Killester’s star wanes as Belfast bolt home
The back-to-back losses came at a time when it appeared as if Killester were invincible and could hardly have come at a worse time for coach Mark Keenan, with their Cup semi-final against UL Eagles just a week away.
Killester were boosted t by the long-awaited return of Paddy Kelly but they got off to a dreadful start, trailing 26-22 at the end of the first quarter. They fought back to lead 45-39 at half time, but just when it appeared as if they had finally got a grip on the proceedings, Star’s Fergal Toner levelled the game with a big three-pointer with 3:38 on the clock.
When Jermaine Turner put Killester back in front Clayton Longmire went on a five-point scoring spree to put Star three points ahead with just 90 seconds remaining.
Killester tried to claw their way back but another basket and free throw from Longmire sealed the game for Star.
“It’s hard enough to beat them in Belfast, so to get a win down here is fantastic,” Star’s coach, Danny Fulton, said. “We hung in there at all times, they were leading going into the final quarter but we stayed with them.
“This win is important for us in terms of the play-offs. I thought we played fantastic defence, keeping them to 67 points. This win was about team defence and we really stepped up in this department, especially in the final four minutes.”
DCU Saints almost caused another big surprise but a late rally saw Southern Conference leaders UL Eagles take the points courtesy of an 80-78 victory.
Saints led by 11 points on three separate occasions but could not finish off Mark Bernsen’s side, who found a saviour in Scott Kinevane who scored eight of their last 10 points in an enthralling finish.
Saints contributed to their own downfall in the end when, trailing by a just one point and 12 seconds on the clock, they missed a two free throws.
“I managed to hit a few lucky shots in the closing stages,” Kinevane said. “We played Moycullen last weekend, which turned out to be a comfortable win but this is the ideal preparation ahead of our National Cup semi final with Killester next weekend.
“We were expecting a tough battle from DCU, particularly after they had ended Killester’s unbeaten record last weekend. Emmet Donnelly was very impressive for DCU and Pat Crean was also dangerous. It’s our fourth win on the trot and hopefully it will be a fifth next week.”
UCD Marian kept their Play-Off aspirations on track with a 94-72 win over Ulster Elks but whether or not the result will be repeated next weekend, when the sides meet again in the Cup semi-finals at Neptune Stadium, remains to be seen.
UCC Demons maintained their winning sequence with an emphatic 91-55 win over Moycullen at The Mardyke Arena where the outcome was never in doubt after Demons led 45-19 at half time thanks to some superb play from Marcus Van, Ciaran O’Sullivan and Shane Coughlan. In the IrishSport.TV Women’s SuperLeague, UL outscored DCU Mercy by four points, 61-67, for two back-to-back SuperLeague wins over the side that knocked them out of the National Cup earlier in the season.
And Team Montenotte Hotel Cork will go into their Cup semi-final next Sunday on the back of a 58-46 win over 11890 Killester. “We had a tough week with players out through injury and flu so I am pleased with how the younger players came in and performed,” coach Mark Scannell said. “We were always 10 or 11 points ahead but Killester gave a good account of themselves and this game will act as a bit of a wakeup call ahead of next Sunday.”
Their opponents in the Cup semi-final, Waterford Wildcats, beat Meteors 45-42 in a low scoring game and coach, Seanie O’Regan, admitted that they will have to lift their game: “We were lucky to come out with the win. Home advantage probably swung it in our favour but if we play anything like that against Montenotte we will be in trouble.”
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