Brilliant Brunell blast past Glanmire to crucial Super League derby victory
Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell's Abbie Lyons bursts past UCC Glanmire's Aine McKenna during the Women's Super League at The Parochial Hall. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
A tremendous performance from start to finish from Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell ensured they secured a crucial derby win over Career Decisions UCC Glanmire in the Domino’s Women’s Super League clash at the GCU Arena.
In a game where Glanmire struggled for long periods to finish, Brunell’s tenacity and passion eventually secured them the all-important victory with Americans Brailyn Joseph and Maddie Cluse sharing 56 points.
A stunning long-range three-pointer from Aine McKenna got Glanmire up and running with Joseph responding with consecutive baskets for the home side.
It was evident the home side were intent on running the ball and when Edel Thornton produced a dazzling drive to the hoop it gave her side a 7-3 lead in the second minute. Thornton was on a mission and finished another lay-up in the next minute, but with Claire O’Sullivan draining consecutive baskets it reduced the deficit to three midway through the quarter.
Glanmire's American Viane Cumber made a monstrous shot outside the paint in the seventh minute that gave her side a 16-14 lead.
In the closing minutes of this period the shooting options of both sides were questionable but a late basket and bonus from Maddie Cluse ensured Brunell commanded a 22-20 lead.
Cumber looked to be the go-to player for Glanmire as she continued to produce key baskets, but the home side now looked to be on a roll as they surged into a seven-point lead in the 13th minute. On each occasion, Brunell threatened to take control Glanmire responded with key baskets but Cluse steadied the ship with consecutive baskets midway through the quarter.
Glanmire were now on the ropes and with four minutes remaining to the interval, they trailed by 11 points. Glanmire were choosing silly shooting options and with Cluse draining a late three Brunell went in at the break commanding a 13-point lead, 44-31.
The half-time stats made interesting reading with Brunell making 13/31 (42%) inside the paint and 4/9 (44%) outside the arc. Glanmire shot 8/24 (33%) inside the arc but their shooting outside the paint was poor with a reading of 3/18 (17%).
On the restart, Brailyn Joseph hit a neat jumper for the home side as Glanmire were struggling to find their rhythm.
Glanmire responded and when Amy Dooley finished a fast-break the gap was reduced to 10 in the 24th minute, with Brunell coach Liam Culloty immediately calling a time-out.
On the restart, Watkins made a terrific move that yielded a basket and suddenly the Glanmire fans were in full voice. The pendulum swung again as Brunell, inspired by Thornton, increased their lead to 15.
Inconsistency was certainly hurting Glanmire but consecutive baskets outside the paint reduced the deficit to 10 points, 67-57, entering the fourth quarter.
A beautiful Megan O’Leary drive to the hoop got Brunell up and running in their opening possession and when Katie Walshe followed up with her second three-pointer the lead was back to 16 points for the home side.
Coming down the stretch, Brunell basically toyed with their opponents as an out-of-sorts Glanmire never looked likely to get back in the game.
Following this loss, Glanmire coach Mark Scannell will have some work to do with his troops on the training court this week in preparation for Saturday’s cup semi-final against Killester.
B Joseph 28, M Cluse 28, K Walshe 18, E Thornton 15.
V Cumber 20, J Watkins 13, A Murphy 13, C O’Sullivan 13.
K Sexton, C Downey, L Hannigan, A Walshe, M O’Leary, I McSweeney, E Thornton, F Kyamagero, K Walshe, A Lyons, B Joseph, M Cluse, R Bowdren.
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 Cumber.
Peter James Coughlan (Cork), Stephen O’Shaughnessy (Tipperary).
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