Joy of the Rovers after shock win
While Killarney's victory was signposted, few could have predicted the result at the ESB Arena yesterday when Shamrock Rovers turned in the performance of the season to beat Neptune 102-89.
Rovers signed Mike Trimmer on Friday after Wayne Houston had walked out and Trimmer produced exciting rebounds as Macario, Ron Bruton and Anthony Jenkins put the finishing touches with some great baskets Jenkins and Macario including some big threes in the fourth quarter to seal victory.
Neptune find themselves level with Gleneagle Lakers, who have a game in hand, and they face two tough assignments over the coming week at home to Horans Healthstore Tigers on Wednesday and away to BurgerKing in Limerick on Saturday.
Neptune have their final game at home to Waterford Crystal on Saturday night while Mardyke UCC Demons travel to Waterford on Wednesday and then to Tralee on Saturday.
And if Mardyke UCC Demons should find themselves on the road when the knockout stages get underway, they will certainly look back on yesterday's tie with St Vincent's as a golden opportunity lost.
It was not an exciting game, but fans could may have been taken in by the first quarter when DJ Harrison dunked Demons into an early lead. The American had hearts racing as Demons took control and they raced into a commanding lead. But when the pace dropped the alarm bells should have been sounding. While Torrey Butler, was a big contributor (nine points, in the first quarter including a three-pointer), others stars were not shining.
Vincent's clawed their way back into the game and when James Donnelly and Stephen McGuirk landed big three pointers, it was suddenly 21-19 in favour of the home side who rallied slightly to lead 26-21 at the end of the quarter.
The warning signs were evident, but were not heeded. Vincent's coach, Joey Boylan, could hardly believe it as Jermaine Turner, ignored under the boards, struck with three successive baskets, Michael Chadwick landed another and, suddenly Vincent's were leading 43-37 at half time.
Hopes of a Demons' rally in the third quarter took an early hammering from Turner and Donnelly who stretched the lead to 10 points.
With Turner in foul trouble, Michael Chadwick took a greater share of the responsibilities. Emmett Donnelly added a three pointer to Turner's third quarter total of 10 and they led 63-55 at the end of the third.
One always felt a Demon's revival was imminent but now they played in short bursts and careless handling lost them vital possession.
Turner was fouled out, but even then matters did not improve as Chadwick added eight points, six from the free throw line, and the game fizzled out.
MVP, Jermaine Turner, top scored for Vincent's with 27 points with Mike Chadwick on 20 and Stephen McGuirk on 15.
DJ Harrison hit a game high of 29 points for Demons with Torrey Butler on 19 and Marc Michels on 16.
Tim Sullivan and Tyrone Levett scored 28 points each for Lakers as they disposed of Dart Killester 99-80 and kept their play-off ambitions on track.
Hibernian UCD Marian's 96-89 win over Tralee puts them level with MDS Star in the northern conference.
University of Limerick kept their record intact in the ESB Women's SuperLeague, but Dart Killester pushed them all the way and only six points separated the sides in the end. Michelle Aspell topped the 30 point total once again.
Scruffy's St Paul's kept the Killarney flag flying when they secured second place on the table with an 82-81 victory over Drimnagh Dynamos in a thriller that was decided in overtime while Vienna Woods Glanmire sccured fourth spot by beating Tolka Rovers.
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