.
In Women’s Division One, iSecure Swords Thunder picked up a second straight home win, beating Templeogue 77-71, while Moy Tolka Rovers chalked up their first points of the campaign by way of an 83-79 victory at home against Abbey Seals Dublin Lions . Limerick Celtics were made scrap tooth and nail for their 97-94 triumph over Cleveland Rockets in Crescent College, while Limerick Sport Huskies returned home from Dublin with a 92-66 victory over Oblate Dynamos in the bag.
In Men’s Division One, big first and third quarter runs propelled Limerick Celtics to an 84-70 win over Maigh Cuilinn in Crescent College. Drogheda Wolves ran out 84-54 winners over Team NorthWest in ATU Donegal, before SETU Waterford Vikings saw off the challenge of Killarney Cougars 93-84 in Presentation Gym and Mater Private Malahide edged out Joels Dublin Lions 85-81 in Coláiste Bríde. Scotts Lakers Killarney also had just four points to spare in their clash with Tipp Talons, winning out 80-76 in Killarney Sports & Leisure, while Moy Tolka Rovers broke the century mark, carding a 109-92 success against Carrick Cruisers in the Phoenix Centre. ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers weathered a third-quarter wobble to beat Ulster University 80-66 in Jordanstown Sports Village, while Titans BC also made it two from two in Division One with a 95-81 triumph over Limerick Sport Eagles in UL Arena.
