UCC Glanmire struggle to control their boards and lose out to a fired up Meteors in SuperLeague final

Trinity Meteors 87 

Career Decisions UCC Glanmire 81 

Trinity Meteors were crowned Domino’s Women’s Super League champions following a hard-earned win over Career Decisions UCC Glanmire in a thrilling encounter at the National Basketball Arena on Sunday.

The Cork side went into the final as favourites but lacking intensity on the boards they were punished accordingly as Meteors won their first title in 34 years much to joy of their elated supporters.

Glanmire started well and it only took them 20 seconds for Jewel Watkins to nail a monstrous shot outside the paint.

The Dublin side were playing stringent defence and they immediately responded with a Kylie Horstmeyer floater.

The Leesiders were struggling in dominating their boards but Watkins continued to be Glanmire’s leading scorer in the offence court but consecutive baskets from Aisling Moran helped her side into a seven point lead 12-5 midway through the quarter.

Surprisingly Glanmire were getting exposed with Meteors pace and coach Mark Scannell immediately called a time out to steady he ship.

On the restart Watkins drained consecutive baskets but Glanmire continued to struggle in the rebounding department.

Suddenly Glanmire looked to be in ascendancy and when Emer Dunne nailed a free throw with 2.34 remaining the sides were on parity.

In the closing minutes of this period both sides missed scoring opportunities, but Meteors intensity ensured they commanded a 17-15 lead entering the second quarter.

On the restart Meteors continued to pose Glanmire problems with easy baskets at the post but a Watkins three pointer tied the game with a three pointer in the 13th minute.

Surprisingly Glanmire looked to be really struggling in the physicality stakes and they were lucky Watkins was on her game as she had accumulated 15 points in the opening 13 minutes.

Time after time Meteors got in back door to execute baskets and with four minutes remaining to the interval Glanmire trailed 31-25.

Luckily for Glanmire their American pairing of Watkins and Viane Cumber kept them in the game and with two minutes remaining to the interval they trailed 33-30.

After Glanmire got back on level terms Meteors finished with consecutive baskets that gave them a 39-35 interval lead.

One major statistic at the break was that the Glanmire Americans Watkins (19) and Cumber (12) had 31 between them with only four points coming from their Irish players.

Claire O’Sullivan got her first points of the game courtesy of two free throws on the restart, but Ciara Mulligan responded with an immediate basket.

Amazingly Glanmire continued to struggle in defence as Meteors were getting two and three attempts to put the ball back in the hoop from offensive rebounds.

There is little doubt Glanmire looked a side on the ropes trailing 50-42 before Aine McKenna drained a long range three pointer.

Amazingly despite playing well below their best Glanmire hung in and when Mia Furlong made one her two free throws the deficit was reduced to the minimum 52-51.

Watkins continued to excel and on the next possession she produced a stunning basket that edged her side ahead.

Turnovers came back to haunt Glanmire and in the final minute they were punished and Meteors took a five point lead 59-54 into the final quarter.

Watkins came up trumps with a three pointer on the restart, but Meteors tore Glanmire to shreds with four consecutive baskets that increased their lead to 10 points 69-59 before a much- needed time out was called.

Coming down the stretch Claire O’Sullivan drained a three pointer and basket that reduced the deficit to three points with three minutes remaining.

Glanmire consistently failed to get the required stops as Meteors deservedly clinched the championship in style.

Trinity Meteors: A Learn 23, K Horstmeyer 23, H Finn 13, H Keane11.

Scorers for UCC Glanmire: J Watkins 29, V Cumber 22, C O’Sullivan 12, A McKenna 11.

Trinity Meteors: H Finn, C Connaire, H Keane, M Destro, C Mulligan, A Moran, F Treiliha, A Learn, K Horstmeyer.

Career Decisions UCC Glanmire: A McKenna, J O’Shea, C O’Sullivan, A Murphy, M Furlong, J Watkins, M Loughrey, L Walsh, E Dunne, F McDonnell.

Referees: J Dooley (Portlaoise), E Buckley (Kerry), L Aherne (Limerick).