How all the hard work finally made UL’s talent shine

UL would win by 37 points, a record-winning margin. They held DCU to just 27 points, another cup final record.

Last Friday night as her team turned to face the flag for the national anthem before their Superleague Cup final in the National Basketball Arena, UL’s Rachael Vanderwal placed her hand on the shoulder of her co-captain Louise Galvin standing in front of her. In seconds the gesture was repeated all the way down the line. The gesture was as spontaneous as it was powerful, just something Vanderwal intuitively sensed was just the right thing for that moment; their team motto being ‘I’ve Got Your Back’. Yet as awesome a display as that was of their solidarity, it was eclipsed by the display of team power they would give over the following 40 minutes.

Even though they were playing a DCU Mercy side going for their third national cup in a row, UL would win by 37 points, a record-winning margin for a senior women’s Superleague final. What was even more stunning was that they held DCU to just 27 points, another cup final record.