Montenotte and DCU set for battle

DEFENDING champions, DCU Mercy, and last year’s beaten finalists, Team Montenotte Hotel from Cork, will once more face off for theWomen’s SuperLeague National Cup title in a fortnight.

And Montenotte coach, MarkScannell, is relishing the chance to avenge that 2010 defeat.

He said: “It’s the final basketball needs — two very good teams who know each other inside out — we’ve been challenging for every trophy for the past six years so I think for the basketball public and for television it needed to be that final.”

Scannell had just watched his Glanmire side defeat WaterfordWildcats 71-54 — a scoreline that did not reflect the efforts of SeanieO’Regan’s young team in a tough semi-final at Neptune Stadium.

Wildcats came out with all guns blazing. Sinead Deegan landed a three-pointer within seconds of the start and Montenotte were depending on free throws from Claire Rockall, Lisa O’Sullivan and Grainne Dwyer to keep in touch before AmandaO’Regan stepped up with a three pointer.

Wildcats were 16-12 ahead at the end of the quarter and a basket by Rockall drew a quick response from the Waterford side with baskets from Deegan (2) and captain, Jenny Kelly, edging them six points ahead again.

Rockall and Amanda O’Regan combined to put Montenotte ahead and they were quickly in top gear. Rockall, with six from six from the line, along with Grainne Dwyer’s seven from eight free throws, were central in driving the Cork girls on.

Rockall with 25 points underscored by 10 rebounds (5/5) would emerge as the star performer from the contest but coach Scannell stressed the team effort of his charges. Dwyer put 15 on the scoreboard with five defensive rebounds but the return of Amanda O’Regan from injury proved crucial for the victors driving the game forward and collecting 10 points.

Marie Breen, too, inspired confidence with a 100% record from the line. Kate Maher had 13 points for Wildcats while Deegan had 11 and Cathy Kavanagh 10.

“Semi-finals can be very difficult games and all we wanted to make sure of was that we got there,” Scannell continued.

“I’ll make no excuses. I thought Wildcats put up a great performance and I told everybody all week what was going to happen. They gave us a dog ight today and we expected it. We started poorly but I thought as the game went on we got to grips with it a bit more. I’m delighted to get out of there and now we have two weeks to knuckle down.”

“We got a lot of performances but I thought it was a good team effort. Nobody was spectacular. Claire Rockall was very, very good at times but other people will be better on other days. I think overall we are in good shape. That performance won’t win a cup for us but we have two weeks to get ready and we’ll be fine.”

Coach Mark Ingle was beaming after watching DCU Mercy continue their defence with a 61-47 victory over 11890 Killester who got off to a flying start in the other semi-final.

Killester stormed at their rivals from the off but the champions weathered the storm. They edged 17-13 clear at the end of the first quarter and were leading comfortably 29-15 at half time. They oozed confidence from there to the end with nine players on thescoresheet. Louise Gray and Aisling O’Sullivan had 11 points apiece with Gray contributing seven rebounds six of which were under the offensive boards.

“I’m very happy with it,” coach Ingle insisted. “Physically and defensively I thought we were very strong.”