Thunder roll past Kilkenny to set up Senior Men’s decider with UCD Marian

DUBLIN THUNDER earned their place in the Senior Men’s National Cup final with a comprehensive 104-57 victory over TLB Kilkenny in a one-sided semi-final.

Thunder have plenty of talent in their ranks and they used it wisely. Isaac Westbrooks and Michael Goj, who have enjoyed Superleague success with Killester in the past, hit highs of 23 and 17 points to make it an all-Dublin final, after UCD Marian came from seven points down to defeat Maree 54-44 in the other semi-final

Tralee Imperials booked their place in the final of the senior women’s National Cup with a convincing 70-39 win over Longford Falcons. Emma Gallagher with 20 and Ashley Campbell combined for 36 points for the winners while Mary Clare Stakelym top-scored for Longford with 18 points.

Scruffy’s St Paul’s set up an all-Kerry final when they had 10 points to spare over Killester, 58-48 in the other semi-final. Captain Lynn Jones hit the game high of 16 points. There was just one point between the sides at half time when St Paul’s led 27-26.

There was a Cork-Kerry flavour to the women’s U20 semi-final in which Tralee Imperials defeated Singleton’s SuperValu Brunell 52-48.

Meabh Barry set the pace for the Tralee side ended up with 13 points but the game’s leading scorer was Megan O’Leary, who hit 16 for Brunell. That game, tied at 29 points apiece at half time, went right down to the wire.

The winners will now meet DCU Mercy, who were appearing in a women’s U20 cup semi-final for the very first time when they defeated WIT Wildcats 51-45 with Catriona Foley (14) and Sarah McCaffrey (12) starring.

Maree beat their Galway neighbours, Moycullen, 91-61, to qualify for the final of the U20 Men’s National Cup. Kenneth Hansberry hit the game high of 28 points starred. Dylan Costelloe (18) tried to keep Moycullen in touch but they lacked the spread of the opposition.

But Maree will face formidable foes in the final when they match up to Killester, who beat their Dublin rivals, Tolka Rovers, 65-54, in the other semi-final, with Mikey Deegan and Ciaran Roe hitting 20 and 19 points, respectively.