Dynamic Demons deliver to end Saints’ winning run

UCC DEMONS halted DCU Saints’ spectacular run in the Nivea for Men SuperLeague with an impressive 76-65 victory in a cross-conference clash at the Ongar Community Centre.

Saints had been setting the boards alight all season and were coming off a derby win over 11890 Killester that consolidated their position at the top of the table. Demons left nothing to chance against Saints, leading 48-28 at half-time and, with Shawn Atupem, Niall O’Reilly and Shane Coughlan on target, they maintained the pressure throughout the second-half.

“We would have to be very happy with that,” coach Paul Kelleheradmitted. “We are on a bit of a learning curve but when we were under pressure in the last quarter after playing really well in the first three we came up trumps. DCU are the best team in the country so to come away with the win was very encouraging.”

Back in Cork, Bord Gáis Neptune rediscovered their winning form with a 99-70 win over basement team, Belfast Star, at Neptune Stadium. After winning their first three games of the season Neptune lost their next three.

“It was important we got a win,” coach Mark Scannell, admitted. We haven’t been playing badly but things haven’t gone our way. Our bench was exceptional and everyone contributed which will give the team a lot of confidence. ”

Coach Mark Keenan found himself up against his old club when UL Eagles entertained 11890 Killester and came out of the game with an 80-68 win to get them back on track after their loss to Demons last week.

“We are delighted after that and I’m absolutely thrilled,” Keenan admitted. “For Eagles to beat Killester is a bit of a monkey off the back. I’m just happy we won, it doesn’t matter who it is against. We stuck with it all day and came up with some big scores and rebounds. Jason Killeen had a MVP performance. Our defensive performance was superb and we restricted Jermaine Turner to 13.”

Moycullen had wins over Star and Neptune going into Saturday night’s game with Cup champions, UCD Marian, but the Dubliners ended that brief run with an 84-65 victory that was welcomed by coach Fran Ryan who was full of praise for Moycullen .

“They have made a huge improvement,” he said. “They are an excellent side and they are going to win a lot of games down here this season. We are delighted to get out of here with a win. We were very strong defensively, and in the third quarter we were able to pull away from them a little. We used a lot of players on the day, which allowed us to maintain the intensity throughout the game. I think that maybe hurt Moycullen a little, because maybe their squad isn’t as deep.”

In the Women’s Superleague Cup, Meteors advanced to the next round with a 62-44 victory over Oblate Dynamo’s on Friday night. Rebecca Nagle and Rachel Fitzgerald starred for Hugh Kilbride’s side, who have shown a vast improvement this season.

There was a novel line-up in the other Women’s SuperLeague Cup game with Singleton’s Super Valu Brunell beating Liffey Celtics 67-56 on what was a great weekend for Kieran O’Leary’s side with their U20 side defeating Templeogue 75-54 in the U20 cup. In this competition also, Carrig na bhFear Rebels beat Donoughmore 48-40.