Brunell play well without star player Edel Thornton, but lose their unbeaten record to Killester

Pyrobel Killester 75 

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell 66 

Pyrobel Killester ended the Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell unbeaten run when outgunning them in the Women’s Super League at the IWA Clontarf on Monday.

Sadly, Brunell went into the game minus captain Edel Thornton, who was ruled out following a facial injury picked up against Glanmire who they defeated in the Cork derby on the eve of this game.

Thornton will go back to her doctor this week and it’s unclear whether she will be fit to captain the Irish Senior Women’s team who play France on November 12.

Kelly Sexton gave Brunell the perfect start with a stunning three pointer but the Clontarf side responded well despite the visitors staying with them in the opening five minutes.

The Killester Americans Jiselle Thomas and Keowa Walters suddenly found their shooting range as they edged into a six point lead.

Brunell to their credit were competitive even without their influential captain and Kyaja Williams brought the minimum between the teams with three minutes remaining in the quarter.

The home side finished a little stronger and a late Sarah Courtney basket gave them a 18-12 lead entering the second quarter.

There was little between the teams on the restart but Killester kept their noses in front as they managed to execute key baskets.

Irish International Michelle Clarke has given great service to Killester and she nailed a crucial three pointer that helped her side increase their lead to 11 points with three minutes remaining to the interval.

In fairness Brunell kept battling and a three pointer from Lauryn Homan helped them reduce the deficit to eight points 39-31 at the break.

Danielle O’Leary showed her experience with a dagger outside the arc on the restart and when Homan nailed a similar basket the deficit was reduced to four points.

Killester helped by the brilliance of Claire Melia recovered and entering the final quarter they had regained their seven point lead.

Coming down the stretch Brunell threw the kitchen sink at Killester and despite their best efforts Killester held firm as the loss of Thornton proved too much of a void to fill for the Nellies.

Scorers for Pyrobel Killester: K Walters 21, C Melia 20, J Thomas, 12, M Clarke 10.

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell: J Johnson 23, K Williams 12, D O’Leary 11, L Homan 9.

Pyrobel Killester: M Clarke, J Thomas, R Nagle, S Courtney, B Shelley, L Turner, L Bagdanaviciene, M Troy, C Melia, S Walsh, K Walters.

Gurranbraher Credit Union Brunell: K Sexton, R Sexton, J Johnson, A Walshe, L Homan, D O’Leary, K Williams, E Thornton, L Hickey- Crean, A Macheta, R Lynch, K Walshe, L Hannigan, I McSweeney.