TWO major upsets dominated the weekend Sprite Cup action as the beaten finalists in last year's men's and women's finals, Star of the Sea and Wildcats, lost their first round games in contrasting but equally extraordinary circumstances.
Wildcats had to travel to Gurranabraher yesterday for an unpredictable tie away to second division leaders Blarney. After several years of toil with a mediocre squad, the Cork side welcomed back almost all of their former league and cup winning squad during the summer and the result has been spectacular.
Just as it was in the old days, Caroline Forde and Sandie Fitzgibbon controlled the plays superbly and helped Blarney to a 28-23 lead at half-time. Throughout the second half, Blarney remained in front but eventually gave up the lead briefly with five minutes remaining when Jillian Hayes put Wildcats ahead for the first time.
Blarney's response was to draw on their considerable experience and Forde along with 6 feet 3 inch centre Sinead Leahy put them ahead again. This time they held their advantage to the finish, winning 65-61.
Forde ended up with 24 points and Leahy, who had the game of her life, scored another 20 while Fitzgibbon, recently hack from retirement, scored 8 points on an afternoon that brought hack memories of Blarney's dominance of the late 1980s. Jillian Hayes was Wildcats' top scorer on 28.
Also in the women's competition, there was a safe passage for the holders Meteors to the last eight although Sporting Belfast made a good match of it in Sandyford before going down 47-56. Karen Hennessy scored 23 points for the Dublin side.
Meanwhile, at the National Arena in Tallaght, the defeat of joint league leaders Star of the Sea in the men's cup was the big news of Saturday night especially in view of the widely-perceived strength in depth of the Belfast squad, which helped them into a commanding 28 point lead at half time.
But, in an extraordinary turn-around, Delta Notre Dame began chopping chunks off that deficit as the second half unfolded and Star dramatically began to fall apart. They still clung to a three point lead entering the last 30 seconds but a rebound by Delta found its way into the hands of player-coach Anthony Jenkins who then sortied down the centre of the court, stopping at the three point line to tie the teams with a perfectly executed long range basket.
The drama continued in the first period of overtime as Star, leading by two points with five seconds to go, were awarded two free throws. But to cap their disastrous capitulation, Scott Summersgill missed both efforts. The Delta rebound found its way to new recruit Lennie McMillan who tore down the court to tie the teams again, almost on the buzzer.
A shocked Star squad had little appetite for the second period of overtime and Delta carried through the impetus of their extraordinary comeback to win 100-91.
Another significant result in the cup was Neptune's 86-79 win over league champions Tralee. Mario Mullin on 35 and Terry Strickland with 17 were the top scorers for the Corkmen.
Marian reversed the league defeat of a week ago to beat Killester 73-70 in Clontarf while the cup holders Ballina progressed, but only after a tough game in Killala against Dublin side Tridents who only went down 96-90.