Kildare Gliders and BC Leixlip surmount opening hurdles in NICC National Cup

Both Kildare Gliders and BC Leixlip recently recorded impressive starts to their respective 2025/26 NICC Men’s National Cup campaigns.

The latter, who made it as far as the semi-finals in last season’s competition before being beaten by eventual winners, St. Brendan’s, enjoyed a comfortable 85-53 triumph over Waterford Vikings in their opener in Confey GAA Club.

In contrast, Kildare Gliders had to battle their way back from 18 points down at the close of the first quarter to edge St. Mary’s Castleisland 87-84 in an absolute thriller staged in St. Conleth’s Community School.

Indeed, Sean Kearney’s side found themselves facing a real uphill task after the opening 10 minutes, as Seamus Brosnan’s huge first-quarter haul of 20 points helped rocket St. Mary’s into a 36-18 lead.

Yet, Gliders set about working their way back into contention, starting with an eight-point run early in the second that included sublime buckets from beyond the arc by James McGrath and Declan Kearney.

Abel Ulamen and Eddie Omorusi helped the Kildare side tighten up on defence, the latter also picking up a further nine points at the other end of the court to help see his side recoup five, that left them trailing 59-46 at the break.

And the hosts accounted for the opening six points of the third, compliments of Leonardo Baldi to close to within seven of their Kerry rivals.

St. Mary’s did get going again by way of a Darragh Jones free throw and they managed to hold on to a five-point advantage by the end of that penultimate quarter, despite Ulamen, McGrath, and Dean Cregan forcing turnovers that led to quick points from Naraendran Vinayagam Dorairaj and Baldi.

Scores from Jamie Nolan, Brosnan and Jones helped St. Mary’s double that lead to ten in the opening four minutes of the fourth, but Gliders came storming back with a huge 15-point run, Baldi serving up a superb jump shot to edge his side in front for the first time with just under a minute remaining.

Cregan’s late steal then set up Kearney for a decisive three-pointer that helped ensure a tremendous win in which Shane McGreevy and Padraic Buckley also made key contributions when Gilders found themselves in foul trouble.

That victory sets them up for a Last 16 encounter with East Cavan Eagles, who themselves came through a tight opening round game at home to Blue Demons, which they edged 75-69 in Virginia Show Centre.

It was a much more comfortable opening round game for BC Leixlip, as they took every quarter on their way to a 32-point victory over Waterford.

The Kildare side finished with three players in double figures, Marius Kasparavicius emerging the game’s top scorer on 20 points, while Ugnius Brenkevicius and Kestutis Damulevicius combined for a further 33.

Almost half of Leixlip’s tally came from beyond the arc, as they totalled 14 three-pointers, Kasparavicius accounting for five of those.

Remigijus Dimiciukas and Mazvydas Cepliauskas were others who struck from downtown early on as Leixlip opened up a five-point lead (18-13) by the close of the first quarter.

And they really tightened their grip on proceedings in the second, outgunning their Waterford opponents by 13, as Kestutis Damulevicius, Brenkevicius and Kasparavicius each put up six in that period to help see the hosts take a 40-22 cushion into the half-time break.

Illia Prikhno did draw first blood for Vikings with an early deuce in the third, but the visitors were unable to generate any serious momentum and Leixlip, instead, extended their lead slightly to 23 points (63-40) heading into the fourth quarter.

And they continued to keep their foot very much on the pedal, Leonardo Rowies draining two quick buckets to help keep his side on the front foot.

Charlie Murphy and Jay Kavanagh did serve up seven between them for the visitors down the stretch, but there was never any way back for Waterford, Brenkevicius and Kasparavicius both draining superb shots from off the three-point line for Leixlip.

Next up for the Kildare side will be the challenge of Fr. Mathews BIDC who secured their place in the last 16 after seeing off Shannon Jets 65-55 in their respective opener.