It was another weekend for upsets in the Basketball Ireland Men’s Premier League as UL Eagles claimed an unlikely 77-71 win at GCD Swords Thunder.
The Limerick side capitalised on poor shooting by Swords to lead at half-time but still had to come from behind in the fourth quarter. Head Coach Paul Kelleher admitted: “We did ride our luck a little bit but when you’re the underdog and the top team isn’t performing, you’ve got to be ready.”
“This game was more mental than it was tactical or technical. So that’s a massive lesson to have this early in the season.”
Eagles are just one of three teams without a loss after two rounds of the league. UCD Marian went 2-0 with an away win at SSE Airtricity Moycullen while Templeogue followed up their win over champions C&S UCC Demons by beating an understrength DCU Saints.
Demons bounced back with an 83-53 win over Pyrobel Killester. “We thought we played well last week but we just didn’t finish the job, said Demons Coach Colin O’Reilly. “We’re still trying to find out roles and our identity as a team.
Team Montenotte Hotel remain unbeaten in 2015 after a 87-65 win at Meteors with Niamh Dwyer scoring 28 points.
“We gave up 24 points to them in the first quarter and for a team that prides itself on defence, we weren’t happy,” said Dwyer. “Credit to Meteors but we’re defending Women’s Premier League champions and I’d like to keep it that way.”
Maxol WIT Wildcats spoiled the party at the first ever Women’s Premier League game in Laois with a 62-60 win over Portlaoise Panthers. Wildcats were seven points clear with 90 seconds left but needed a Sinead Deegan free throw to seal it. Elsewhere, Courtyards Liffey Celtics snuck by UL Huskies in Limerick.
