Fr Mathew's beaten again as Super League struggles continue
Stacie Jones, Fr Mathew's, in action against Soleil Barnes, Cavan Eagles, in the Women's Super League. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
The wait goes on for Catalyst Fr Mathew’s as they remain winless in the Domino’s Women’s Super League following another loss to Cavan Eagles at the Fr Mathew’s Arena on Saturday.
There is little doubt the MVP of the game was Cavan Eagles Irish ace Sophie Staunton who finished with 33 points that included nine three pointers.
Mathew’s battled hard without ever looking likely to win and their ace American Laila Blair had her poorest game of the season finishing with 13 points.
The home side got off to a good start when Stacie Jones nailed a baseline jumper following a good assist from Amy Murphy.
In a rip-roaring couple of minutes, Mathew’s inability to defend in transition was hurting them as a second Katy O’Sullivan basket gave the visitors a 7-4 lead. Credit to the home team, they continued to battle and midway through the quarter reduced the deficit to the minimum, 10-9, following a third Jones basket.
Mathew’s went on a run and helped by a Holly O’Brien basket and a stunning Leslie Ann Wilkinson three, they edged into a 14-12 lead.
The one negative for Mathew’s was their ace American scorer Blair failed to register a basket in the opening seven minutes and with the Eagles playing stringent defence, she resorted to some silly shooting options.
In the closing minutes of this quarter, Mathew’s ran the ball at every given opportunity and suddenly they commanded a 10-point lead 25-15 lead entering the second quarter.
The Eagles nailed a huge three courtesy of Niamh Tobin and when Staunton followed with a similar shot and basket the lead was suddenly reduced to three points in the 13th minute before the home side rightfully called a time-out.
The visitors were relying on shooting outside the paint and they levelled the game with a second Staunton three before Blair brought her tally to four points with an easy tip.
Defending became a huge issue for Mathew’s as they consistently allowed their opponents clear looks and with 3.34 remaining to the interval, their lead was reduced by the minimum.
Turnovers were another problem for Mathew’s as they consistently lost possession with poor passing.
Soleil Barnes found her touch in the closing minutes as the game looked to be going in the direction of the northerners at the break, when they commanded an eight-point cushion 43-35.
Following a poor first half, Blair started with a three that was followed by a Jones basket but once again the home team went into a lull by allowing their opponents two unchallenged baskets.
Three minutes into the quarter another Staunton basket forced Mathew’s to call a time out, but they looked a side in decline as they were failing to get back court quick enough to stop the Eagles fast breaking.
The shooting of Staunton was murdering Mathew’s and when she shot her sixth three-pointer midway through this period, the Cavan side surged into a 14- point lead.
In fairness, the Cavan Irish players were dogged, particularly in the manner they competed on the boards at both ends of the court.
Scoring became very difficult for the home side and they looked in trouble entering the final quarter when they trailed 69-57.
On the restart, Niamh Tobin got in back door for an easy basket and for almost the entire game Mathew’s allowed their opponents easy tips.
It was a case of the Eagles soaring highest coming down the stretch scoring at will to secure a second consecutive win on Leeside after recently taking the scalp of Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell.
S Jones 23, G Dwyer 18, L Blair 13.
S Staunton 33, N Tolan 24, S Barnes 17.
H McCarthy, D Murphy-O’Riordan, L A Wilkinson, Amy Murphy, Abby Murphy, G Dwyer, C McCarthy, L Blair, H O’Brien, S Fitzgerald, S Jones.
K O’Sullivan, M Harris, S Barnes, L Kelly-Flynn, N Tolan, S Staunton, C Carroll, C Brady, C Tolan, A Mulligan, O Okeperan.
A Paulisnskas (Dublin). S O’Shaughnessy (Tipperary).
App?
