Bragging rights from the opening game of the new season go to Brunell after their win over UCC Glanmire

UCC Glanmire 75 

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell 80 

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell produced a magnificent battling display to secure the bragging rights over Cork rivals UCC Glanmire in a thrilling Domino’s Women’s Super League clash at the Mardyke Arena on Sunday.

In a game that was competitive from tip off the contributions of the Brunell Americans Brailyn Joseph (26) and Maddie Cluse (24) laid the foundation for their deserved win.

Following a defensive error from Glanmire Kelly Sexton only took 15 seconds to edge her team ahead with an unchallenged lay- up.

The Glanmire American Viane Cumber then showed her shooting skills with a stunning three pointer.

Claire O’Sullivan started for Glanmire and she showed all her class and experience to edge her team into a 5-4 lead in the third minute.

Credit to both sides they were playing solid defence but Brunell got a run and suddenly they were five points to the good 10-5 midway through the quarter.

Gradually the tempo of the game increased and when Annaliese Murphy drove to the hoop and executed the deficit was reduced to two points in the eight minute.

In the closing minutes Brunell finished well and a late Ava Walshe jumper ensured they went in with a 20-14 lead entering the second quarter.

On the restart Glanmire’s American Viane Cumber nailed a three pointer and a basket and suddenly it was a one- point game.

Glanmire’s defence improved and when O’Sullivan made a stunning move to the hoop and Jewel Watkins followed up with a jumper the home side moved into a 25-24 lead in the 16rh minute.

Annaliese Murphy has given great years of service on court for Glanmire and when she produced a monstrous shot outside the arc it helped her side lead by four points with two minutes remaining to the interval.

Suddenly the game was now finding its flow and consecutive baskets from Maddie Cluse and one from her American teammate Brailyn Tate- Joseph ensured the visitors went in at the break commanding a 39-34 interval lead courtesy of two careless Glanmire turnovers.

The tempo continued to increase on the restart with a Cumber basket tying the game at 46 points each in the 23rd minute.

The home side looked to have battened down the hatches in defence and they moved into a 52-51 lead midway through the quarter when a superb Emer Dunne basket had the home fans in rapture.

Amy Dooley back from a season with Portaloise Panthers was battling hard at the post and her basket edged Glanmire into a two- point lead.

The Brunell American Brailyn Joseph seemed to sit out a lot in this period but she did return in the closing minutes as Glanmire’s battling quarter display ensured they commanded a four point lead 63-59 entering the final quarter.

On the restart consecutive Aine Mc Kenna baskets helped her side surge into a three- point lead in the 33rd minute.

This game was electrifying coming down the stretch with both sides trading baskets for long periods with a Joseph basket and bonus giving Brunell a seven- point lead with three minutes remaining.

That’s as good as it got for Glanmire as Brunell held firm to record a noteable win over their Cork rivals.

Scorers for UCC Glanmire: V Cumber 24, J Watkins 17, A Murphy 14, C O’Sullivan 10.

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell: B Joseph 26, M Cluse 24, L Homan 9, K Sexton 9.

UCC Glanmire: A McKenna, S O’Reilly, J O’Shea, C O’Sullivan, A Murphy, M Furlong, J Watkins, M Loughrey, L Walsh, E Dunne, F McDonnell, A Dooley, V Cumber.

Gurranbraher Credit Union Brunell: K Sexton, C Downey, L Hannigan, A Walshe, L Homan, M O’Leary, I McSweeney, E Thornton, K Walshe, B Jarrell-Joseph, M Cluse, R Bowdren.

Referees: Emer Buckley (Kerry), Peter James Coughlan (Cork).

In the Men’s Super League Ballincollig lost their opening game of the Super League campaign going down 88-87 away to newly-promoted Limerick Celtics at the UL Arena.