Coach Paul Lenihan ejected as Glanmire win
The first half was sluggish and although the champions were slow into their stride, they still managed to command a 35-24 interval lead. No doubt the biggest talking point of the first half was the expulsion of the Glanmire coach Paul Lenihan from the gym following a verbal spat with referee Lynda Cassidy.
The build up to this centred around a missed call that saw the Glanmire boss question the official.
Amazingly a double technical foul was dished out and Lenihan was forced to leave the gym, much to the disgust of assistant Mark Scannell.
“In all my years coaching I have never seen a coach treated in such a bad manner,” Scannell said.
In the second half, the Cork side upped the tempo and with the Glanmire captain Sarah Kenny leading by example, they ran out comfortable winners.
For the Cavan East Eagles coach Frank Sheridan, it was a disappointing day at the office. “We came here with high hopes but to be realistic this is a magnificent Glanmire side and all we can do is try again next season.”
DCU Mercy denied St Anthony’s an all-Cork when they defeated the Ballinlough outfit 52-47 in a thrilling semi-final. The game was full of excitement but riddled with turnovers as the taller DCU Mercy side punished St Anthony’s with late baskets to seal a hard-fought win.
Mercy led 34-28 at the break and looked destined for a comfortable win in the final quarter before a late rally brought the minimum between the teams. Rachael Huijsdens was the star, the 15-year-old executing crucial baskets coming down the stretch to seal a magnificent win for Mercy.
St Anthony’s coach Carol Diggin was heartbreaking. “I never felt we were going to lose but I cannot fault my players who have been outstanding all season,” Carol said.
For the DCU coach Joan Black it was a day to cherish. “The girls are so resilient and that’s what got us over the finish line.”
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