Conor Meany on basketball: a big weekend for Wildcats

Title rivals Liffey Celtics lost away to Killester in overtime despite leading for the entire game.

IN TRAFFIC: James Hannigan, UCC Demons udner pressure from Max Cooper and Max Richardson of Belfast Star at the Gurranabraher Credit Union Arena, Parochial Hall. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Women’s title race takes a dramatic turn 

At different times on Saturday, it looked like Liffey Celtics were going to have the ideal day before it turned into a nightmare instead. Waterford Wildcats went to St Paul’s Killarney and with Kate Hickey missing large parts of the game, Waterford’s depth was tested as they went back and forth with St Paul’s. Wildcats typically dominate the boards in games, but in this one they were hammered inside by Megan Ormiston and Lorraine Scanlon in particular. The Kerry side showed some of the promise we expected preseason challenging the league leaders throughout and could have come away with more. Wildcats' defense put an end to that threat as they came out on top in the fourth, limiting Paul’s to just 16 points as they came from four down to win by 5, 82-77. It was exactly the type of battle champions win, and Gillian Hayes will be delighted to sit top of the table heading into the last week before Christmas.