Champions Ballincollig get painful reminder they're up there to be shot at

In. Men's, Limerick Celtics took down Neptune by ten, as Tony Hehir’s side took an 88-98 win on the road, while in the WSL Killarney's St. Paul’s took down the defending champions Trinity Meteors

St Vincent's James Phelan drives to the basket in their 108-88 Men's Superleague defeat to Belfast Star on Saturday.

IF reigning Superleague champions Ballincollig needed an early barometer of what will be required to defend their crown, they left Limerick Saturday night with all the necessary confirmation that they're up there to be shot at. 

A thumping 29-point loss to Limerick Eagles (96-67) at St. Munchin’s College will tend to do that.

Niall McDermott’s outfit were out of the blocks sharpish and bagged a 14-point headstart before before stretching the lead to a remarkable 33 before the final period. Alex Carlisle led the Eagles’ scoring with 31 points, including an impressive six three-pointers, while Aaron Rhooms and Aleksander Kovacevic finished the game with 18 and 16 points respectively.

Ballincollig’s Week One star, Jay Buckley, couldn’t find his rhythm throughout the game, as he tallied a miserly two points in Limerick; however, his fellow signing Alex Bellver ended the game with a double-double in points and rebounds. Captain Adrian O’Sullivan maintained his steady form, with 13 points, after an 11-point game in week one. 

Belfast Star picked up their first win of the season against St. Vincent’s, coming away 108-88 winners at home. Following a disappointing opening defeat to Tralee, Star picked themselves up with a dominant display, particularly with performances from Jordan Green, Shane Bell and Rapolas Buivydas. 

Limerick Celtics took down Energywise Ireland Neptune by ten, as Tony Hehir’s side took an 88-98 win on the road. The game was tied at 78-78 with only three and a half minutes left of play, but two-pointers from Callum Keyes and Tiras Morton, as well as a Sebastian Cole three-pointer swayed the game in Limerick Celtics’ favour. 

Sean McCarthy notched up 29 points for Adam Drummond’s Neptune, while Sam Smith impressed with his 23 points at Neptune Stadium. Six Celtics players reached the double-digit point mark, but it was Tiras Morton’s double-double that made him stand out among the pack, registering 15 points and 16 rebounds.

Griffith College Éanna pinched a narrow two-point win against Garvey’s Tralee Warriors in Dublin (77-75), hanging on despite being ten down with five minutes to go.  Morgan Taylor clawed the game back for Éanna, before Kristijan Andabaka’s three-pointer gave the lead to the home side. Ultimately, it was Taylor’s two-pointer and Andabaka’s free-throw in the final 30 seconds that sealed the game for Éanna.

Jaden Daughtry, who was the hero for Tralee in week one, ended the game with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Alec Millender hit the game-high 25 points. Irish guard Cathal O’Sullivan racked up 16 points in an impressive performance, but it was Morgan Taylor's 20 points and 71% shooting efficiency that pushed Gareth Winders team over the line. 

EJ Sligo All-Stars welcomed UCC Demons to Mercy College and walked away 100-88 winners against the Cork side. Sligo All-Stars controlled the third quarter to solidify the win, as they took a 75-55 lead into the final period. Sligo kept it tight on defence, only allowing Demon’s big man Elijah Tillman to score 14 points, while also keeping Asanti Price quiet, as he finished on 11 points.  

In the Women's Superleague, Killarney's St. Paul’s took down the defending champions Trinity Meteors in a 70-66 win. Maisie Burnham played a major role in a four-point St. Paul’s win, as she scored the game-high 25 points, while also grabbing ten rebounds en route to the final whistle. 

James Fleming's side have now picked up two wins from two in the Domino’s WSL and have taken down the reigning Domino’s WSL champions and defending Domino’s WSL National Cup champions.   Angelina Robles and Paula Reus Piza once again had standout games for St. Paul’s, racking up 22 and ten points respectively, while also combining for nine steals on the defensive end.  Last year’s National Cup champions Killester have lost two games on the trot, with the most recent loss coming against SETU Waterford Wildcats. Sarah Hickey led the Wildcats to victory with her 32 points, as she sent her side to the top of the table with an 80-64 win over Killester. 

Killester’s star-player from week one Kennedy Townsend was kept to only two points in Mercy College, as her fellow signing Isabellah Middleton locked in 24 points. Jillian Hayes’ summer signing Brooklyn Gray maintained her elite form by clocking 19 points and nine assists in the contest. Killester will look to find their first win of the season next week against Brunell, while SETU Waterford Wildcats host FloMAX Liffey Celtics, with both teams sitting on two wins from two.  

Career Decision’s UCC Glanmire got off the mark against Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers, winning 85-59 at the Mardyke Arena. Mark Scannell’s side took a comfortable 45-29 lead into the second half, maintaining the pressure for the final 20 minutes to come away 26-point winners. The decisive win puts the Cork side into fourth place, whereas the two losses for Portlaoise Panthers leaves them at the bottom of the table.  Emani Jenkins led Glanmire on the offensive side with her 34 points, but it was Emer Dunne who led the Cork side in steals and blocks to keep Portlaoise Panthers at bay. 

Limerick Celtics are yet to win a game in the top-flight of Irish basketball, after losing 70-88 against Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell. The Munster derby saw Brunell take an 18-9 lead after the first ten minutes, but it was the third quarter onslaught that put them in pole position to finish out the game on top.  Celtics’ Jeni Levine capped off her second WSL game with 23 points, while her teammate Maya Cunningham finished the contest with 13 points and 18 rebounds.