15 January 2017
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Singleton SuperValu Brunell are celebrating their second win of this year’s Women’s Super League this weekend after they overcame Courtyard Liffey Celtics 63-55 in Parochial Hall on Sunday.
Despite being 15 points down at half time, Brunell dug deep to show a tenacity and determination in the second half that would see them through to a memorable victory over the Kildare side. While Liffey Celtics were notably without the services of Emma O’Connor, a superb defensive display from Brunell kept Celtics from scoring for more than eight minutes in the final quarter, with Sorcha Tiernan finally breaking the deadlock for Celtics with 1.45 left on the clock.
Speaking after the game, a delighted Head Coach Francis O’Sullivan said: “We’re really happy with that result. We’re after recovering well from what was a very difficult week for all of us in the club after a fairly comprehensive loss to Glanmire in the Cup last Friday night. We did a great week’s work and we could have crumbled when we went 15 down, but we hung in there and put in a great performance.
“Liffey Celtics were without Emma O’Connor which was difficult for them, but ours stepped up and we threw everything at them so we’re really pleased and have a lot to look forward to now.”
Elsewhere, there were two other games in the Women’s Super League with Ambassador UCC Glanmire just managing to hold on to their winning streak when they pipped Portlaoise Panthers 55-51 on Sunday afternoon, while DCU Mercy were 65-45 point winners over Meteors.
In the rescheduled Hula Hoops Women’s NICC semi-final meanwhile, Limerick Celtics did just enough to book their spot in the final against Maree BC, as Michelle Aspell netted a whopping 31 points for her side to see them win out over Muckno Lakers in a thriller at the National Basketball Arena.
In the Men’s Super League, UCC Demons are looking back on Saturday night with regret, after they fell to Griffith Swords Thunder 99-59.
“Saturday night was a bit of a nightmare to be honest,” admitted Head Coach, Tim O’Halloran. “We’re struggling now, and losing Kyle [Hosford] to injury has been a big blow. To lose by 40 points was – well there are no words for it. I’m not happy with it at all.
“We knew at half time that we couldn’t compete with Swords’ firepower – Narbon is excellent and along with Westbrooks too, it was difficult. It was very tough going, they went up by 30 points half way through the second and our heads went down. Now we just need to regroup and look at our tactics again going forward.”
Elsewhere, Templeogue made it a lucky 13 on Sunday with an 82-74 point win over Commercial.ie Éanna in a local derby in Oblate Hall, UCD Marian had the better of Belfast Star on Saturday evening despite another impressive display from Star’s Dillon Stith, while Garvey’s Tralee Warriors had 10 points to spare over KUBS in Tralee.
Radisson Blu UL Eagles meanwhile remain at the bottom of the Men’s Super League table with a 69-78 point loss to DCU Saints in UL, while Pyrobel Killester continued their winning ways, overcoming SSE Airtriciy Moycullen in NUIG on Saturday evening.
