UL claim revenge on Killester and take third title

UL Aughinish 71 DART Killester 42

There was no chance of another shock this time around as Tony Hehir’s side swept to an emphatic 71-42 victory to claim their third title in four years at the National Basketball Arena yesterday.

For Michelle Aspell, so disappointed with last year’s loss, it was another personal triumph with 19 points but the MVP award went to their American player, Courtney McDaniel, who was outstanding.

The American, who served her apprenticeship with Lady Vols - one of the strongest college teams on the circuit - did everything that was asked of her in the form of 19 rebounds - 16 defensive - and underscored her accomplishments with 14 points.

Tony Hehir fashioned the victory around a water-tight defence that offered nothing to Killester.

Killester’s American, Sue Altman, was left fighting a lone battle as the likes of Catriona White, Emer Brophy and Carmel Kissane were left struggling for scraps and only the powerful Orla Dempsey could form a presence at the post.

By the end of the first quarter UL Aughinish had a lead of 19-7 after Michelle Aspell had set the pace. With Dearbhla Breen outstanding in defence there was precious little room for Killester to get into a scoring position. Aspell hit eight points and Lisa Palmer had seven as they swept into the lead.

And at half-time they had stretched the margin to 18 points - 38-20 - and it was only in the third quarter that Sue Altman was able to find space. When she did she popped two baskets and two three pointers from the perimeter. But it was too little too late as McDaniel stepped up for eight points, complemented by four apiece from Palmer and Dempsey.

Limerick enjoyed a 20 point lead midway through the third quarter and were 59-31 in front going into the fourth. Again Altman hit them with three baskets and three points from the free throw line but they were never threatened.

“We played great basketball today,” UL coach Hehir insisted. “From the start we dominated the game. It has been such a hard week to prepare for the game with injuries but today we were excellent throughout.

“We hoped to peak for the cup and the plan worked for us. We worked on our defence. Dearbhla Breen gives us a dimension that we don’t have without her and Maire Guiney is the same.

Killester coach, John O’Connor, paid tribute to UL. “They played a tremendous game and we just had no answers to them today,” he said.