O'Reilly strikes late for Wildcats

After one of the busiest league weekends this season the front-runners pressed further ahead. Waterford have opened a four-point lead at the top of the men's ESB Superleague, and their south-east counterparts, the Wildcats, have done the same in the women's league following their all-important win over Tolka Rovers.

Whenever the Wildcats and Rovers meet in the league the result has a major bearing on the destination of the title and Saturday's game in the Mercy Convent was no different. The Waterford club looked to be in trouble, down four points as the clock ran out. But Olivia O'Reilly's late, late basket brought the game into overtime and the weary Rovers couldn't quite respond again, losing out 94-91.

It wasn't quite as exciting on the men's side but Waterford's 79-70 win over Star of the Sea at the Maysfield Centre yesterday may well have an equally vital bearing on the destination of the men's title. It keeps Waterford in control of the league table.

Waterford led after the first quarter by a paltry 14-7. An injection of pace turned up the heat and Star were up 34-31 at the half. A Waterford rally brought them back in front heading into the last quarter and they held out without much fuss. John Singleton was top scorer with 29 points.

Elsewhere, a tight 74-72 win for Tralee over Notre Dame keeps them in the title race (they are one of four teams on 16 points, four down on Waterford). Not surprisingly it was Ricardo Leonard who inspired Tralee.

Sharing the runner-up spot with Tralee are Neptune, UCD Marian and St Vincent's. Neptune suffered a 87-71 loss to Killester. UCD Marian stay on target with a 85-81 win over Sligo, while St Vincent's sneaked past Limerick 94-91, adding further weight to Friday night's 106-94 win over Star of the Sea.