Cork Basketball: Fr Mathew’s need a new signing to stop the rot

Following the exploits of the Irish senior women’s team it is back to Super League action this weekend with a mouth-watering Cork derby between Catalyst Fr Mathew’s and UCC Glanmire tomorrow.

It has been a disastrous season to date for Fr Mathew’s who are still in search of their first win. American Lexie Givens had to return home due to a family bereavement before their cup loss to Glanmire and it’s unknown whether she will be returning.

Jamie Barry, in his first season as coach, is doing a good job and in a bid to avoid relegation, surely a new signing will be needed for his team.

The second Mathew’s American, Laila Blair, is a superb shooter, but their season to date hasn’t been about the contribution of their professionals.

With the exception of Grainne Dwyer, the remainder of Barry’s squad consists mainly of rookies and that is a tough task for any team in this league.

Dwyer is still playing some solid basketball and is regularly in double figures, but the same cannot be said for team captain Amy Murphy who has failed to live up to the displays she produced in a Brunell jersey where she started her career.

There are no such problems for Glanmire who, on their best day, are a match for any team in this championship.

QUALITY

Coach Mark Scannell has unearthed two quality Americans in Jewel Watkins and Viane Cumber and they have been consistent in the majority of games.

Claire O’Sullivan is another quality player and wouldn’t have been out of place on the Irish senior team. O’Sullivan is a wonderful talent and plays hard at both ends of the court with fellow stalwart Aine McKenna, another great servant to the Cork club.

When McKenna is hot in the offence court there is no better three-point shooter, and if she gets back to her former best Glanmire will be challenging for silverware.

Amy Dooley is slowly returning to full fitness; that will give Glanmire physicality on the boards, and barring a total meltdown they should be good enough to secure the points.

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell make the trip to Midland Park Portlaoise Panthers.

Brunell will be buoyed with their cup win at St Paul’s Killarney, and if they can build on that they will secure the points.

Edel Thornton, fresh from leading the Irish team, is back to her best and her 21-point contribution against St Paul’s was crucial.

The Portlaoise side are always up for a challenge in the physicality stakes and Brunell will have to be ready for a battle on the boards.

Brunell should have too much artillery for this Panthers side whose strength in depth doesn’t match that of the Leesiders.