Flomax Liffey Celtics defending the Women's Superleague Cup; and Liffey Celtics going for third NICC Cup title in four years.
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Killester won their fifth Domino’s WSL National Cup, defeating defending champions Leixlips FloMAX Liffey Celtics 70-64, and avenging last season’s defeat in the final to Celtics. Celtics were level at 11 apiece, following two Brooke Kane free throws midway through the quarter. A nice step-back jump shot from Sorcha Tiernan put Celtics 13-12 up with a little over three minutes to go in the quarter and they’d be 17-14 up by the end of it. Killester drew level at 19-19 two minutes into the second quarter. But Celtics built a lead once more, back-to-back scores from Destinee Bursch had them 33-26 ahead. But, the gap would be just two by the break, 36-34,. At the start of the third quarter Killester were back in front 41-38 ahead two and a half minutes into the quarter. A Brooke Kane basket and additional free throw saw Celtics trail 47-46 with four minutes to go. And, within 30 seconds Killester were up by six, 52-46, But, Sorcha Tiernan landed a big three, to reduce the deficit to four, 54-50, with two minutes left, and a Killester layup in the final seconds made it a six point game, 56-50. Celtics responded midway through the quarter a corner three by Clara Boye made it a five point game, they trailed 61-56. An Aine O’Connor layup with 2’20” had her side trailing by four, 62-58. The Leixlip side lost Brooke Kane to her fifth foul shortly afterwards, which was a huge blow to their hopes of a comeback Killester led 67-58 with 1’40 to go. Sorcha Tiernan’s back-to-back three’s made it a three point game 67-64 with 26.6 seconds left. The last word went to Killester Haibys, three free throws in the closing seconds to get Killester over the line 70-64. FloMAX Liffey Celtics: Brooke Kane (7), Crea Langan, Kate O’Flaherty, Sarah Brady, Aoibhinn Doyle, Katie Williamson (13), Destineee Bursch (15), Carley Njonguo, Clara Boyce (3), Sorcha Tiernan (23), Erin Boyce, Aine O’Connor (3). |
Double disappointment for the Leixlip club when Fr. Mathews mounted a third quarter comeback to stun Liffey Celtics and claim their first NICC Women’s National Cup, following a 59-52 win over Liffey Celtics at the National Basketball Arena on Saturday.
Liffey Celtics, who were looking to claim a third title in four years, held a 16-9 lead after the opening quarter, helped by back-to-back three’s from Karen Mealy.
Mealy continued where she left off at the start of the second quarter with another three. Caoimhe Masterson’s layup had Liffey up by nine points, 26-17, with two and a half minutes to go. The Kildare side would be 32-21 up by half time, Megan O’Sullivan’s jump shot the final score of the quarter.
Liffey Celtics kicked on in the third quarter and appeared to be coasting as they stretched their advantage to 15 points, 40-25, following Rebecca Keating’s mid-range jump shot with four minutes to go. Fr. Mathews responded impressively rattling off a 12 point run, to put the game back in the balance, 40-37.
The game was level at 40 apiece a minute into the fourth quarter,. It was still level with six minutes to go, 45-45, following a three from Celtics Ciara Bracken. In the closing stretch But two Fr. Matthew three pointers in the closing two minutes crowned their comeback 59-52
Liffey Celtics: Rebecca Keating (2), Ciara Bracken (14), Caoimhe Masterson (4), Kayla McGonagle, Karen O’Shea (4), Ciara Mulleady (4), Aoife Tienan (3), Rachel Mulleady, Karen Mealy (9), Megan O’Sullivan (12), Beatrice Olaru.
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