UCC Glanmire outclass Fr Mathew's in Cork derby
UCC Glanmire's Claire O'Sullivan takes on Catalyst Fr Matthew's Danielle Murphy O'Riordan during the Women's Super League at Upper Glanmire Sports Hall. Picture: Howard Crowdy
A comfortable win for Career Decisions UCC Glanmire as they secured the bragging rights in their Domino’s Women’s Super League derby clash with relegation-bound Catalyst Fr Mathew’s at Upper Glanmire Sports Complex on Saturday.
In a game that failed to ignite at any stage, Glanmire, courtesy of solid scoring performances from Viane Cumber (19), Jewel Watkins (16) and Claire O’Sullivan (13), saw out this game without too much fuss.
O’Sullivan showed her class with a stunning three-pointer just 12 seconds into the restart with Emer Dunne getting in back door for an unchallenged tip on their next possession. After going seven points behind in the second minute, Mathew’s needed a quick response and they got it courtesy of an Amy Murphy three-pointer.
American Laila Blair responded with consecutive baskets and suddenly the visitors were back in the mix. Midway through the quarter, the deficit was reduced to four-point points but with the match officials missing blatant fouls, the Glanmire coach Mark Scannell was getting frustrated.
Glanmire continued to miss easy tips and when Mathew’s American Stacie Jones nailed a neat mid-range jumper in the eighth minute, the deficit was reduced to two points, 16-14.
Jones levelled proceedings on the next Mathew’s possession, but a brace of Miriam Loughrey free throws regained Glanmire’s two-point lead entering the final minute. The visitors battled hard to nail consecutive baskets but a late Mia Furlong shot outside the paint gave Glanmire a 22-19 lead entering the second quarter.
Glanmire's shooting was poor as they failed consistently to drain clear looks with the visitors continuing to stay the pace. Careless turnovers continued for the home side and a very irritated coach Scannell decided a time-out was needed in the 13th minute in order to get his team refocused.
Consecutive Viane Cumber three pointers on the restart settled Glanmire but they continued to be sloppy in the offence court before captain Aine McKenna drained a monstrous shot outside the arc.
Suddenly, Glanmire had a 14-point lead as Mathew’s were now in danger of getting hosed. The game dropped tempo completely in the closing minutes before the interval.
Lucy Walsh found her scoring touch in the closing minute with a three-pointer that helped Glanmire go in at the break with a 17-point lead: 43-26.
Looking at the half-time stats, Glanmire will not be happy with their 8/27 (30%) inside the paint and 6/18 (33%) outside the arc. Mathew’s fared a little better inside the arc with a 9/25 (36%) inside the arc but outside the paint, they only made 1/11 (9%).
Grainne Dwyer, who had a very quiet game by her standards, opened with a neat jumper but Glanmire turned the ball over in their opening two possessions. Cumber then produced a stunning three-pointer, but the game lacked a bit of bite with the American's shooting the one bright light in the opening exchanges of this period.
Credit to Mathew’s they kept battling as Glanmire were struggling to put the game to bed until Furlong nailed a monstrous three in the 26th minute that put 21 points between the teams.
The remainder of the quarter saw coach Scannell continue to change rotations and entering the fourth quarter the home side had a comfortable 26-point lead. It was a case of going through he motions coming down the stretch as Glanmire had this game in the bag long before the sound of the final buzzer.
V Cumber 19, J Watkins 16, C O’Sullivan 13.
S Jones 18, L Blair 14, G Dwyer 9.
A McKenna, J O’Shea, C O’Sullivan, A Murphy, M Furlong, J Watkins, M Loughrey, L Walsh, E Dunne, F McDonnell.
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.
Jean McEvoy (Laois), Ellen Garvey (Dublin).
App?
