There was mixed fortunes for Maree BC in cup action on Saturday, withthe men’s Superleague side bowing out of the Pat Duffy Cup when losing 83-80 at home to Griffith College Swords Thunder. However the club’s senior women are through to the Hula Hoops division one cup quarter-finals, thanks to an 86-59 win at home to Phoenix Rockets of Belfast.
That was the fourth win from four for the senior women’s side, who now face Limerick Celtics in the last eight of the competition in Limerick next month.
Maree were always in control against their Belfast opponents, leading 24-10 at the end of the first quarter, and stretching their lead to 45-27 at half-time, thanks to nine-point hauls from both Catherine Connaire and Dayna Finn.
Claire Rockall hit eight points in that first-half, and she went to work in the third quarter, bagging 10 points as Maree maintained their 18-point lead, with Finn also scoring well as Maree led 66-48.
The home side dominated the final 10 minutes, outscoring their opponents 20-11 to claim a 27-point win, with Rockall and Alison Blaney all finding their range in that final quarter as Maree ran out 86-59 winners.
Maree women have a free weekend this weekend, and return to league action on Saturday November 10 when they travel top Limerick to take on UL Huskies in the league (5pm ).
Maree: Carol McCarthy (7 ), Dayne Finn (17 ), Claire Rockall (24 ),Maggie Byrne (9 ), Fiona Scally (9 ), Orlaith Walsh (2 ), CatherineConnaire (9 ), Nicola O’Connell, Eveann Kennedy, Alison Blaney (7 ),Laoise Walsh (4 ), Sacra Mannion.
Men's action
Having lost 83-80 to Griffith College Swords Thunder in the second of a double header, Maree will look to bounce back when they host defending league champions, UCD Marian, in Calasanctius College this Sunday at 3pm.
Last weekend Maree flew out of the blocks and led 28-22 at the end of the first quarter, and retained that six-point advantage at half-tim with big contributions from Sean Sellers, Eoin Rockall, and Niels Bunschoten helping the home side to a 48-42 lead.
However, a strong third quarter saw the visitors edge ahead 64-61, and they managed to keep their noses in front in the final quarter to advance to the quarter-finals.
Maree: Sean Sellers (24 ), Eoin Rockall (23 ), Paul Freeman (6 ), NielsBunschoten (21 ), Kenneth Hansberry (1 ), Stephen Commins, John Burke(2 ), Charlie Crowley, Enda Walsh, Toms Fabriciuss (3 ), Ciaran Harte,Luke McInerney.
