Buzzer beater moves UCC Glanmire six points clear at top of MissQuote.ie Super League

The Address UCC Glanmire moved six points clear at the of the MissQuote.ie Super League thanks to Khiarica Rasheed’s buzzer beater with the final play to seal a dramatic 75-73 win at Singleton SuperValu Brunell. Their closest title rivals, Trinity Meteors, slipped to a 98-88 home defeat to Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics.

The Address UCC Glanmire left it late to snatch a 75-73 win over Singleton SuperValu Brunell at Parochial Hall. Evenly poised at 73 apiece, Mark Scannell’s side had possession with two seconds remaining and their set play worked out perfectly when Rasheed executing a nerveless jump shot.

Speaking afterwards, Scannell said: “Sometimes the odd play works out. We’re delighted; I’m saying all along they’re very good. The way we finished was fantastic and to win without Áine (McKenna) is a tribute to the depth of our squad and the effort they put in. We move on to next week and another big game. Our Americans were very good today and Claire (O’Sullivan) was a real leader out there. Annealise (Murphy) Simone (O’Shea) and Amy (Dooley) played their hearts out.”

O’Sullivan and Rasheed both finished with game-highs of 23 points for the winners.

Trinity Meteors fell to their second league defeat in a row, Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics international trio inspired them to a 98-88 road win. Sorcha Tiernan top scored with 29 points, while Ciara Bracken had 19 and Áine O’Connor 18.

Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics head coach Karl Kilbride said: “Delighted with the performance. It was our most consistent performance all year at both ends of the floor. We knew going in that we had to win the fight in order to win the game and I thought our effort and work rate rebounding the ball were phenomenal. Meteors were excellent and punished us time and again for defensive lapses - Sarah Kenny in particular shot the ball really well. They did a great job at closing out quarters. Our three internationals stepped up and showed why they’re internationals, Sorcha (Tiernan) was magnificent. But I really thought Ailbhe (O’Connor) was a game changer, fighting inside, running the floor and doing all the dirty work it takes to come away with a win like that. Now we need to show the same consistency week in week out, going forward.”

DCU Mercy stay third in the table, they won 84-69 at in-form Ulster University, who’d come into the game with three wins from four matches. Amelia Motz top-scored for the victors on 20 points. Head coach Mark Ingle gave this appraisal afterwards: “Very tough game against the most improved team in the league. I was happy with our second half defence and how we shared the scoring by moving the ball, especially in the second half.”

Waterford Wildcats and Killester knew a win for either side would see them go to fourth and it was Tommy O’Mahony’s side who came out on top, 71-63, to avenge last month’s InsureMyHouse.ie National Cup semi-final defeat. Karli Seay led scoring for the victors, on 19, but it was the defensive side of things that pleased the Waterford Wildcats head coach most.

“Delighted to get the win, defensively we were very poor last few weeks and that was our sole focus for tonight's game. Killester are a serious team, as they have shown all year. We have four games left and we are really looking forward to the challenges ahead. We are delighted with the teams’ performance and if we can replicate that for the rest of the season, we will be very close to where we want to be,” O’Mahony said.

One of the games of the weekend was University of Galway Mystics and i3PT Fr. Mathews, which needed three overtime periods to finally separate the sides, with the Galway club eventually coming out on top 102-98 to record their second win of the season. Naomi Sharlyn Ganpo-Nkwenkwa led with 27 points, backed up by 22 and 17 point hauls from Hazel Finn and Kara McCleane.

There was certainly an element of relief from University of Galway Paul O’Brien afterwards: “Delighted to get the win in the end! Both teams gave everything and happy to get over the line. We weren't happy with our defensive effort in the first half, but really stepped up in the second half. I feel our play since Christmas has been excellent and to finally get that second win is a massive boost for us.”

McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles remain the team in control in MissQuote.ie Division 1, registering another victory, this time 70-61 at Abbey Seals Dublin Lions, to improve to 14-1 in an outstanding debut season in the National League. Another debutant, St. Paul’s Killarney, are second in the table, they overcame Marble City Hawks 64-55. Phoenix Rockets defeated Oblate Dynamos 63-55, Moy Tolka Rovers were 64-41 winners at Dublin rivals Swords Thunder. On Sunday Griffith College Templeogue won 86-64 at SETU Carlow 86-64, while Portlaoise Panthers were comfortable 87-50 winners against Limerick Sport Huskies.

Results:

MissQuote.ie Super League

Saturday, February 11^th

University of Galway Mystics 102-98 i3PT Fr.Mathews (after overtime)

Trinity Meteors 88-98 Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics

Waterford Wildcats 71-63 Killester

Ulster University 69-84 DCU Mercy

Sunday, February 12th

Singleton SuperValu Brunell 73-75 The Address UCC Glanmire

MissQuote.ie Division 1

Saturday, February 11^th

Phoenix Rockets 63-55 Oblate Dynamos