Tralee hold out to beat UCD while Demons prove too strong for Monks

LUKE O’HEA led the charge as Tralee made their title intentions clear by beating UCD 126-119 over the weekend.

Some classy moves by Bush were complemented by dunks for Walker, but with the help of Irish stars like Donaghy and Teehan the visitors soon built up a lead of ten in the second. Precious and Morbley brought the home team back as they trailed by four at the half, 53-57.

In the third Tralee exploded and quickly built up a lead of 20 midway through the quarter. Good interplay between Quirke and Donaghy led to extra baskets as Bush set up the plays for the visitors.

Nate Lufkin found his range under the basket but Tralee led 98-84 heading into the last quarter. The home team found reserves as Barry Glover showed leadership, cutting the lead to ten and then six, but Tralee held out.

UCC Demons all-round strength and depth proved too much for Team Merry Monk, as Demons pulled away to win 112-99 in Ballina.

The absence of Ronan McGarrity and Paul Barrett was always going to make this a difficult game for Ballina, but the home side put in a solid performance that kept them well in the game, thanks to a huge performance by American Evan Pellerin, who clocked up a massive 45 points.

In the second period, the sides were evenly matched and Ballina managed to cut the deficit to just two points at the break, but the start of the final period saw the Demons extend their lead to 13 within two minutes with a three-pointer from Gary Johnson and two threes from James Whyte. Merry Monk were struggling from then on, as Demons players built a comfortable lead going into the final minutes despite two three-pointers from Ballina guard, Steven Miles.

Limerick Lions won the two points on offer in a close encounter against St Vincent’s at the UL arena on Saturday night, winning 95-92.

Both teams started well and Limerick edged ahead in the first quarter, but Vincents dug in and closed the quarter well, leading 35 to 28. In the second quarter Limerick pulled the game back to level terms and, in a shot for shot trade off, the game went to half time with Limerick ahead by two, 52 to 50.

The third quarter was another battle and only two points separated the teams going into the last few minutes, with Vincents two up, 72-70. In the last quarter Limerick again edged ahead but were pegged back and with less than one minute left the game was tied at 92 points apiece. Limerick’s Robert Taylor hit one of the free throws to leave Limerick up by three with nine seconds left, and Vincent’s last shot was blocked by Taylor for the win.

Wildcats edged out Carna Transport Coolock 65-63 last weekend in a game not for the faint-hearted in the Mercy Gym, Waterford.

Wildcats took an early first quarter lead but Coolock steadied to be one basket adrift at the quarter end. Suzanne Maguire had six points in the second quarter but Wildcats continued to maintain a slight advantage. At the three-quarter stage Coolock had reduced the Waterford lead to a single point.

The final quarter was a real nail-biting affair. Coolock took a four-point lead with five minutes to go and looked as if they might pull ahead.

With just over a minute to go a Wildcats turnover gifted Coolock a one-point lead. Seconds later they had two free throws but missed both. With 18 seconds left on the clock, Olivia O’Reilly confidently swished an excellent three-pointer which proved the last score of the game, giving Wildcats a narrow but deserved win.

UL had a comfortable win over Peugeot Meteors, 88-56, in a game they controlled from the start. The Shannonsiders led 22-9 by the end of the first quarter but in the second American Lisa Truncale brought Meteors back into the game as she scored 20 points in the first half. However, UL led 47-31 at the half and proved unstoppable in the second half.

Vienna Woods Glanmire had an easy win over Drimnagh; the Cork side started well, with 11 points to no reply, and Drimnagh never recovered. At the end of the third quarter Glanmire’s Leanne Moore tried to stop Jane Bryne on a fast break, but her momentum carried her to the benches behind the baskets, with Leanne injuring her knee and leaving the game.

Glanmire were too strong for Drimnagh in all areas and ran out easy winners 95-57.