Cork Basketball: Brunell set up possible play-off showdown with Glanmire

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell produced a solid performance to dispose of fellow Cork side Catalyst Fr Mathew’s 88-69 in the Women’s Super League that sets up a possible quarter-final playoff with The Address UCC Glanmire.

Brunell went into this game knowing a win would seal their play-off berth and in the opening quarter, they played up-tempo basketball.

The Brunell stalwart Danielle O’Leary showed her experience and when she nailed a three-pointer midway through the quarter it gave her side a four-point lead 11-9.

The northside club looked up for battle and they increased their lead to 10 points with three minutes remaining with a Megan O’Leary basket ensuring they commanded a 24-16 lead entering the second quarter.

Lauryn Homan, who has had an injury-ravaged season, nailed a three-pointer on the restart as Brunell were never led in the second quarter that saw them go in at the break with a healthy 11-point cushion.

Mathew’s stalwart Niamh Dwyer nailed a monstrous shot beyond the arc on the restart and suddenly it was a six-point game.

In fairness to Brunell, they responded to the wake-up call in the closing minutes and were 10 points to the good entering the fourth quarter.

Coming down the stretch Brunell showed their class and with the American duo of Deaja Richardson (24) and Trinity Hudson (17) putting in good shifts they ran out comfortable 19-point winners.

The display given by Brunell’s Irish players was also impressive with Edel Thornton (13) and Ava Walshe (12) leading the scoring that saw 45 points contributed by their local brigade.

There is little doubt Brunell will not fear playing Glanmire in the quarter-final at the Mardyke Arena as they have already beaten them at this venue.

Fr Mathew’s must now hope they get a result next weekend when they travel to play St Paul’s but after defeating the Killarney side by 21 points in their home game it will take a complete meltdown and a 22-point defeat for the Cork side to fail in their bid for the final eight berth.

All going to plan Mathew’s will then travel to play Waterford Wildcats in the quarter-final.

RARE DEFEAT

In the Men’s Super League regular season champions UCC Demons suffered a rare defeat when going down to Flexachem Killorglin 98-95.

Demons went into the game minus Kyle Hosford who was sitting out a one-game ban for points totted up in technical fouls.

The Cork side were basically outbattled in the second half and with Cork's Jordan Blount having a season-best with a 30-point tally the Kerry side deserved their win. Sadly, Killorglin are all but out of the playoffs, depending on other results. 

That will be disappointing as they have a big budget with a number of professional players.

Killorglin finish the season next weekend with a trip to Maree with Demons concluding their campaign with a home game against Eanna.

Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig suddenly find themselves in a race to make the playoffs following their shock home defeat to Bright St Vincent’s.

Not many pundits would have predicted this result but without their influential guard Adrian O’Sullivan, they failed to fire against their relegation-threatened opponents.

On Saturday next the final series of games will certainly be a huge one for many clubs in the battle to make the play-offs. Neptune travel to play Sligo All Stars and Ballincollig are in Templeogue, two games of huge significance for all competing clubs.