University of Galway Maree return to Superleague action on Saturday when they face Killester in the Kingfisher Sports Centre at 7pm.
Leading the league, UG Maree are also through to their first InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy Cup final after a 86-68 win over Bright St Vincent’s at Neptune Stadium.
Jarett Haines notched up 28 points, three rebounds and five assists in their victory, while captain Eoin Rockall also shone, with nine points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
Bright St Vincent’s were without the influential Stefan Zecevic, and his absence was solely felt by the Dublin club in their first semi-final in 17 years. University of Galway Maree raced to a 29-16 lead by the end of the quarter, Haines proving hard to contain landing 14 points in the opening 10 minutes.
UG Maree increased their lead to 19 points by half-time, 53-34 with Haines on 19 points, while Rodrigo Gomez had 13 points and nine rebounds.
Donovan Fields, who scored 70 points en-route to reaching the last four, reduced the deficit to 60-40 in the fourth minute of the third, bu when Haines landed a three with a little over a minute to go in the third, UG Maree had a 71-54 lead.
UG Maree kept the scoreboard ticking over win by 18 points, and head coach Charlie Crowley was delighted.
"We had a good start and that set the tone for the match. Credit to Vincent’s nothing was easy out there for us. We’ve a game against Killester next week and all attention is turned to that.”
University of Galway Mystics produced a 77-62 win over Waterford Wildcats to book a berth in the InsureMyHouse.ie U20 Women’s National Cup final.
In a game in which the lead changed 11 times, University of Galway Mystics sustained pressure midway through the third quarter ultimately proved the difference.
Mystics took a 12-7 lead halfway into the opening quarter with Hazel Finn, who finished with 15-points, and Kara McCleane, attacking the paint to cancel an Illana Fitzgerald three for Waterford straight from the tip. They were level once more, 13-13 with two minutes to play before a 7-0 run saw Paul O’Brien’s team end the period with a 20-13 advantage.
Wildcats levelled once again and held a 32-29 advantage at the break, but University of Galway Mystics, through Ellie Glavin, Maedhbh O’Brien and Emma Glavin, all made contested shots inside, while Finn and McCleane took turns leading the offense.
A 16-2 run in the final six minutes of the third quarter had the UG Mystics in control, and although Waterford rallied to cut the gap from 12 to just two, Mystics produced a 9-0 run to close out the game and advance to the final in two weeks’ time.
University of Galway Mystics: Hazel Finn; Aoibhinn Walsh; Kara McCleane; Ellie Glavin; Ava McCleane; Emma Glavin; Caoimhe O’Sullivan; Maedhbh O’Brien; Caragh Loughrey.
Top Scorers: Kara McCleane (22 ), Hazel Finn (15 ), Emma Glavin (13 ), Ellie Glavin (13 ), Maedhbh O’Brien (11 ). Coach: Paul O’Brien
