ST VINCENT'S got their Budweiser Superleague challenge off to a 99-94 winning start at Glasnevin but Notre Dame will probably feel that they let the game slip away from them with overtime necessary before the northsiders eventually won.
Notre Dame appeared to be coasting to an easy victory when they led 47 to 35 at the break. However, an injury to their American Harold Foster in the opening period meant that he watched proceedings from the bench for the second half. St Vincent's Adam Stockwell, who is on loan from St Gall's, was held to six points in the opening half but his impressive scoring rate of 19 points in the second half helped swing the game.
St Vincent's only took the lead with three minutes remaining and were still in front with 15 seconds of normal time left but Anthony Jenkins, with two free throws, levelled the scores at 84 points to send the game into overtime. Four free throws from Emmett Donnelly were instrumental in helping St Vincent's to victory.
In Killarney TNT Killester were rocked back on their heels when St Paul's took the points with only seconds on the board with the home team winning by 79 to 77. The Kerry outfit enjoyed the best of the first half with Vince Daly and Nick Browning scoring freely but the arrival of Kevin Coffey stiffened
Killester's challenge with the half time margin down to nine points.
Killester were back on equal terms early in the second half and they then proceeded to stretch into a commanding lead. But an injury to Randall Mounts, who even at this stage was in foul trouble, a fate which had also befallen his fellow American Prentis Phillips, allowed the St Paul's to get back within striking distance.
With one minute 17 seconds on the clock the Kerry team were only four points down. Mounts and Phillips then missed crucial free throws for Killester to give more heart to the home squad. Up popped Daly to tie the scores at 77 apiece with 13 seconds on the clock. Killester quickly broke down court hoping to secure the points with Phillips but he lost the ball and play swung up court "with Daly who willingly scored the basket to the delight of the home crowd as the buzzer sounded.
