Neptune in the clear

The last real chance of reducing Neptune's lead at the top of the ESB Superleague failed on Saturday night. Denny Notre Dame, fresh from their cup success the previous weekend, were themselves the victim of a late winner at the National Arena, leaving the Cork side a comfortable six points clear with a game in hand.

When Eamon Gallagher's three-pointer brought Notre Dame level with just three seconds remaining, overtime seemed necessary. Yet there was still time for Stephen McCarthy to race down court and give Neptune the 68-66 victory

For a long time it appeared that Neptune were going to have it easy. Desperately slow to start, Notre Dame were trailing 26-13 at the end of the first quarter as Ricardo Leonard and Rasual McKune set about what they've been doing all season with some superb scoring combinations for Neptune. Gradually, Anthony Jenkins and Brian Benjamin found their form and the gap was reduced to a single point at the half-time.

Inside the last minute, Eric Blair's free throw gave Notre Dame a one point advantage - the only time they led. Leonard then restored the lead to three before Gallagher's late equaliser and McCarthy's even later winner ended a dramatic final minute.

There was some consolation for the cup champions when they came back on court yesterday and defeated Hibernian UCD Marian 80-77.

Maintaining the runner-up position are Esat Telecom Demons, who yesterday defeated Burger King Limerick 94-82. In what was a tightly fought game up until the last quarter, John Estick and Brualia Hernandez proved the vital scorers for the Demons although Rock Winston outplayed them all with his 44 point contribution for Limerick.

Elsewhere, St Vincent's showed that their superb cup form was no accident as they dominated the meeting with Tolka Rovers and ended up 105-90 winners. There were, however, some much-needed points for the Clare Jets with their 81-74 victory over Dungannon. It moves them into the top eight on the table, although Dungannon will feel that bit disappointed for letting the game get away from them.

The predictable pattern of the women's Superleague remains as both the leaders Tolka Rovers and the champions Avonmore Snowcream Wildcats picked up convincing victories. Tolka bounced back from their surprisingly poor cup weekend with a 89-67 win over the University of Limerick yesterday, extending their unbeaten record to 15 win.

It was even more one-sided for the Wildcats as they sent Killester home from Waterford with a 76-33 defeat.