Moycullen's Under 20 Men's Team qualified for the final of the Hula Hoops Mens National Cup following a very impressive 106-57 win over Neptune at the Neptune Stadium on Saturday Afternoon. Moycullen never looked in trouble and led 54-33 at Half Time. Paul Kelly was top scorer with 25 points for Moycullen.
Unfortunately for NUIG Mystics and Maree, both teams fell at the Semi-Final stage of their competitions. Maree were beaten by St Mary's Castleisland by 67 points to 51 while NUIG Mystics came up against a dominant DCU Mercy side losing 92-50.
Results
Hula Hoops Women’s National Cup semi-final
Ambassador UCC Glanmire 77-66 Singleton SuperValu Brunell
NUIG Mystics 50-92 DCU Mercy
Hula Hoops NICC Women’s Cup semi-final
Meteors 47-61 Killester
St Mary’s 67-51 Maree
Hula Hoops Under 20 Men’s National Cup semi-final
KUBS 94-75 KCYMS
Moycullen 106-57 Neptune
Reports
Hula Hoops U20 Men’s National Cup Semi Final
Neptune Stadium, 6th January, 2018 (Neptune Stadium)
Moycullen 106 Neptune 57
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Posted by Basketball Ireland on Saturday, January 6, 2018
Moycullen are the team advancing to the final stages of the U20 Men’s National Cup after a convincing 106-55 win over Neptune in Neptune Stadium this afternoon.
It was a tough opening quarter for Neptune U20’s as Moycullen got off to an explosive start with John Hackett being the first to get his name on the scoresheet. Kieran Leahy did his best to interrupt their rhythm calling a timeout in the opening minutes, but this was made in vain as an immense team effort captained by Connor Curran saw Moycullen finish the first quarter comfortably 33-14.
Despite some nice shooting from Conor O’Sullivan, Neptune struggled throughout the game to cope with Moycullen’s quick and effortless offence. Paul Kelly, described by Commentator David Naughton as the ‘Floor General’, most definitely lived up to his name as he made Neptune’s defence work overtime as he netted an impressive 25 points.
Despite the deficit going into the fourth quarter Neptune showed amazing resolve and continued to challenge Moycullen. Captain Adam Heaphy did his best to close the distance between the two sides, ultimately it wasn't to be as the tribesmen pushed out the lead and the game ended 106-57.
Moycullen: Paul Kelly, Paddy Lenihan, James Cummins, Max Brennan, James Connaire, Connor Curran, Mark Convery, John Hackett, David Kelly, James Lyons, Liam Nolan, Dara Kenna, Aaron Kiernan, Kevyn Burke, Daniel Arimoro
Neptune: Ciaran Fitzgerald, Darragh O Sullivan, Cian Heaphy, Jake Collins, Dan Maguire, David Murray, Scott Hannigan, Brian McCarthy, Adam Heaphy, Rob Cahill, Conor O’Sullivan, James Hannigan
Moycullen 106-57 Neptune
Top scorers Moycullen: Paul Kelly 25, John Hackett 21, Connor Curran 19
Top scorers Neptune: Adam Heaphy 19, Darragh O Sullivan 11, Conor O’Sullivan 7
Half time score: Moycullen 54-33 Neptune
Hula Hoops Women’s National Cup semi-final
NUIG Mystics: 50 DCU Mercy: 92
January 6th, 2018 – Mardyke Arena UCC
DCU Mercy romped their way into the Hula Hoops Women’s National Cup final this afternoon with a dominant 92-50 point win over NUIG Mystics at the Mardyke Arena UCC.
DCU, who had been hoping to overcome the semi-final stage that has been haunting them for the last number of years, certainly did so in style with an emphatic and clinical first half display – which saw Tiffany Corselli bagging eleven points before the break – sending them into a comfortable 27-47 point lead.
Strong play from NUIG Mystics’ Dayna Finn, Jade Johnson and Maggie Byrne kept the Mystics scoring ticking over as the game moved into the third quarter, and a much closer 10-minute spell followed with Johnson and Finn causing DCU numerous problems. The damage had already been done though, and despite there being just a three point difference in scoring in the quarter, DCU still held a 42-65 point lead going into the last.
DCU showed no mercy in the fourth quarter, with Sarah Woods, Aisling Sullivan, Rachel Huijsdens and Corselli all pushing the team forward. Under 18 stars, Bronagh Power Cassidy and Nicole Clancy impressed as they slotted in easily and DCU powered on and made no mistake in qualifying their second team of the day (following earlier U18 success against Portlaoise Panthers) into the Cup finals at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght at the end of the month.
NUIG MYSTICS: Alison Blaney, Dayna Finn, Brid O’Connor, Aine McDonagh, Deirdre O’Shea, Jade Johnson, Maggie Byrne, Deja Bullock, Hannah Coen, Rebecca Hansberry.
DCU MERCY: Megan Connolly, Sarah Woods, Ciara Newell, Tiffany Corselli, Aisling Sullivan, Rachel Huijsdens, Maeve O’Seaghdha, Bronagh Power-Cassidy, Aoife Maguire, Aine McDonnell, Nicole Clancy, Alex Masaquel.
NUIG Mystics 50-92 DCU Mercy
Top scorers NUIG Mystics: Dayna Finn 12, Jade Johnson 11, Maggie Byrne 9
Top scorers DCU Mercy: Tiffany Corselli 18, Sarah Woods 15, Rachel Huijsdens 14
Half time score: NUIG Mystics 27-47 DCU Mercy
Hula Hoops NICC Women’s National Cup semi-final
St Marys Castleisland: 67 Maree: 51
Saturday, January 6th, 2018 – Neptune Stadium
"We played really smart, we played really well and what can I say, we are delighted," said St. Mary’s Castleisland head coach Liam Culloty as they go forward to take on Killester in the Women’s Hula Hoops NICC Final after they defeated Maree 67-51 in Neptune Stadium this afternoon.
Both teams got off to a strong start swapping baskets in the opening minutes with a three pointer from Carol McCarthy that was swiftly responded with a big three from Maree’sDenise Dunlea. However it didn’t take long for St.Mary’s to find their rhythm as they racked in the scores from some superb shooting and slick passing ending the first quarter 27-14.
This was the beginning of a tough uphill battle for Maree as they scrambled to recoup the points lost in the first quarter. While this would deem to be their best quarter of the game, outscoring St.Mary’s 12-16, it seemed to be too much of an ask as St.Mary’s defence kept the pressure at full force ending the half just ahead 39-30.
The third quarter saw Liam Culloty’s side display a stunning team performance from basket to basket as they patiently played the ball until they found their opportune moment to make their move. Although St. Marys lead was growing, Maree’s Carol McCarthy certainly did not give up the fight as she drove again and again to the basket finishing her game on an impressive 29 points.
The final quarter saw both team rally but as St. Marys ticked away the scores it was evident this would be the end of the road for Maree as they finished the game 67-51.
St Marys Castleisland: Aoife Nolan, Lorraine Scanlon, Eileen O Connor, Denise Dunlea, Mary Herilhy, Orla White, Emma Dineen, Ciara Ryan, Rachel Ryan, Nicole Downey, Sarah O Sullivan, Laoibhse Walmsley, Katie Reidy
Maree: Carol McCarthy, Colleen McInerney, Finola Kelly, Michelle Fahy, Saoirse Kelly, Emer Smith, Niamh Egan, Niamh O’Toole, Sacra Mannion, Eveann Kennedy
St Mary's Castleisland 67-51 Maree
Top scorers St Mary’s Castleisland: Mary Herilhy 13, Eileen O Connor 13, Denise Dunlea 12, Aoife Nolan 12, Lorraine Scanlon 9
Top Scorers Maree: Carol McCarthy 29, Sacra Mannion 9, Michelle Fahy 8
Half time score: St Mary’s Castleisland 39-30 Maree
