Conor Meany's basketball talking points: Ballincollig dominate, Celtics stun Demons

Plus Brunell continue their impressive start to the year.

Ballincollig’s Adrian O’Sullivan and Éanna’s Mikah Blackwell battle for the rebound. Picture: Chani Anderson.

Ballincollig dominate Eanna 

It was billed as the clash of the first round, but Ballincollig used a dominant second and third quarter to run away from Eanna, leading by as much as 24 and eventually winning 85-70. 

The game showed why Ballincollig could be the favourites in the competition, with balanced scoring from their big four offensive threats. Josh Steele has settled more into Irish basketball and with Adrian O’Sullivan hitting big shots, that duo perfectly complement the American’s Jossell and Mitchell. 

What has changed Ballincollig since the 0-2 start to the league though is their ability to defend and I think Dylan Corkery’s return four games into the year has helped that. Prior to Corkery’s season debut Ballincollig were giving up 90 points a game, since his return to the lineup that has changed to 76 a game. 

It’s not all Corkery but the depth of role players Ballincollig have to compliment their four big scorers is the envy of most teams in the country. 

Eanna will be bitterly disappointed that they weren’t competitive in this game. Before the season I worried about how they would replace Mark Reynolds key minutes and I think that was exposed on Saturday.

Ballincollig forced Gormley into action away from the basket, which is hard for the big man to do, and then when he picked up a third foul as Mitchell attacked him, he had to sit for 15 of the 20 minutes in the 2nd and 3rd quarter which was when Ballincollig took over the game. 

Blackwell and Marion are both good defenders but are wings and with the pieces that Eanna have already, it’s hard not to feel they’d be better served with one of their Americans being a big man to work alongside Gormley.

Brunell show steel in road win 

Brunell has been solid to start the year but haven’t yet reached the heights they are capable of. On Saturday they went into Killarney and came up with a big performance to win 78-74. 

Irish coach James Weldon will be thrilled as Edel Thornton stepped up in the big moments to deliver her best performance of the year scoring 19 of her 21 points in the second half, exactly what you need from a star Irish player in a tough environment. 

Brunell’s win was the result of their stifling defense overall, which kept St Paul’s out of rhythm, struggling to get into their offense and creating consistent good looks. 

When St Paul’s watch the game back, I think they’ll grimace at some of the layups they gave up in the second half. 

The middle of the floor opened up too often and considering that Brunell shot just 4/17 from three, Killarney should have shrunk the floor more effectively and made Brunell prove they themselves from the outside.

Celtics stun Demons in Limerick 

This had the potential of an upset on it, the minute this game was set for Crescent College rather than UL. It’s tight tough gym to go to and when an underdog has a loud crowd in a tight environment it’s worth a few points to the home side. 

Celtics have had a better start to the season than Demons, but given Demons track record in recent years they were still expected to find a way through the tricky tie. 

Kyle Hosford was back and helped steady the ship at times, but Demons just didn’t get enough from their Irish core overall.

Miriam Loughrey with possession for UCC Glanmire vs Catalyst Fr Mathews in the Domino's Women's National Cup Basketball game at Fr Mathews Arena, Cork. Pic: Larry Cummins

On the other end, it was Finn Hughes who showed himself as the most likely Irish international on the floor. Hughes took a major development leap last season, scoring in big moments consistently all year. I wasn’t sure whether that would translate to Super League, but he delivered on the biggest stage scoring 27 to go with 11 rebounds. 

It’s brilliant to watch an Irish player develop at this rate and Hughes deserves huge credit for doing so. For Demons, the bad start to the year has gotten worse. As much as it will annoy them, to bring back up Elijah Tillman, I think this start to the year further emphasizes why the big man was overlooked for awards so often last year. 

In the 23/24 season when Tillman returned after Christmas, Demons were 2-6 in the league at the time, and he helped them win the Cup and finish 8-5 to make the playoffs. 

Last year he then helped them reach the Cup final and win the league. Their identity was built on revolving around him and their Irish core thrived in that. With that gone, that new identity is now critical.

Killorglin win in Sligo 

KCYMS showed great resolve, hitting big shots when needed in the fourth to earn a home quarter final against UCD Marian. 

Sligo were missing John Carroll again and that lack of depth doomed them as they just couldn’t push through late on. Killorglin are a team capable of reaching a cup final this year and I really think this could be a year for them to do so. 

Jordan Blount was excellent on Saturday, and I think Killorglin’s success is built on Blount’s comfort level this year in allowing those around him to thrive, rather than having to establish himself. He’s a more mature player and leader and it’s paying off for Killorglin.

Tralee top Neptune 72-64 in Castleisland 

John Dowling deserves a lot of credit for the start Tralee has had this year. Missing Rap and Ryan Leonard, Dowling has an ensemble cast all playing together and supporting two talented Americans, Irshaad Hunte was excellent on Saturday hurting Neptune all over with 29 points, but it was the Tralee defense that made the difference as they kept Neptune to 64. 

I think it is a smarter pace for Neptune to play slower than they did in early weeks and they’ll win more games like this, but they can’t afford Greg Adon to have just two points on four shots in 34 minutes, he’s too talented for that.

Glanmire eliminate Fr Mathews 

Glanmire did exactly what they had to in their tie with Mathews, leading by 28 before winning 78-63. Grainne Dwyer deserves a lot of credit for scoring 29, but Mathew’s lack of scoring ability beside herself and Laila Blair was exposed again. 

Glanmire, with a home game in the quarter against Portlaoise, sets up an excellent opportunity to make it back to the semi-finals weekend, where they are used to being.