NICC Cup Final heartbreak for Liffey Celtics as they fall to resilient Fr. Mathews
Liffey Celtics' Aoife Tiernan and Fr. Mathews' Niamh Braham during the NICC Women's National Cup Final at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght Photo: ©INPHO/James Crombie
It was heartbreak for FloMAX Liffey Celtics, as they coughed up a 15-point advantage in the third quarter on their way to a seven-point defeat at the hands of Fr. Mathew’s in this season’s NICC Women’s National Cup Final in the National Basketball Arena on Saturday.
The Leixlip side appeared to be well on course to banishing the disappointment of last year’s loss to Ongar Chasers in this same fixture, but they were ultimately denied a third NICC Cup in four seasons, as Mathews served up a stunning revival.
Led by MVP, Niamh Dwyer, who emerged with a game-high 21 points, the Cork side served up a 12-point run in the closing three minutes of the third quarter to reduce their arrears to just three.
And they kept their foot very much on the pedal in the fourth, outgunning their opponents by ten in that period as Celtics struggled to gain some traction down the stretch, despite a much-needed three by Ciara Bracken who emerged their top scorer on 14 points.
Megan O’Sullivan chalked up 12 for the Kildare side, eight of that haul coming in the second half, but it was not enough to see Celtics drag this game out of the fire, as Dwyer drained two big efforts from beyond the arc in the fourth to help complete a stunning comeback.
Natasha Bowdren, Niamh Braham, Alannah Braham, Mila Pichet, Amy Corkery, Heather Lynch, Amanda O’Regan, Meabhdh Humphreys, Niamh Dwyer, Amy Fitzgerald, Katie Kilbride, Chloe Ferris.
Top Scorers: Niamh Dwyer (21) Amy Corkery (11), Meabhdh Humphreys (7).
Rebecca Keating, Ciara Bracken, Caoimhe Masterson, Kayla McGonagle, Karen O’Shea, Ciara Mulleady, Aoife Tiernan, Rachel Mulleady, Karen Mealy, Megan O’Sullivan, Beatrice Olaru.
Top Scorers: Ciara Bracken (14), Megan O’Sullivan (12), Karen Mealy (9).
