Demons are defeated

It was a weekend of mixed fortunes in the EBS Superleague for current for leaders Esat Telecom Demons. Yesterday they came home with the closest of victories from Tolka Rovers on a score of 83 to 81, but that was only making up for the six point loss to St Vincent's on Saturday night - their first defeat of the season.

Rovers made it hard work for the Demons, who surrendered an eight point advantage at the half way stage to lead by a single point with just five minutes remaining. Spanish signing Braulio Arias Hernandez then scored a vital three-pointer to put Demons 7671 clear in the dying minutes, and an even later three points by Eoin Quill was little consolation for Rovers.

Another big surprise over the weekend saw title holders Star of the Sea upset by Kerry Spring Killarney on a score of 58 to 52 at Andersontown on Saturday evening. Yet they also got redemption yesterday with a more comfortable win over UCD Marion with result of 84 points to 74. However, the Belfast side remain on just two wins from four games

It was second placed Neptune who provided the most exciting encounter, even if they were on the losing side of the 52 to 51 scoreline with Waterford Crystal. From the start it seemed that Crystal were going to have it all their own way, jumping to a 20 to 16 lead in the second quarter. The Neptune revival was steered by Rusuel McKune and Stephen McCarthy, leading 42 to 37 midway through the third quarter. Dean Kavanagh got a couple back for Crystal and then Careen Porter picked up a foul with four seconds remaining. He made the first but missed the second, and only after four taps of the ball did Roscoe Patterson send it through the net to give Crystal the one point win.

Kerry Spring Killarney travelled to the National Arena yesterday but they found Denny Notre Dame a little too strong. Notre Dame were also coming off a big win over Waterford Crystal on Saturday and Dutch international Brian Benjamin hit two early three pointers while Ciaran Dempsey ran in another 10 to give them a commanding 24 to 12 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Eric Blair finished off the victory in style with some spectacular dunks to ensure the Dublin side remain among the top runners for the title. Burger King Limerick also picked up their first win of the season by outplaying Sligo Dairies from the start, their 100 to 74 point victory marked by Rock Winston's contribution of 29 points.

It was all too easy for the leaders of the women's Superleague as Tolka Rovers maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 78 to 46 thrashing of Meteors at Naomh Olaf. Rachel Kelly was their top scorer with 23 points.

Elsewhere, title holders Avonmore Snowcream Wildcats got back to winning ways after the surprise defeat last week when they were also comprehensive winners, 80 to 34, over the University of Limerick.