The Address UCC Glanmire have been crowned MissQuote.ie Super League champions for the second year in succession. Mark Scannell’s side continued an incredible regular season run by beating Ulster University 90-67 to ensure the trophy remains on Leeside.
Basketball Ireland MissQuote.ie Women’s Super League, Mardyke Arena, Cork 26/2/2023
The Address UCC Glanmire vs Ulster University
The Address UCC Glanmire players celebrate
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Bryan Keane
Khiarica Rasheed and Brittany Byrd stamped their class on the occasion by combining for 42 points, including 7 of the opening 14 points that put the game almost out of sight within five minutes of play. Ulster University showed their grit despite being down by 18 points after one, Irish underage international Maria Kealy their standout performer alongside Emily Maupin and Aoife Callaghan.
Reflecting on their achievement afterwards, The Address UCC Glanmire head coach Mark Scannell said: “We’ve just won a very tough league. At the start of the season, we wouldn’t have expected this. Losing a couple of games to Trinity (Meteors) earlier in the season was really tough at the time, but I think it hardened the team and we went back to the drawing board. The effort and endeavour this group have put in over the last six months has been phenomenal. Today they got their reward.”
Elsewhere, Trinity Meteors and DCU Mercy remain neck and neck in the battle for the second seeding for the Champions Trophy.
DCU Mercy extended their unbeaten run to six by beating InsureMyHouse.ie National Cup winners Killester 83-75 on the road. Mark Ingle’s team now face a huge game against recently anointed champions The Address UCC Glanmire next week, as they look to overthrow Trinity Meteors with two weeks left in the regular season.
Niall Berry’s Meteors ended their recent run of poor form against i3PT Fr.Mathews. They led from pillar to post in a 66-60 win and while never pulling away fully, the victory will do much to restore confidence in the ranks, with Irish international duo Dayna Finn and Claire Melia both amassing 19 and 14 points respectively. This result combined with Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics win all but condemns Niamh Dwyer’s team to missing out on the Champions Trophy. Shannon Brady put in a magnificent shooting performance to register 28 points for them on the day.
Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics and University of Galway Mystics combined for an incredible 28 three pointers, as the Kildare side ran out eventual winners 100-85. Sorcha Tiernan was once again showing her scoring range, accounting for 17 points on a day in which no fewer than six of Karl Kilbride’s team scored 15 or more. Paul O’Brien’s Mystics were equally impressive on the stat sheet in defeat. Kara McCleane led the way with 22 points, but similarly to their conquerors, five of them notched at least 12 points. The win gives Celtics a three-point advantage on their rivals for the final Champions Trophy place in the MissQuote.ie Super League table with just two games to go.
Singleton SuperValu Brunell look to be their final challengers for that spot. Liam Culloty’s side narrowly defeated Waterford Wildcats 75-72 on Sunday afternoon. Akilah Bethel took on the scoring load from Edel Thornton, amassing 26 points, but it was free-throws in the closing minutes from Lauryn Homan and Danielle O’Leary that put the finishing touches to the win. The loss means Wildcats drop to 9-7 on the year. Jasmine Walker, Sarah Hickey and Caitlin Gloeckner all showed up well for Waterford.
It’s as you were in the InsureMyVan.ie Super League Southern Conference playoff race, as Energywise Ireland Neptune, Garvey’s Tralee Warriors and Emporium Cork Basketball all claimed valuable wins to keep one game between them in the standings.
Emporium Cork Basketball took care of business first, rallying from a halftime deficit to defeat Northern Conference playoff chasing EJ Sligo All-Stars, 91-67. John Dawson had 28 points and Jose Gonzales 27 in a must win game for the home side. Shane O’Meara’s All-Stars remain in the final playoff place with two regular season games to go. Christian Williams and Tom Childs proving pivotal once more in defeat.
Tarkus Ferguson, Jordan Blount and Cian Heaphy all reached double digits for Energywise Ireland Neptune in their 72-65 win over Northern Conference leading Belfast Star. The win solidifies their third spot in the Southern Conference table, maintaining a one win advantage over their rivals. The loss sees Belfast Star slip to 12-5, but their playoff position is firmly secure at this stage.
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors resurgence continued in front of the onlooking Armagh GAA panel. The Kerry team were dominant 84-54 winners against a Killester team who are now without a win in three games. Matija Jokic was a nightmare to match up with for the Warriors opponents once more, he led the scoring charts with 19 points. Irish international Eoin Quigley not far behind with 17.
Elsewhere, DBS Éanna made it back-to-back InsureMyVan.ie Super League wins to join Belfast Star at the top of the Northern Conference on 12-5. Darren McGovern’s team can thank a powerful shooting period in the third quarter for overturning a halftime deficit against Flexachem KCYMS, who are now in danger of slipping into the relegation playoff despite many excellent performances during the regular season.
Moycullen are the team aiming to leapfrog the Killorglin outfit. Paul Cunningham has gotten a tune from Grant Olsson in recent weeks, and he was to the fore once more as they gained an invaluable 82-79 win against Griffith College Templeogue. It’s their fourth win of the campaign and draws them level with Flexachem KCYMS in the Southern Conference standings. The result puts a dent in Mark Keenan and Griffith College Templeogue’s lingering ambitions of a playoff spot.
The team with the best record in Irish basketball, University of Galway Maree accounted for UCD Marian 91-72 to take their record to 14-3 on the year. It’s Charlie Crowley’s fifth win on the bounce, with the InsureMyHouse.ie National Cup champions looking strong as the playoffs approach. Jarret Haines turned in another spectacular scoring performance to grab 25 points, but it was Jonathan Jean who was the game’s leading scoring with 30. For UCD Marian, their eyes are firmly focused on getting the balance right for the relegation playoff.
UCC Demons are arguably the hottest team in Irish basketball. Danny O’Mahony’s charges scored 56 points in the opening half of a 92-75 win against Bright St. Vincents. Tala Fam Thiam had his best performance of the season, scoring 27 points for the hosts, who dominated the boards throughout the second and third quarter to pull away from the North Dublin team. Stefan Zecevic and Donovan Fields put up some resistance for Bright St.Vincent’s, who ultimately couldn’t match the scoring prowess of the second place Southern Conference side.
Results
InsureMyVan.ie Super League
Saturday, February 25th
Emporium Cork Basketball 91-67 EJ Sligo All-Stars
Moycullen 82-79 Griffith College Templeogue
Energywise Ireland Neptune 72-65 Belfast Star
UCD Marian 72-91 University of Galway Maree
DBS Éanna 94-80 Flexachem KCYMS
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 84-54 Killester
Sunday, February 26th
UCC Demons 92-75 Bright St. Vincent’s
InsureMyVan.ie Division 1
Saturday, February 25th
Ulster University 85-88 Dwyer’s of Cork Fr. Mathews
Team North West 84-95 Limerick Sport Eagles, ATU Donegal
Portlaoise Panthers 92-68 SETU Waterford Vikings, St. Mary’s Hall
Killarney Cougars 83-98 Moy Tolka Rovers
Abbey Seals Dublin Lions 93-87 Scott Lakers SPK
Malahide 115-80 Limerick Celtics
Sunday, February 26th
SETU Carlow 95-71 Drogheda Wolves
MissQuote.ie Super League
Saturday, February 25th
Trinity Meteors 66-60 i3PT Fr. Mathews
Killester 75-83 DCU Mercy
Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics 100-85 University of Galway Mystics
Sunday, February 26th
The Address UCC Glanmire 90-67 Ulster University
Singleton SuperValu Brunell 75-72 Waterford Wildcats
MissQuote.ie Division 1
Saturday, February 25th
Phoenix Rockets 94-55 SETU Carlow
McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles 81-79 St. Paul’s Killarney
Portlaoise Panthers 84-71 Moy Tolka Rovers
Oblate Dynamos 69-81 Limerick Celtics, Oblate Hall
Limerick Sport Huskies 41-58 Abbey Seals Dublin Lions
Marble City Hawks 64-83 Griffith College Templeogue
