Classy Glanmire cruise past Liffey Celtics into Women's Super League final
Faye McDonnell of Career Decisions UCC Glanmire looks for a pass from Flomax Liffey Celtics Katie Williamson at the Mardyke. Picture: Howard Crowdy
Career Decisions UCC Glanmire will contest the final of the Domino’s Women’s Super League following their impressive win over Liffey Celtics at the Mardyke Arena on Saturday.
In a game that the Cork side dominated over four quarters, impressive displays from Viane Cumber (30), Jewel Watkins (20), Claire O’Sullivan (14) and Annaliese Murphy (9) ensured they saw off their Kildare opponents without too much fuss.
Glanmire will now face Trinity Meteors as the Dublin side defeated the three-in-a-row chasing Killester in the second semi-final.
Both sides made errors in the opening possessions, but the home side got a boost with consecutive baskets from Emer Dunne that tied the game in the second minute.
The Kildare side were concentrating on exposing Glanmire at the post and when Aine O’Connor drained a basket in the third minute, the sides were tied at 8-8. Viane Cumber found her range with consecutive three-pointers as Glanmire edged into a 16-15 lead midway through the quarter.
Glanmire’s defending was suspect in this period and they were punished accordingly as Liffey Celtics commanded a 23-22 lead entering the second quarter.
Faye McDonnell came up with two crucial baskets and when Aine McKenna followed up with a classy steal, they edged into a five-point lead.
Cumber once again showed her class with a stunning three that increased the lead to eight points in the 13th minute as the Celtics coach Hilary Nets immediately called a time-out.
On the restart, Annalise Murphy nailed a huge three and suddenly it was a 13-point lead for the home side. Claire O’Sullivan was once again superb in the manner she defended and picked off her mid-range jumpers and with 1.08 remaining to the interval, Glanmire were up by nine before a time-out was called.
Two steals on the restart were just what the doctor ordered for Glanmire and they looked the happier of the sides going in at the break up 51-38.
The opening exchanges from both sides were scrappy before Jewel Watkins went coast to coast for a superb Glanmire basket. The Glanmire defence was superb in the opening four minutes raced into an 18-point lead.
Annalise Murphy has had a great fortnight and she came up trumps again outside the paint with consecutive three-pointers.
Entering the final quarter and leading 71-49, Glanmire looked home and hosed and with coach Mark Scannell using different rotations they had this game in the locker long before the final buzzer.
V Cumber 30, J Watkins 20, C O’Sullivan 14, A Murphy 9.
B Kane 17, K Williamson 15, D Bursch 12.
A McKenna, J O’Shea, C O’Sullivan, A Murphy, M Furlong, J Watkins, M Loughrey, L Walsh, E Dunne, F McDonnell.
B Kane, C Langan, C Mulleady, S Brady, A Doyle, K Williamson, D Bursch, C Njonguo, C Boyce, S Tiernan, E Boyce, A O’Connor.
L Cassidy (Dublin), M Malaysko (Portlaoise).
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