‘It was crucial to come back sharp’ – Cup winners Liffey Celtics beaten in league return as Killester avoid same fate

The defeat allowed Waterford Wildcats – who have a game in hand – go level at the top of the table following their 86-81 win over Glanmire on Saturday.

In Celtics’ Saturday game, Meteors scored 22 more points than them in a third-quarter blitz to seal victory, despite their Leixlip rivals recouping 13 in the fourth.

Emma Merriweather and Sarah Kenny led Meteors with 34 points and 28 rebounds between them for the Dubliners.

“Huge credit to the girls, after having two weeks off, it was crucial to come back and be as sharp as possible,” said Trinity Meteors head coach Hillary Netsiyanwa.

Celtics’ beaten finalists Killester weren’t in action this weekend after damage to opponents Mystics’ home venue in Claregalway following Storm Éwoyn.

Meanwhile, men’s cup champions Killester avoided the same fate as their women’s counterparts by beating Belfast Star 86-78 in Clontarf.

Although things did not look good for the league leaders when they were eight points down late in the second quarter.

Killester faced stiff test with De Ondre Jackson and Darweshi Hunter each put 21 on the scoreboard for the visitors.

However, Isiah Dasher and Baptiste Chazelas hit a combined 37 points and 25 rebounds for the current table toppers to see off Star.

“Star came out with far more energy and they got easy baskets in transition and in the half-court, while we didn’t shoot the ball well, so we were a little bit disappointed going in at half-time” admitted Killester head coach Jonny Grennell.

Beaten cup finalists, Demons remain hot on Killester’s heels, after battling back from 11 points down in the closing seven minutes to beat Éanna 94-91 in Dublin on Saturday night.

A Beni Fungula three-pointer with 10 seconds remaining proved the difference in the end as Killorglin clinched an 85-82 victory at home against Maree.

Jeffrey Okeke and Jordan Blount, together, bagged 45 points and 15 rebounds in a gripping tug-of-war that saw the Killorglin side cough up a 21-point lead to fall seven behind before regaining the initiative down the stretch.

Ballincollig bounced back from Thursday night’s three-point derby defeat to Neptune with an 101-69 victory over Templeogue in MTU Arena on Saturday evening.

Todd Wolfe converted four of his five three-point attempts en route to a 33-point total for the home side.

RESULTS

Women’s Super League

St Paul’s 71 Brunell 70

Waterford Wildcats 86 Glanmire 81

Trinity Meteors 81 Liffey Celtics 76

Portlaoise Panthers 79 Fr Mathews 65

Mystics v Killester (postponed)

Men’s Super League

Ballincollig 101 Templeogue 69

Demons 94 Éanna 91

Killorglin 85 Maree 82

Killester 86 Belfast Star 78

St Vincent’s v UCD Marian (postponed)

Neptune v Sligo All-Stars (postponed)