UCC Glanmire face a huge test to beat Killester and reach the National Cup final

It is being touted as the game of the weekend, and tomorrow, the Neptune Stadium will be rocking when Career Solutions UCC Glanmire clash with Killester in the Paudie O’Connor Women’s National Cup semi- final at 4pm.

Both sides have shown consistent form in the build-up to this game and for the Glanmire coach Mark Scannell it is another chapter in his great career coaching at the top tier of women’s basketball in this country.

“We have a fairly good record against Killester as we beat them twice last season in the league but lost to them in the quarter final of the cup, but they are a difficult team to play as they have been together for quite awhile,” said Scannell.

Coach Scannell pointed out that their Dublin opponents like the big occasion.

“Killester are a big game team winning many crucial matches and I think their loss in the cup final last season to Liffey Celtics will probably drive them on to go one better this season,” added Mark.

After a couple of mediocre seasons Glanmire were not tipped by many pundits to make a huge impression in this campaign.

“Nobody predicted us to me competing for silverware this season but we have slowly gained momentum after a slow start to the campaign, but I always felt the players needed time.” 

The return of Claire O’Sullivan and Amy Dooley plus new Americans Jewel Watkins and Viane Cumber has certainly made Glanmire a formidable unit.

“We have a good mixture of experience and young players that are coming together at the right time and I have always said if you are thereabouts in the league table at Christmas and in a cup semi- final you are doing something right.” 

The Glanmire Americans are having a solid season and coach Scannell knows what quality players are in that department having coached some wonderful professionals in his successful career.

“As a club we have been lucky to have had players like Jennifer Strong and Brittany Byrd to name a couple and throw in Michelle Fahy the Dwyer sisters Niamh and Grainne with Claire Melia and you know that we had a serious amount of talent.

“Luckily another brace of top- class players Claire O’Sullivan and Aine McKenna continue to play and they have both served our club with dignity and honour for many years.” The return of Amy Dooley this season was vital for coach Scannell.

“It meant we could go and get two scoring Americans with Amy doing the grafting at the post and it has certainly worked for us all season.” Making sure your professionals are treated well is also crucial.

“Look I am very lucky that the girls look out for the professionals making sure they are happy and with a team manager with the quality of Ann De La Cour the organization is simply first class.” 

Kenny Clarke is assistant coach and overall ,the Glanmire camaraderie is very evident this season.

The Killester threat is real and when you have an American with the quality of Samantha Haiby there is serious need to show quality defending.

“Samantha Haiby is a top class player that can really score the basketball and we will need to be focused in defence over four quarters.

“Killester also have Michelle Clarke and Leva Bagdanavicene two quality shooters that are capable of really hurting us so it will be a real test in how we defend.” 

This is a game that could well go down to the wire, but for me, if the occasion doesn’t affect Glanmire they are more than capable of upsetting the championship favourites.