UCC Demons aim for cup final spot
This weekend defending champions UCC Demons take on EJ Sligo All-Stars in the semi-finals of the Pat Duffy National Cup competition on Saturday.
It’s a national cup semi-finals weekend in Cork but they are one of the few Cork sides in action. Their game will tip-off at 2.30pm at Neptune Stadium. The second placed Super League team face an EJ Sligo All-Stars side who are in 10th place currently.
Also on Saturday in the IWA National Cup, Cork's Rebel Wheelers take on Limerick Celtics at the MTU Arena at 10am while in the NICC Women’s National Cup, there are two Cork clubs involved. On Saturday Ongar Chasers face Fr Mathews at Gurranabraher Credit Union Arena at 12.30pm while Ballincollig BC face Liffey Celtics at MTU Arena at 3pm.
Last weekend saw 4 out of the 5 Cork teams in action triumph although that was in Super League action.
In the Women’s Super League, Catalyst Fr Mathews served up only a second loss of the season for SETU Waterford Wildcats, with the Cork side running out 108-87 winners in Fr Mathews Arena. There was also a win for The Address UCC Glanmire who go fifth in the table while Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell’s tie against University of Galway Mystics was postponed.
Killester held on to top spot in Men’s Super League after they emerged 103-93 winners from their top-of-the-table clash with Garvey’s Tralee Warriors in Tralee on Saturday with 2 of the Cork mens’ sides winning and one going down in Dublin.
UCC Demons moved clear of Tralee in second place after they ran out 90-75 winners over Bright St Vincent’s in the Mardyke Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Elijah Tillman carded a game-high 28 points and won 14 defensive boards for the hosts, while Patrick Robinson also contributed significantly with 23 points and eight rebounds to help weather a strong test from their Dublin rivals, whose challenge was powered largely by JaRon Thames and Samuel Henderson’s combined 47 points.
Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU bounced back from last week’s one-point loss to Belfast Star with an 88-82 triumph over EJ Sligo All-Stars in MTU Arena.
Down by eight points midway through the final quarter, the hosts, with five players in double digits including Ciaran O’Sullivan on 20, battled their way back for a victory that also served as some measure of revenge for their loss to Sligo in the last eight of the Pat Duffy National Cup in December.
On Saturday Energywise Ireland Neptune went down away to UCD Marian 116-84 on Saturday.
Women’s Super League
Cataylst Fr Mathews marked the start of the new year with a major scalp after they knocked SETU Waterford Wildcats off top spot in Women’s Super League with a 108-87 defeat in Fr Mathews Arena on Saturday afternoon.
While they trailed by four points at the close of the first quarter, the Cork side took the next three in convincing fashion, as they finished with five players in double figures including Kyra White and Aisling McCann on a combined 44, the former also combining with Shannon Brady for 18 rebounds and eight assists.
“We're delighted with the performance and getting the win over a really strong team in SETU Waterford Wildcats,” said Keith Daly, Catalyst Fr Mathews head coach. “The fast tempo suited us and we’re very happy in how we shared the ball which allowed us to get a lot of good looks,” he added.
The Address UCC Glanmire raced clear of Utility Trust St Paul’s over the closing quarter to copper-fasten a 77-59 win over their Kerry opponents in Mardyke Arena on Sunday.
Just five points separated the two teams by the close of the third, but the hosts made certain of the victory as Callie Cavanaugh carded a game-best 32 point haul, while DelJanae Williams landed five of her seven three-point attempts en route to a total of 21, with nine rebounds and five assists to boot.