Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell end Liffey Celtic's unbeaten Super League run

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell 78 

Flomax Liffey Celtics 74 

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell ended Flomax Liffey Celtics unbeaten run in the Women’s Super League with a stunning win over the Kildare side at the Parochial Hall on Sunday.

In a game that went to the wire a 26 point contribution form Jayla Johnson proved crucial in a game of high stakes.

Danielle O’Leary gave the home side a great start with a stunning three pointer and with two consecutive baskets following the home side commanded a 7-0 lead in the second minute.

Gradually the Kildare side inspired by Sorcha Tiernan began finding their range and the deficit was reduced to 11-9 in the fourth minute.

The introduction of Edel Thornton brought a huge applause from the home support and she immediately came up with a brace of free throws.

Brunell were missing a lot of easy tips but they did show a flash of brilliance in the seventh minute with a sweeping fast break that gave them a 19-12 lead forcing a Liffey Celtics time out.

Credit to Brunell they showed incredible battling qualities and with Thornton leading by example they deservedly led 26-17 entering the second quarter.

On the restart both teams resorted to some poor shooting options but Sorcha Tiernan was the one player that was posing Brunell’s defence problems.

Lauryn Homan fresh from her exploits with the Irish Senior Women’s team was having her best game of the season as some of her moves to the hoop were a joy to behold.

Homan showed her agility to give her side a 43-34 lead with three minutes remaining to the interval.

The home team resorted to some silly shooting options but they still had a ten point lead at the break 49-39 after an entertaining opening half.

There is little doubt the league leaders coach Karl Kilbride had some thinking to do at break as their defence wasn’t performing with Brunell getting far too many unchallenged shots and lay-ups.

On the restart Tianna Ayulo gave the visitors the perfect start with a neat jumper and they continued to look the better side in the early exchanges with Brunell forced to call a time out four minutes into this period.

Amazingly the zip had gone out of the Brunell and with three minutes remaining their lead was reduced to four points.

It was evident the tension was getting to the home side and entering the final quarter the deficit was reduced to three points 60-57.

The lead was whittled down to parity a minute into the restart as Brunell’s defence looked all at sea with coach Liam Culloty forced to call an early time out.

Coming down the stretch when the game was there to be won the Kildare side came back to tie the game with a minute remaining.

That’s as good as it got for them as Brunell stood firm to record a win that had their fans in rapture.

Scorers for Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell: J Johnson 26, K Williams 18, L Homan 11.

Flomax Liffey Celtics: A Navarette16, S Tiernan 16, T Ayulo 15.

Gurranbraher Credit Union Brunell: K 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.

Flomax Liffey Celtics: A Navarette, C Boyce, K Bracken, K O’Sullivan, G Munnelly, A O’Connor, N Sherlock, K O’Flaherty, S Tiernan, T Ayulo.

Referees: M Alkurdi (Dublin), Y Ni (Dublin).