Maree women keep the Galway flag flying in latest league fare

MAREE’S senior women’s side continue to fly the flag for Galway basketball on the national stage as Joe Shields’ side were once again the only one of the five Galway teams in action at the weekend to claim a victory.

There was no luck for Maree’s men’s Superleague side, as despite registering their highest score of the season, they suffered a fifth defeat of the season when losing 99-92 at home to Tralee Warriors; while Moycullen lost for the sixth time when going down 106-88 away to table-toppers, Belfast Star.

NUIG Mystics’ are still waiting for their first win of the season following their 81-25 hammering at the hands of DCU Mercy; while in the Men’s Division 1, Titans remain rooted to the foot of the North Conference table following their 97-84 defeat away to Dublin Lions.

Women’s Division 1

Maree 65

Portlaoise 60

A brilliant second-half fightback saw Maree retain their unbeaten start to the season, and at the same time end that of Portlaoise Panthers in a meeting of the top two in the South Conference in Oranmore on Saturday.

Maree. who were missing five players – including Irish International Player of the Year, Dayna Finn – were unusually sluggish, and quickly fell 7-0 down early in the first-quarter, as Claire Melia shot the lights out for the visitors.

Melia hit 21 of her side’s 36 points in the first-half, and with Ciara Wheeler knocking down a couple of 3-pointers in the second-quarter, Maree looked in real trouble, trailing 36-25 at half-time.

They needed a big start to the third quarter, and they got exactly that as Catherine Connaire and Carol McCarthy both drained early 3-pointers to get Maree back in the game, though they still trailed by six points at the end of the quarter.

However, Connaire had that back to three seconds into the final quarter with another shot from downtown, and they got their noses in front for the first time midway through the quarter when Clarinbridge’s Alison Blaney drained a 3-pointer of her own.

It was a lead they wouldn’t relinquish as Claire Rockall – who finished with 29 points –punished the visitors’ indiscipline from the free throw line to clinch victory, while Fiona Scally and Maggie Byrne finished with a combined 29 rebounds in a statement-of-intent win.

Maree are on the road this weekend when they travel to Ballyshannon to take on Fabplus Northwest on Saturday (6pm).

Maree: C McCarthy (6), C Rockall (29), M Byrne (6), C Connaire (10), F Scally (8), C McInerney, N O’Connell, A Blaney (6), L Walsh.

For more,  read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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