Division 1 Round 5 (Regular Season): Leader Portlaoise gets another victory

It's still too early stage of the Regular Season in Division 1, but even now we can clearly see the difference between stronger teams and outsiders. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Undefeated leader Panthers delivered the fifth consecutive win on Monday night. This time they beat 9th ranked Lakers (2-3) 79-74 in Portlaoise. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Lakers. Undefeated Portlaoise (5-0) have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Panthers maintains first place with a perfect record of 5 victories in a row. Killarney L. at the other side dropped to the eleventh position with three games lost. Portlaoise are looking forward to face Limerick SE (#3) on the road in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Killarney L. will play against Cuilinn (#9) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Bottom-ranked NorthWest (0-4) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 77-68 loss to fourth ranked Elks (3-1) in Ballyshannon. The victory was the third consecutive win for Ulster Univ.. Elks maintains fourth place with 3-1 record. NorthWest lost their fourth game in a row. They still close the standings with four games lost. Ulster Univ. will play against bottom-ranked Malahide (#16) at home in the next round which should be an easy win for them. NorthWest will play against Carrick and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Bottom-ranked Malahide (0-5) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 96-88 loss to eighth ranked Carrick (3-2) in Malahide on Sunday evening. Carrick moved-up to fifth place, which they share with 3 other teams. Malahide lost their fifth game in a row. They still close the standings with five games lost. Carrick will meet at home NorthWest (#15) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Malahide will play against Ulster Univ. in Belfast and looks forward to get finally their first victory.

Other games of round 5 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Titans were defeated by Limerick SE in a road game 99-89. Titans beat Killarney C. at home 68-65. Limerick SE won against Cuilinn on the opponent's court 72-59. Tipp Talons unfortunately lost to Maree in a home game 56-67.



Limerick SE - Titans 99-89

Everything could happen in Limerick at the game between two tied teams. Both sixth ranked Eagles and 7th ranked Titans had identical 3-1 record. This time Eagles used a home court advantage and beat the opponent from Galway 99-89 on Sunday night. The victory was the third consecutive win for Limerick SE. Eagles (4-1) moved-up to second place, which they share with Drogheda. Loser Titans dropped to the fifth position with two games lost. They share it with 3 other teams. Limerick SE will meet Maree (#5) in the next round. Titans will have a break next round.

NorthWest - Ulster Univ. 68-77

Bottom-ranked NorthWest (0-4) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 77-68 loss to fourth ranked Elks (3-1) in Ballyshannon. The victory was the third consecutive win for Ulster Univ.. Elks maintains fourth place with 3-1 record. NorthWest lost their fourth game in a row. They still close the standings with four games lost. Ulster Univ. will play against bottom-ranked Malahide (#16) at home in the next round which should be an easy win for them. NorthWest will play against Carrick and hopes to get finally their first victory.

Malahide - Carrick C. 88-96

Bottom-ranked Malahide (0-5) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 96-88 loss to eighth ranked Carrick (3-2) in Malahide on Sunday evening. Carrick moved-up to fifth place, which they share with 3 other teams. Malahide lost their fifth game in a row. They still close the standings with five games lost. Carrick will meet at home NorthWest (#15) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Malahide will play against Ulster Univ. in Belfast and looks forward to get finally their first victory.

Titans - Killarney C. 68-65

No shocking result in a game in Galway where seventh ranked Titans (3-2) edged 13th ranked Cougars (1-4) 68-65 on Monday. However just three-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. Titans moved-up to fifth place, which they share with 3 other teams. Killarney C. lost their third game in a row. They dropped to the fourteenth position with four games lost. Titans will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Killarney C. will play against Tipp Talons (#12) in Thurles and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

Portlaoise - Killarney L. 79-74

Undefeated leader Panthers delivered the fifth consecutive win on Monday night. This time they beat 9th ranked Lakers (2-3) 79-74 in Portlaoise. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Lakers. Portlaoise (5-0) have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Panthers maintains first place with a perfect record of 5 victories in a row. Killarney L. at the other side dropped to the eleventh position with three games lost. Portlaoise are looking forward to face Limerick SE (#3) on the road in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Killarney L. will play against Cuilinn (#9) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

Cuilinn - Limerick SE 59-72

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams when 5th ranked Cuilinn (2-2) was defeated at home by sixth ranked Eagles (4-1) 72-59 on Monday. The victory was the third consecutive win for Limerick SE. Eagles moved-up to second place, which they share with Drogheda. Loser Cuilinn dropped to the ninth position with two games lost. They share it with Tolka Rovers. Limerick SE will meet Maree (#5) in the next round. Cuilinn will play against Killarney L. (#11) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

Tipp Talons - Maree 56-67

Rather predictable result in Thurles where tenth ranked Maree (3-2) beat 12th ranked Tipp Talons (1-3) 67-56 on Monday. Maree moved-up to fifth place, which they share with 3 other teams. Loser Tipp Talons keep the twelfth position with three games lost. They share it with Templeogue. Maree will meet at home higher ranked Limerick SE (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Tipp Talons will play against Killarney C. (#14) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.