Women's Super League: Glanmire finding form when it matters

Career Decisions UCC Glanmire will be hoping to maintain their recent winning sequence when they host McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles at the Mardyke Arena on Sunday (1.30pm).

The Cork side were truly clinical in their win last weekend on the road against St Paul’s Killarney and coach Mark Scannell will be pushing his side for a repeat display.

After a slow start, the former champions now look the part, they've serious talent, with Americans Viane Cumber and Jewel Watkins two hard-working professionals.

In the case of Cumber, she contributed 26 points against St Paul’s and throughout this campaign has looked a handful for many defences. Watkins does her job in a clinical manner always playing good defence and is the type of player that would fit into any team.

THRILLED

The Glanmire coach has been thrilled with the present form of Claire O’Sullivan, whose 16 points against St Paul’s reminded us that class is permanent.

O’Sullivan is also a wonderful defender and her form this season puts her up there with the best Irish players in the league.

Fellow stalwart Aine McKenna is also playing solid basketball and the long-serving player is a credit to the club she has represented over the last 17 years at the top tier. It was nice to see Mia Furlong returning to form last weekend chipping in with eight points and if Glanmire are to be competing for silverware, she will need consistent displays in the scoring department.

The return of Amy Dooley this season has brought the required physicality on the boards and in fairness, she can mix it with the toughest.

Much was being touted about St Paul’s in the early weeks of the season but in recent games their form has considerably dipped.

Americans Maisie Burnham and Tara Cousins are not putting up the required numbers but as a squad St Paul’s are struggling big time.

A win for Glanmire will give them a boost going into their Christmas clash with Cork rivals Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell and barring a meltdown they should secure the points with relative ease.

Catalyst Fr Mathew’s are really struggling this season and they will need to be at their very best when they host Flomax Liffey Celtics at the Fr Mathew’s Arena tomorrow (3pm).

It has been a tough campaign for coach Jamie Barry in his first season at the helm with his side still in search of their first win. Lack of scoring from their Irish players has hurt them big time but in fairness some of them are playing at his level for the first time.

The Cork club lost American Lexie Givens when she had to depart back home due to a family bereavement and hasn’t returned.

Fellow American Shannon Brady, based in Cork, stepped in to replace her and last weekend led the scoring on 21 points.

The second American Laila Blair is a good shooter and with Grainne Dwyer always up for battle, this may be is a game they can win as this Kildare side are very average.