Fr Mathew's well beaten at home by Liffey Celrics
Catalyst Fr Mathews' Shannon Brady on the ball from Liffey Celtics' Hazel Finn during the Women's Super League at Fr Mathew's Arena. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
A stroll in the park for title-chasing Liffey Celtics as they easily accounted for Catalyst Fr Mathew’s in the Women’s Super League at the Fr Mathew’s Arena on Saturday.
In a game that was decided in the opening half Celtics' ability to play solid defence and execute key baskets proved the difference between two committed sides.
Plenty of solid display from the winners but in Sorcha Tiernan, Aine O’Connor and Alexandra Navarrete the Kildare side have three quality players that could play a big part in their quest to complete the elusive double.
The home team once again started without the Dwyer sisters Grainne and Niamh and they fell behind to an Alexandra Navarrete basket in the opening minute.
Shannon Brady after a six-week spell sidelined with injury responded with a basket and bonus before Sorcha Tiernan nailed a three-pointer and basket for the visitors.
Mathew’s looked all at sea in the opening exchanges and coach Keith Daly decided a time-out was needed in the fourth minute with his side trailing 11-5.
Some of the shooting from the home team was off the charts but with the visitors missing easy tips they were still very much in the mix with three minutes remaining 13-9.
On the next possession, American Kyra White nailed a monstrous shot outside the arc that brought the minimum between the teams.
The closing minutes were competitive and a buzzing beating lay-up from Danielle Murphy-O’Riordan ably assisted by Niamh Dwyer saw the home team reduce the deficit to 18-16 entering the second quarter.
The introduction of Ciara Bracken was a solid move for Liffey as she nailed consecutive baskets that helped her side increase their lead to six points in the 13th minute.
Suddenly the visitors looked in ascendancy and when Aine O’Connor made two free throws midway through this period they extended their lead to 12 points.
The home side looked totally disjointed as they were now struggling to get the ball up court but consecutive baskets helped reduce the deficit to 15 points with 2.34 remaining to the interval.
Just like the opening quarter, we witnessed another buzzer-beating basket but this time it was the Kildare outfit with Rachael Huidsdens draining a three-pointer that gave her side a 20-point lead at the break 48-28.
Baskets from Eboni Williams and Sorcha Tiernan gave Liffey the perfect start as Mathew’s looked a side on the ropes.
Midway through the quarter, the lead was extended to 33 points and despite using many fringe players they continued to dominate taking a 68-43 lead into the fourth quarter.
In fairness Mathew’s did continue to keep up the fight but some of the defence played by Liffey Celtics was from the top drawer.
The ability to use the entire squad over the 40 minutes will have pleased coach Karl Kilbride entering the crucial period of the season.
This season the Women’s Super League will be decided by play-offs and with Celtics likely to finish first or second in the standings it may take a good side to halt their march to complete the double.
K White 17, S Brady 16, G Dwyer 7.
S Tiernan 21, A Navarette 19, A O’Connor 13.
L A Wilkinson, D Murphy-O’Riordan, Amy Murphy, Abby Murphy, G Dwyer, A McCann, A Price, C McCarthy, M Clarke-Nicholas, K White, J O’Shea, N Dwyer.
K Bracken, K O’Flaherty, C Bracken, E Williams, R Huijsdens, K O’Sullivan, C Boyce, S Tiernan, H Finn, A Navarette, A O’Connor.
Jamie Dooley (Portlaoise), Leanne Aherne (Limerick).
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