Killester reinforced their commanding position at the top of the ESB League with another significant win over one of their main rivals at the weekend.
Up until Saturday, Notre Dame were the biggest challenge to their ambitions of a league-cup double but the 96-87 win for Killester has all but blown away that threat.
A game full of incident was eventually forced into overtime and only then did Killester forge ahead. So much of the first half was basket followed by counterbasket, and Notre Dame trailed by just five, 48-43, at the break.
Brandon Hughes was clearly the key man for Notre Dame but Jonathan Grennell began marking tighter, allowing Killester to maintain their narrow advantage.
Eric Jackson was their most consistent scorer and going into the final quarter they appeared to have Notre Dame on the run. Lester Hunt stepped up his game and cut the deficit to two points with just three minutes left. The late free-throwing of Lennie McMillan then drew them level, and the game went into overtime.
From then on, however, Killester took control as Jackson hit five unanswered baskets and Notre Dame got into further foul trouble. As a result, Killester move four points clear at the top of table - with just four losses as against Notre Dame's seven.
The Saints took over sole possession of second place thanks to their 104-95 win over Tyrone yesterday but they have played two extra games and also lost seven. Chris Doyal and Pierre Shuttlesworth had helped give them an 11-point advantage at the break but Jermaine Turner was then allowed to claw back a significant number of points and the lead was cut to three points with just four minutes to go.
That was the wake up bomb for the Saints and Doyal and Stephen McGuirk made sure they won out easily, even though Turner hit 14 points in the final quarter.
Still with Notre Dame in a four-way tie for third place are Star of the Sea, Limerick and Waterford. But UCD Marian dropped out of touch when they fell to the Demons, 70-66. Limerick took advantage of a tired Neptune side to come out 104-93 winners at the University Arena yesterday. With Cleotis Brown back to his high-scoring best (33 points), Limerick stayed well ahead. Neptune's Charron Watson wasn't far behind with a 31-point contribution.
The points came even easier for Waterford as they dismissed Tolka Rovers 102-65 on Saturday, with Damon Shoultz hitting 38 points.
The women's league continues to be an interesting tie between the Wildcats and Tolka Rovers - with Tolka playing catch-up. However, the Waterford side were allowed to pull four points clear after yesterday's tie between Tolka and Killester was called off.
It wasn't quite as comfortable as they would have hoped but the Wildcats eventually dismissed the challenge of the Meteors, 67-55. In their last home game of the season, Jillian Hayes was especially prominent in keeping the Wildcats' narrow advantage and it will be a major shock if they are to be denied their sixth title in seven years.
