BASKETBALL: The opening weekend of the men's ESB Superleague saw the defending champions Waterford defeated 84-72 at home by UCD Marian. Despite an impressive start that saw the champions build an early lead, UCD Marian soon took control of the game and after leading 41-36 at halfway the victory was comfortable in the end. New American signing Jermaine Turner was the top-scorer for the Dublin club with a 28-point contribution.
Notre Dame have strong title aspirations this season and their 86-81 victory over Limerick set them out on the right path. Though the game was close throughout Notre Dame had too many big hitters for Limerick to handle and with Anthony Jenkins scoring a superb 15 points in the second quarter alone the Dublin club were deserved winners.
Belfast club Star of the Sea were on court twice over the weekend and picked up maximum points to become the early leaders on the league table. Victories over Tralee Tigers (90-89) and ITP Saints (83-72) were hard earned but the Saints didn't do themselves any favours with Peder Madsen, Karl Donnelly and Auturo McLoud all fouling out, and coach Joey Boylan receiving a technical.
Also recording opening victories were the UCC Demons, who hammered Tolka Rovers 102-71. It was a convincing first performance at their new gym at the Mardyke, with James Singleton leading the scoring ratings with a 37-point contribution.
The defending women's Superleague champions Tolka Rovers also suffered a home defeat when St Paul's outscored them 94-89, with Catriona O'Connell scoring 28 points.
THE DETAILS
MEN'S SUPERLEAGUE - Notre Dame 86 (43) (B Hughes 24, A Jenkins 19, L McMillan 18), Burger King Limerick 81 (47) (J Williams 16, R Lynch 14, M Hall 13); Sx3 Star 90 (43) (J Leahy 25, A Fulton 18, P Campolieta 15), Tralee Tigers 89 (37) (B Craddock 26, C Davis 21, C Thomson 21); Waterford Crystal 72 (36) (D Lyons 26, C Thomas 20), Hibernian UCD Marian 84 (41) (J Turner 28); ITP Saints 72 (36) (M Chadwick 20, P Madsen 9, D Donnelly 9), Sx3 Star 83 (40) (P Campolieta 24, G Maguire 17); UCC Demons 102(54) (J Singleton 37, D Wesley 27, B Clernon 8), Tolka Rovers 72(29) (K McFarland 25, D Gregory 16, E Quill 11).
WOMEN'S SUPERLEAGUE - Tolka Rovers 89 (54) (S Maguire 28, M Watson 21, S Kelly 20), Scruffy's St Pauls 94 (46) (C O'Connell 28, M Galway 15, D Griffin 12); Bausch & Lomb Wildcats 71, (M Jerrant 23), Drimnagh Dynamoes, 49, (E Foley 11); University of Limerick 91, (M Aspell 30), Sasha Meteors 72, (S Harvey 17); Tipperary Talons 51 (29) (S Healy 14, A O'Dwyer 9, K O'Sullivan 6), Glanmire 63 (25) (L Dennehy 11, A O'Regan 9, S O'Neill 9).
