UCD see off Star as Turner inspires Killester
The Dublin side, touted as championship favourites when they won two pre-season tournaments, lost their opening games of this campaign to DCU Saints and Bord Gais Neptune but this was a welcome win for coach Fran Ryan.
“To say I am relieved would be an understatement because to win in Belfast is always a difficult task,” Ryan said.
“In our opening games we did not play to our potential but we worked on the errors that have been costing us dearly in recent weeks.”
The northerners welcomed their new American signing Tyrone Johnson and although he made a 15 points contribution it was not enough to save his team from their third consecutive defeat.
In a competitive opening half UCD led 39-34 at the break with Daniel James (19pts) shooting well outside the perimeter.
Scott Summersgill led the Star charge coming down the stretch but the students held firm and were deserving eight points winners.
Champions Killester, fortunate to be awarded the points in Cork last week against UCC Demons, showed they are not ready to relinquish their crown without a fight as they toppled UL Eagles 67-59 at Clontarf.
In a low scoring game the teams were level at 32 points apiece at the break but Jermaine Turner showed his class in the second half to ensure a Killester victory.
Galway side Moycullen almost broke their duck but DCU Saints edged them out in the final seconds of a thriller at NUIG.
Cathal Nihill was outstanding for the westerners who led the opening three quarters before getting punished with a late basket from Mike Trimmer.
For Nihill, who is based in Dublin, this defeat was hard to swallow as his team had produced an awesome display of defending.
“We played well enough to win and a controversial basket at the death denied us but this performance should boost us for the remainder of the campaign,” Nihill said.
In the Women’s SuperLeague, championship holders UL gave a stern message to all title pretenders they are not going to relinquish their crown without a fight when they demolished Killester 73-48.
Rachael Vanderwal had a game high 27 points with Michelle Fahy also in top form with 13 for the shannonsiders.
League debutants Ulster Rockets had their first win of the season when they surprised Waterford Wildcats 54-42 and Liffey Celtics toppled Oblate Dynamos 63-59 in a thrilling encounter at Inchicore.
The first ever Women’s SuperLeague Cork derby between Brunell and Team Montenotte attracted a capacity attendance to the Parochial Hall with the latter grinding out a hard earned 61-51 win.
Montenotte can thank the 22-point contribution of Niamh Dwyer as they almost came a cropper against the league debutants.
DCU Mercy warmed-up for their clash next weekend with Montenotte when they defeated fellow Dublin side Meteors 58-40.
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