Maree’s Women’s Division 1 side produced a brilliant second-half fightback to claim the honours in the top-of-the-table clash with Portlaoise Panthers in Oranmore on Saturday; but the club’s Men’s Superleague side went down to Tralee Warriors in the second game of a double header at Calasanctius College.
The women looked in trouble when trailing Panthers 36-25 at half-time in a game which saw the last two unbeaten sides in Division 1 face each other, but with Claire Rockall hitting 17 second-half points, and Maree managing to shut down Claire Melia’s supporting cast for the visitors, Maree rallied to claim the win.
Melia hit 35 points for Panthers in a brilliant display, but Maree had a couple of stars of their own, with Catherine Connaire and Carol McCarthy kick-starting the fightback with successive three pointers at the start of the third quarter.
Alison Blaney travelled up from Limerick for the game, where she had already played three games for Trinity in the Freshers Tournament, and scored six final-quarter points which proved the difference for the home side. Blaney returned to Limerick after the game for the Freshers Cup semi-finals and finals, helping Trinity to the title, and meaning she played six games in a 30-hour period.
Fiona Scally dominated the boards, claiming 14 rebounds, and with Maggie Byrne claiming nine rebounds and executing a brilliant double-block in the fourth to shut down a Panthers' attack, Maree dominated the fourth 23-12 to run out 65-60 winners.
Maree are on the road this weekend when they travel to Ballyshannon to take on Fabplus Northwest on Saturday (6pm ).
Men edged out by Tralee
There was no joy for the club’s Men’s Superleague sides, they lost 99-92 to Tralee Warriors in an intense and thrilling game that saw players on both sides suffer minor facial injuries.
Maree trailed by just three - 52-49 - at the break, but some excellent outside shooting by the visitors in the third quarter saw them take control of the game, and stretch the gap to nine (81-70 ) heading into the final quarter.
Maree tried to rally, but every time they inched closer to their visitors, the Kerry side swept down the court to re-instate the gap, and in the end Maree were left to take some big positives from the defeat, including their biggest points haul of the season.
Maree are at home again this Saturday when they welcome Killester to Oranmore at 7pm.
