Basketball
First wins for locals
By Daire Walsh
Following a difficult opening weekend, DBS Éanna and Griffith College Templeogue picked up their first wins of the new InsureMyVan.ie Men’s Super League season on Saturday.
Bouncing back from a defeat at home to EJ Sligo All-Stars seven days earlier, Éanna got the better of Killester in a Dublin derby at IWA Clontarf.
Marko Tomic (21 points), Joshua Wilson and Sean Jenkins (20 apiece) were the main scorers-in-chief for the visitors, but Kristijan Andabaka (10), Neil Lynch (9), Scott Kinevane (8) and Romonn Nelson (2) also contributed handsomely for Darren McGovern’s outfit.
Next up for Eanna is an all-southside encounter against UCD Marian at the UCD Sports Centre on Saturday at 7pm.
Following a comprehensive reversal to University of Galway Maree at the National Basketball Arena, Griffith College Templeogue were eager to get up and running against Bright St Vincent’s at St Vincent’s CBS.
Francis Mulvihill and Neil Randolph amassed a combined haul of 46 points, but Lorcan Murphy (18) and James Gormley (14) also produced double-digit hauls as Mark Keenan’s men registered a 83-77 triumph.
At 5.30pm this Saturday, Templeogue will hope to make it two wins on the bounce when they welcome Belfast Star to Nord Anglia International School.
In Men’s Division One, Abbey Seals Dublin Lions are still searching for their maiden win of the 2022/23 campaign after falling to a 86-62 loss against Ulster University at Colaiste Bride in Clondalkin.
After coming out on the wrong side of an 89-77 scoreline in their away clash with Team North West on October 1, the Lions were aiming for better fortune on home soil. Final tallies of 27 and 24 points respectively made Kevin Obasuyi and Ringo Dau their standout performers, but after moving 19 ahead at the end of the first-quarter, Ulster pushed forward to earn a commanding win.
The Lions will be back at Colaiste Bride on Saturday at 7.30pm, when they will be hoping to overcome the challenge posed by Malahide.
Having been idle on the opening weekend, the Dublin Lions women’s team began their MissQuote.ie Division One campaign with an agonising 54-53 loss away to Moy Tolka Rovers on Saturday.
The Lions had appeared on course for the spoils when they led 40-28 at the midway stage in Ballygall. Amelia Motz, Rachel Brennan and Gillian Wheeler were all prominent for the visitors, but Tolka Rovers subsequently dug deep to edge the contest in the end.
The Griffith College Templeogue women’s side were pushed all the way by Phoenix Rockets at Nord Anglia International School on Saturday, before coming away with a 72-63 victory.
The outstanding Hannah Murphy (23 points), Zoe Hurley (12) and Berta Rodriguez (11) came up with some big baskets, while seven points apiece from the Tunnah sisters – Lynn and Amie – also proved pivotal for Templeogue.
After marking their return to the National Basketball League following a six-year hiatus with a narrow 53-50 defeat to Swords Thunder, Oblate Dynamos recorded an emphatic 78-53 triumph against Limerick Sport Huskies in Inchicore.
Katie Moloney (22), Megan Aho (11), Samantha Massey and Heather Meagher (both 10) all reached double figures in the scoring stakes as Terry Staunton’s charges laid down a marker for what is to come in the current campaign.
Next up for Oblate is a trip to Virginia Show Centre for a clash with McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles at 4pm on Saturday. On the same day at Colaiste Bride, Dublin Lions and Templeogue will lock horns in a 5.30pm showdown.