Waterford show early credentials for title

Waterford Crystal have set out to improve on the runners-up placing of last season with the closest of victories over visitors Dungannon in their opening encounter of the ESB Superleague on Saturday evening.

In a game that was never truly decided until the final seconds, Waterford had to rely on the late free-taking of David Cunningham to give them the eventual win, 68 to 67. Trevor Smullen helped provide Dungannon with the better start as they went ahead 40 to 33 at half-time but Eamon Sheehan and Cunningham ensured it was all still to play for going into the final quarter.

After a desperate exchange of baskets, Dungannon were up 67 to 66 with 11 seconds remaining. But the foul on Cunningham put him on the free throw line with victory still within reach. After sinking the two shots with ease, there was no way back for Dungannon.

Defending Superleague champions Star of the Sea had earlier thrown down their claim late on Friday night that they are again most likely to be the team to watch in the race for the title by comprehensively defeating Denny Notre Dame at the Maysfield Leisure Centre.

The 106 to 72 scoreline underlines the strength within the current squad as they go in search of their third title in succession. The Dublin side, however, weren't helped by an unfortunate traffic accident on the way to Belfast which sent three of their players, Eric Blair, Ciaran Dempsey and Tony McDonagh, to Dundalk Hospital for treatment. They were later released and given the all clear but will return for a check-up tomorrow before deciding whether they will be fit for Friday's televised game with St Vincent's.

Tolka Rovers didn't do their chances of improving their bottom placing of last season much good by starting off with a defeat at the hands of Team Kerry Spring Water yesterday. However it wasn't until the final two minutes that the visitors finally pulled in front 81 to 78.

There was little dividing the teams in the first half and Tolka had a one point advantage at the midway point. Terry Smith then played an increasing role for the Kerry side, most significantly with two impressive steals which he quickly converted to bring them four points clear as the clock ran out. Despite some spirited efforts by Tolka, they were unable to find a response.

There were also some early indications yesterday that Killester will again be a force to reckon with as they came home comfortable winners 84 to 65 from their visit to Burger King Limerick. Even if it was the final quarter when they did the most damage, outscoring Limerick 32 points to 13, last year's junior player of the season Paddy Kelly was outstanding along with Joe Crumby and Dave Weaver who both made impressive debuts.

One of the closest affairs of the weekend saw Hibernian UCD Marian fall just short in the dying moments against Esat Telecom Demons. This was a basket to basket encounter from the tip-off and took a closing three-minute frenzy to decide the result in favour of the Cork side - 70 to 68.

Neville Charles reduced the Demons lead to two points with three minutes left but Dave Lehane then rebuilt it to five. Gary Edge then kept UCD in the game with one of his customary three pointers but despite an exchange of fouls at both ends, Demons had done enough to hold on.

Newcomers to the Superleague this season, the Clare Jets, were unfortunate not to begin on a winning note against Neptune but the former champions just had too much strength when it mattered. Only one point divided the sides at the break but Neptune then swept Clare aside through the scoring power of Ricardo Leonard and they easily built up the 81 to 68 final score.

For the Sligo Dairies, it was one of the more disappointing afternoons as they fell to St Vincent's on a score of 76 to 59. Sligo did hold the lead midway through the second half but they couldn't match the scoring rate of St Vincent's in the final quarter.

In the opening encounters of the women's Superleague, there seems to be no sign of weakness in the Avonmore Snowcream Wildcats as they seek a record sixth successive title. Their 104 to 40 win over Crusaders was all but decided after the tip-off and the game itself will only be remembered for seeing Mary Fitzpatrick playing with daughter Kim for the first time in a Superleague encounter. Both Fitzpatrick's also contributed points to the Wildcats total.

Elsewhere, last season's runners-up Tolka Rovers had to work hard for a winning start over Killester yesterday. The Dublin derby didn't disappoint the fans either as a late scoring spree by Irish international Nikki O'Brien helped put Tokla ahead by 59 to 53 by the end of the tight encounter.

Meteors also started on a winning note on Saturday evening with their 52 to 49 victory over the University of Limerick.