Watkins the jewel for Glanmire as Killester stay top

UCC Glanmire's Jewel Watkins. Pic: INPHO/Tom Maher

Killester returned to the joint-top of the Domino’s Women’s Super League, following a 74-69 victory over McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles, as Utility Trust St. Paul’s Killarney slipped to a 95-70 defeat at in-form UCC Glanmire.

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell's top four hopes took a dent, following an 86-81 loss to Trinity Meteors. SETU Waterford Wildcats joined the Cork outfit on a 10-7 record, thanks to their 93-71 victory at Catalyst Fr. Mathews, while FloMAX Liffey Celtics registered a 67-53 win at Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers.

Killester picked up their 13th win of the season, edging McEvoy's Cavan Eagles 74-69. Eagles led for the majority of the third quarter, with a finish from Eagles’ Katie O’Sullivan giving them a 60-57 lead heading into the final quarter. A three from Leilani Turner gave Killester a 66-65 advantage midway through the fourth, which would push them ahead and secure the win. Morgan Lenahan and Audrey Roden combined for 35 points along with Turner’s 14.

The defeat for Eagles sees them fall to 7-10 for the season, as they remain in eighth. They fall further behind in the race for a higher playoff seeding, after Trinity Meteors' victory against Brunell on Sunday.

Jewel Watkins scored 41 points for UCC Glanmire, shooting 5 for 7 from three as they overcame Utility Trust St. Paul’s Killarney, 95-70 on Sunday afternoon. Viane Cumber put in a strong supporting showing, with 25 of her own points in the game. Glanmire managed to lead by as much as 30 points during the fourth quarter, as St. Paul’s suffered their fourth loss of the season. Glanmire move within one game of the top-two with just one game to go in the regular season.

SETU Waterford Wildcats defeated Catalyst Fr. Mathews 93-71 to go level with Brunell in the battle for fourth place, thanks to a 20-point, 12-rebound game from Irish international Sarah Hickey, which officially confirmed Fr. Mathews relegation from the Domino’s Women’s Super League. Alyssa Frescas, Tiarra Brown and Kate Hickey all put in major games for Wildcats, with Frescas and Brown scoring 19 each, while Kate Hickey added 15 points in the victory. After a 29-point first quarter, Wildcats didn’t surrender the lead they held in the first for the remainder of the game. Laila Blair had 20 points for Fr. Mathews, who slipped to 0-17 record for the season.

Trinity Meteors defeated Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell 86-81 in Brunell on Sunday. Four players for Meteors finished in double digits, with Irish international Hazel Finn leading the way with 19 points. Ava Learn, Kylie Horstmeyer and Helena Keane scored 18,17 and 13 points respectively. A finish from Finn put Meteors ahead 32-30 early in the second; they would hold that lead until the final buzzer, to pick up a ninth win of the season.

Meteors are now one win away from both Wildcats and Brunell, with the fight for the final home court spot coming down to next weekend. Meteors welcome Portlaoise Panthers next weekend, whilst Brunell welcome Killarney. Wildcats also head to Killester to see who will take fourth place at the end of the season.

FloMAX Liffey Celtics secured a ninth win of the season, securing a 67-53 triumph over Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers in St. Mary’s Hall on Saturday. The Celtics duo of Destinee Bursch and Aine O’Connor scored 37 points between them in the win, whilst Panthers’ Jessica Fressle had a team-high 18 points in what was their 15th defeat of the season.

Celtics are seventh at 9-8 for the season. Panthers are 2-15 for the season, however they can no longer mathematically be relegated following Fr. Mathews loss this weekend.

Meanwhile, in the Domino’s Men’s Super League, Limerick Celtics have all but guaranteed a playoff spot in their first season in the Domino’s Men’s Super League, after defeating Garvey’s Tralee Warriors 86-77 on Saturday. Points leader of the league, AJ Williams, continued to lead his side with 22 points, along with 10 assists. Philip Kearney enjoyed a season-high 19 points in the win, shooting an efficient 5-8 from the field. Daniel Jokubaitis scored 27 points for Warriors, with him making eight threes in the defeat. Despite the lead changing hands on six separate occasions, a 32-point final quarter from Celtics handed them their ninth victory of the season.

Celtics are now up to seventh, ahead of Warriors in eighth, after winning their game in hand, to move further ahead of playoff rivals UCC Demons and EJ Sligo All-Stars. They are now two wins ahead of both clubs with two games to go, meaning their playoff place can be mathematically confirmed after next weekend’s round of fixtures.