UCC Glanmire earn local bragging rights with hard fought win over Fr Mathew's

Catalyst Fr Mathew’s 65

UCC Glanmire 85

UCC Glanmire produced a solid performance to gain maximum points against winless Catalyst Fr Mathew’s in the Domino’s Women’s Super League at the Fr Mathew’s Arena on Saturday.

In a game that Mathew’s will rue missing easy tips Glanmire punished them at will when the game hung in the balance.

The Glanmire Americans Viane Cumber with a 32- point contribution and 20 points from Jewel Watkins proved pivotal in their win.

In the opening five minutes the game was played and a frantic pace with the home side edging into an 11-8 lead following a basket and bonus from Laila Blair.

In fairness Mathew’s who were looking for their first win of the campaign looked up for battle and entering the last minute they commanded a four point lead 20-16.

After putting in a good shift the home side were full value for their 23-18 lead entering the second quarter.

Glanmire needed to respond and Emer Dunne began the second period with a good rebound to finish off the board and when Viane Cumber nailed a three pointer the sides were level.

Some of the missed opportunities from both sides was astonishing but the Glanmire stalwart Aine McKenna tied the game in the 16th minute with a monstrous shot outside the paint.

The Mathew’s American Blair showed her class with a similar shot and suddenly the home side raced into a six- point lead with 2.27 remaining to the interval.

Claire O’Sullivan continues to impress for Glanmire, and she came up trumps with a three that reduced the deficit with coach Scannell calling a time out with 9 seconds remaining to the interval.

Glanmire will be disappointed with their first half display with Mathew’s full value for their 37-34 half time lead.

The home side only shot 2 out of their 12 attempts outside the arc with Glanmire’s stats from that region reading 5/22 a paltry 23%.

Shannon Brady playing her first game of the season drained a basket and bonus on the restart and when Grainne Dwyer followed with a pull up jumper Mathew’s lead was extended to eight points.

Three consecutive baskets and a three pointer from Watkins and suddenly Glanmire led by the minimum.

The visitors were now in ascendency and with some of the match ups in Mathew’s defence struggling the visitors extended their lead to five points midway through the quarter.

Credit to the home side they battled back and entering the final minute they only trailed 53-50 with momentum on their side.

Glanmire recovered to register two more baskets to command a 57-50 lead entering the final quarter.

Coming down the stretch the class of Glanmire took complete control as they secured the points with too much fuss.

Scorers for Catalyst Fr Mathew’s: L Blair 29, S Brady 13, G Dwyer 11.

UCC Glanmire: V Cumber 32, J Watkins 20, C O’Sullivan 9.

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

Catalyst Fr Mathew’s: D Murphy-O’Riordan, Amy Murphy, Abby Murphy, G Dwyer, M Lukasiewicz, A Price, C McCarthy, L Blair, H O’Brien, S Fitzgerald, S Brady.

Referees: Emer Buckley (Kerry), Caroline O’Mahony (Kerry).