LADIES START BRIGHT, STRUGGLE LATE vs. WILDCATS

The DART KILLESTER girls started well controlled much of the first half but just did not have enough in the tank to resist Aspell and her Wildcats in the second half.

A superb first quarter performance from Shauna O’Connor threw down the gauntlet to the Waterford side. A 15 point total that included four 3-pointers gave the Dublin outfit a 10 point lead after ten minutes and an encouraging start.

Wildcats were playing in fits and starts and their defence looked shaky at times. DART were playing well together moving the ball and playing some tough defence on Aspell. As always it’s hard to keep Aspell quite for long and a great finish to the second quarter Aspell and Katie McNamara gave the score line a healthier complexion at half time. Dart’s lead cut to 39-43.

Wildcats tightened their defence in the second half against a tiring Dart team, reducing the outside opportunities for the Killester. Michelle Aspell, Cathy Kavanagh and Jenny Kelly combined for some good scores while O’Connor, Caitlin Malcolm and, in particular, the excellent Aisling Sullivan were best for Killester.

The final quarter was all Wildcats and their superiority during this period was reflected in a 16 point winning margin. The short handed Dart Killester put in a valiant performance but ultimately the Wildcats proved too much on their home court this time.

Back playing with Wildcats after a number of seasons with Killester was Catriona White. Catriona, while still not match fit, gave an excellent account of herself and will strengthen the Waterford outfit in the latter stages of the league.

DART RUNS U.L ALL THE WAY TO THE END

In a game where form favoured the visiting team, DART KILLESTER fought hard to give UL a good test.

UL came out strongly in the first quarter and took the lead on the young DART Killester with Lisa Palmer and Marie Guiney getting good scores to put them 12-4 ahead. If the visitors thought that their opponents were going to give in easily however, they were greatly mistaken. Aisling O'Sullivan performed well offensively hitting from outside while also getting to the basket against the UL pressure. Caitlin Malcolm was also displaying her all round game hitting from outside while also finding teammates for open shots. UL managed to get back on track and hit two free throws in the closing moments to take a lead of 22-21 to finish the quarter.

The fast pace of the game only got quicker in the second quarter with both teams pushing the ball at any opportunity. DART had found a good defensive rythm and were playing excellent team basketball. Courtney McDaniel took the offensive load for the Munster outfit scoring well inside while Dearbhla Breen was also looking to be aggressive. DART were making all the hussle plays exemplified by Malcolm who took a charge that had most of the crowd just happy not to be involved. UL's experience began to tell late in the quarter as they ran out to an
eleven point lead. Some huge scores by Shauna O'Connor and Louise Gray kept Killester in it as they trailed by 7 at the half.

The third quarter began with UL hoping to pull away. DART Killester knuckled down and managed to reduce the lead with some good play on the break. Sarah McGrath performed well on the point against the UL press as she had all game allowing Killester to get into their offense. DART came back to trail 54-57 to go into an exciting final quarter.

The packed gym really got behind the home team in the last quarter as the tension rose to a maximum, both teams feeling the pressure of what was at stake. The game stayed within 5 points the entire quarter with both teams trading scores. Ally Mcguire pulled out her own version of the Hakeem Olaujawon faking one way only to spin and score the other leaving the home side within two points. UL's experience was a big advantage to them at this stage with all their big name players standing up to be counted. McDaniel and Palmer got some big scores to pull away in the final minute.

DART'S LADIES GET DERAILED IN UL

In a game that was tied up until the closing 3 minutes of the first half Dart Killester fell victim to a experienced team finishing the first half stronger and never looking back.

In the first quarter in which both teams looks very flat, UL came out slightly stronger opening up a small lead. This was closed up by the Dart ladies and the game was back and forth for much of the 1st.

In the second, Dart were trailing by a couple of baskets when they upped it a bit and closed the gap right up. It was neck a neck for most of the second qtr up until UL showed there experience and class by catching the young Dart girls sleeping and hitting them for a 15-2 run to finish the last 3mins of the half to go in leading 40-27.

The home team and Dart both looked like the friday night game did not suit either as the 3rd quarter was much like the first. The teams went up and down the floor neither making a run and both looked happy just to play the game out. Ul finished the quarter up 15 at 55 - 40.

In the final quarter the game was all but over as the young Dart team struggled short handed to make any kind of comeback. Also travelling down after a tough week of games, it was a bit much to ask. The girls played hard until the end but UL never looked threatened in the second half and were worthy winnders at 72-48.

DART'S LADIES GET DESERVED WIN IN OBLATES

In a game that was close all the way Dart Killester pushed out to a 7 point lead late to hold on for a good win.

In the first quarter the Dart Killester team started well, opening up a lead early with all 5 starters scoring in the first quarter, Meteors however were not to be undone and lead by American Leah Truncale came back strong to finish the quarter up 2 at 12-14.

In the second, Dart were trailing by two points for much of the quarter as it was basket for basket. Leah again leading the way for her team while Dart Killester's American Caitlin Malcolm was matching her score for score. Meteors got a basket late in the half to extend their lead to 4 points at 25-29.

The home team Dart Killester came out in the 3rd quarter much more aggressively and changed the game with their defence and moved the ball well on offence to take the lead early in the 3rd and never surrendered it again. Malcolm scored 8 points in this quarter and led her team to a 3 point lead to finish the quarter 41-38 in front.

In the final quarter the game was opened up by some great play off the bench from Hannah Fraiser, Fiona Ward and Sarah McGrath as they pushed Meteors hard, opening up a 7point lead and gave Dart's starters a long break to keep them fresh for the final few minutes. Meteors battled hard until the end but never really found their groove in the second half which left Dart Killester to win out 57-50.

KILLESTER MAKE IT TOUGH FOR UNBEATEN GLANMIRE

Dart Killester started out well in this game, taking an early lead behind some good tough defence and scoring from Aisling Sullivan and Caitlin Malcolm. Glanmire found their way after a slow start behind their full court press that caused the less experienced Dart team a lot of problems. As the quarter came to a close Glanmire took the lead for the first time at 11 – 13.

In the second, Glanmire after going to their very strong bench and calling on Irish international Niamh Dwyer continued to keep the pressure on the home team. Dart Killester however kept pace and it was a close encounter. Dart managed to tie the game at 25 – 25 with just under a minute left. Glanmire showed their wealth of experience and managed to close out the quarter with 7 quick points inside the last minute. American Jennifer Strong contributed a big 3 to open up the gap at 25- 32 in favour of the visitors.

In the 3rd the home side started well hitting an early 3 to close the gap again but the continued pressure from the stronger Glanmire side really wore down Dart Killester. Glanmire started to get a lot more steals which lead to easy layups and began to open the lead up. The visitors managed to push ahead and finish the quarter with a 16 point advantage.

In the final quarter Dart’s ladies, although behind never let up. They kept playing hard until the final whistle. As Glanmire managed to extend the lead to as much as 21 early in the fourth, Dart fought hard to cut the lead back to 13 points to finish the game. 

LADIES STRUGGLE - DCU'S HOT SHOOTING TO MUCH

After two wins in a row Dart Killester went into the game against DCU full of hope but a bad start from the girls and a hot hand from Mary Fox of DCU quickly put the young Dart ladies under pressure. DCU led from start to finish and despite the Dart Killester ladies never giving up, this game was out of reach.

1st Qtr for DCU was a very good one with Mary Fox coming out early and making her intentions known. She had a very quick 9 points in the Qtr. Caitlin Malcolm for Dart matched her score for score but the power and strength of the DCU starting 5 gave them the advantage at the end of the 1st.

2nd quarter was better for the Dart Ladies as Malcolm continued to do damage and seemed to give confidence to the rest of her team as Dart fought hard and closed the gap to 8 points and took a little momentum. DCU were under a small amount of pressure but then in the closing minute Fox and Co scored a quick 8 points to give them a 16 point half time lead.

In the 3rd, the Dart got the first basket and then things went very wrong for the young side. They lost their way and the tough defence they had been playing disappeared and DCU hit them with score after score in the 3rd. Susan Maguire Lindsay Peat and Mary Fox all doing damage. This game was opened up to 30points by the end of the 3rd. It was over as a contest.

In the fourth quarter the DART KILLESTER ladies team continued to fight hard as they always have done but just nothing seemed to click. They struggled to find any offensive co-ordination either as Malcolm who had 15 first half points was held to just 1 point the rest of the way.
DCU were deserved winners on a scoreline of 94-54.

DART KILLESTER LADIES WIN 2 IN A ROW

In a game that saw Dart Killester start brightly, only to give up the lead nearing the end of the first 16 -18. A brilliant second quarter saw them have a huge offensive output of 30 points to give them a double digit half time lead 46 – 35. Dart held the lead for throughout the 3rd and 4th quarters despite pressure put on by Waterford holding out to win 77 – 66.

Dart started out quickly getting good scores from Fiona Ward and Shauna O'Connor. O’Connor continuing her good shooting from the 4th quarter of the Tolka game hitting three “3’s” in the game. The Dart ladies opened up a 5 point lead only to be pegged back through the work of Michelle Aspell and American Kathryn McNamara with the visitors taking a 2 point lead 16 - 18 at the end of the 1st.

2nd quarter was a good one for the Dart Killester ladies. They had their biggest quarter of the season scoring a huge 30points. The confidence was oozing from the girls as team high scorer Caitlin Malcolm and inspirational Fiona Carrick caused the visiting Wildcats problems inside while Aisling Sullivan and Shauna O'Connor doing the damage from the outside. Dart’s ladies extended their lead giving them an 11point advantage 46 - 35 at the half.

The 3rd quarter, was a tough one for Dart as Wildcats made some adjustments and upped their defensive intensity keeping the Dart Killester Ladies team to just 12 points in the 3rd. The double act of Aspell and McNamara was proving very tough to stop on the other end as Wildcats cut into the lead. Wildcats closed the gap to four
points 58 - 54.

In the fourth young Ali Maguire stepped up to score 5 of her 12 points early to open up a double digit lead again but this was answered by Jenny Kelly for Waterford bringing the away team close again. A huge “3” late in the game from Caitlin Malcolm seemed to end the away teams hopes. Dart’s defence held strong and Killester played out the time and won on a score line of 77 – 66.

DART KILLESTER LADIES GET THEIR FIRST WIN!

In a game that was touted to be a battle, it did not disappoint. Tolka started out the better of the two teams and controlled the first half leading 27-21, while DART Killester struggled to match them physically. Sec ond half was a different story, it was DART’s half and they reeled in the home team and pushed on past, withstood a late rally from Tolka clinging to a 5 point win on a scoreline of 50-55.

In the first quarter of what proved to be a very close affair, Tolka Rovers being the home team started out quite strong. With the backing of a vocal support they got on top of the younger DART KILLESTER team building a 6 point lead. Leading the way was American Jolie McKiernan who put in a powerful display scoring 20 points and caused DART problems with her size. DART KILLESTER hung around though thanks mainly to their inside combination of Fiona Carrick and Caitlin Malcolm, both girls working extremely hard and scoring 6 and 5 points respectively in the quarter. Tolka finished the quarter leading by 5.

At the start of the second, DART KILLESTER upped the pressure creating some good opportunity’s for themselves but some missed shots meant they did not capitalise and Tolka held on to their lead. DART got some good relief off the bench from Ali Maguire and Hannah Fraiser in this quarter both working hard but it was Tolka that finished the stronger of the two sides thanks to some good shooting from sisters Karen and Julie Wilkins. Tolka went into the half time break in control 27 – 21.

When DART KILLESTER came out of the dressing room for the 3rd quarter, there was a change in how they played. As the offence was not firing on all cylinders they really focused on playing good hard nosed team defence. DART managed to claw their way back into the game gaining a 1 point lead with 3mins to go in the quarter holding Tolka scoreless in that period. Jolie McKiernan then took over for the home team getting to the free throw line a number of times late in the quarter to give Tolka a 3 point advantage back nearing the end of the quarter. DART however closed the gap with a buzzer beating long 2pt shot from Ali Maguire cut the deficit to a point setting up a thrilling fourth quarter.

GROWING PAINS AS LADIES STRUGGLE VS GLANMIRE

As expected this game away in Cork vs. Glanmire was extremely tough for the young DART KILLESTER team. After a strong start from DART the game got away from the fledgling team and although a lot of experience was gained the scoreline went against the Ladies 72 – 32.

In the first Quarter, DART KILLESTER started out well taking an early lead against the heavily favoured Glanmire. Some good team work from the ladies of DART saw baskets early for american Caitlin Malcolm, Fiona Ward and Aisling Sullivan. An 11 – 6 lead for DART KILLESTER was erased quickly when Glanmire coach Mark Scannell went to his deep bench. His substitutions made an immediate impact with daughter Jessica Scannell hitting a “3” and senior Irish international Orla O’Reilly getting a good score driving to the basket. Some good work from American Jennifer Strong led Glanmire into a 17-11 lead at the end of the 1st.

In the second Glanmire seemed to find their rhythm, moving the ball well on offense while using their long subs bench to their advantage. They wore down the young DART KILLESTER team by keeping full court pressure on. Glanmire led by another international Michelle Fahy opened up a large lead going into the half time break of 38 – 16.

At the start of the second half, whatever Coach O’Connor said to his DART team seemed to have an early effect as the ladies came out looking ready to do battle with a very strong Glanmire team.  After some quick scores from teams leading scorer Caitlin Malcolm DART KILLESTER cut into the lead and DART looked to gain some momentum but again the strength and depth of glanmire showed as the ladies tired and found it difficult to knock down some usually routine shots. Glanmire extended their lead at the end of the third leading DART trailing 54 – 24.

In the fourth, the game was pretty much finished as a contest but that did not stop every one of the DART KILLESTER ladies team giving everything they had right until the final whistle. Although this was not enough this time, the ladies are sure to have gained a lot from the game and will be stronger and better for it next time out.

The next game for DART KILLESTER’s ladies see’s them return to Dublin to play Tolka Rovers away at 6.00pm on Saturday. Please come down and support the ladies.

DCU TOO STRONG FOR KILLESTER


DCU Mercy were ahead 11 -2 by the fourth minute with scores from Lindsay Peat, Mary Fox and Ann Marie Healy. The young Killester team got off to a nervous looking start, as they were slow to get to grips with the pace of the game. It looked like they were a bit nervous. A three point score from Killester’s Aisling Sullivan made the score 22 – 7 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, DCU Mercy’s Lindsay Peat took control of the game with numerous steals leading to easy baskets for her side. Killester then looked to settle down a bit with some nice play from Sullivan and Louise Gray finding the scoring touch. The girls went on an 8 point run cutting the lead nearing half time to 10. Unfortunately for the young DART team a couple of mistakes closing out the half allowed Ann Marie Healy and Mary Fox respond and extended Mercy’s lead to 16 points at half time. (22-38).

After the half time interval, Killester continued to battle hard. The girls looked far more comfortable as they unsettled DCU a little with their effort and good play. Scores from Aisling Sullivan and Shauna O’Connor narrowed Mercy’s lead to 9 points and DART KILLESTER looked like they were back in the game. Then with the shot clock winding down for DCU Helena Kenny threw up a shot from way beyond the 3pt line, which looked like the killer blow. DCU through Mary Fox picked up another couple of scores to finish out the quarter with a scoreline of 32 – 51 to DCU Mercy.
The final quarter saw the Killester girls continue to fight until the final whistle with contributions from Fiona Ward and Caitlin Malcolm, but it looked like the toll of the previous days battle with Meteors left the girls little in the tank to try and mount another great comeback. DCU’s Sarah Woods scored a three point buzzer beater to make the final score 69 – 41.

DART LADIES LOSE LATE Vs. METEORS

The Dart   Killester Ladies kicked of their 2007 / 2008 campaign today in the NBA, Tallaght against Meteors in what was expected to be a tough test for John O’Connors young charges.

Meteors did not dissapoint and came out very strong from the very start of the first quarter. The Killester ladies took a while to find their feet in their competitive game as a team in the WSL. Meteors took an early lead and kept the prressure on throught out the first quarter. Led by Lorraine Scully in the 1st with 7 points they took a 22-11 lead into the 2nd quarter.

In the second it looked to be much of the same for the Dart Killester ladies as meteors continued to pressure and DART looked hurried and nervous, but after some very good defensive play and a bit more hard work, Killester settled and started to chip away at the lead. With 3mins to go in the 2nd quarter they has cut it back to 10. A couple of mistakes at the end of the half , which can be put down to youth, let meteors build their lead back up to 15. Half Time score being 36-21.

3rd quarter time, and the Killester girls showed that they could learn on the job, because they showed a totally different attitude and mindset from the first half performance. They knew they had to step up and that’s exactly what they did. Aisling Sullivan showed some of the form that got her into the irish team set up hitting back to back 3’s and running the meteor girls ragged, while american Caitlin Malcom worked hard both ends of the floor stifling meteors american Leah Truncale and doing some good work on the offense. Shauna O’Connor who had been held relatively quiet finally broke loose to hit 6 quick points to put the score at 46-41 to meteors at the end of the 3rd.

 In a very closely contested fourth and final quarter both teams gave their all. It was end to end with meteors holding a slight advantage throughout. The Dart Killester girls fought hard and with a minute to go finally got back to level scoring at 56-56 all. Unfortunately for the Killester girls it looked like the energy it took to mount the comeback finally caught up on them. A couple of mental lapse’s were pounced on by the more experienced meteor’s team and they ran out winners 64-61.

The girls second league game comes tomorrow Sun 30th Sept at 1pm in NBA vs local rivals DCU Mercy.