FloMAX Liffey Celtics Secure Back-To-Back Intermediate Cups

They beat Portlaoise Panthers yesterday

Leixlip’s FloMAX Liffey Celtics made it back-to-back InsureMyHouse.ie National Intermediate Cup Competition titles, thanks to a 84-47 win over Portlaoise Panthers on Sunday.

Very early in the game, Celtics  took control of proceedings and led from then on.

Ada Bowler had two from the three point line, as they built a 21-9 lead by the end of the first quarter.

FloMAX Liffey Celtics opened the second quarter with Caoimhe Masterson landing a three, followed by a Megan Hoffman basket and the gap was now 17 points, 26-9,  two minutes in. That advantage was extended to 20 points a minute later, 31-11, following Niamh Masterson’s three point jump shot.

Portlaoise Panthers went on a seven point run to narrow the deficit to 31-18, Tracey Fallon’s basket was followed by five points from Monasterevein’s Sinead Melia. But Celtics were in ominous form and would lead 40-21 by half-time, three players in double figures by the break Hoffman (14), Masterson (11) and Bowler (10).

Bowler picked up her fourth from the three point line to open the third quarter. A neat layup from Portlaoise Panthers’ Maeve Callaghan saw them trail 48-27 close to the midpoint of the quarter. Celtics continued to be ruthless from the three point line, while a layup from Karen O’Shea made it a 30-point game, Celtics ahead 58-28, with less than two minutes remaining in the quarter and it would be 62-32 by the end of it.

The Leixlip side kept the scoreboard ticking over in the fourth quarter, rounding out an 84-47 win. MVP went to Megan Hoffman, after a game-high 22 points and a fine all-round performance.

FloMAX Liffey Celtics head coach Suzanne Maguire said: “When you’re putting 80+ points up in the Arena you know you’re having a good offensive day, and the girls on the offence were very efficient - we made it quite tough for Portlaoise, as we had so many options and the girls were hitting shots.”