Glanmire's Team Montenotte eye Cup hat-trick after killing off brave Meteors
Before a capacity crowd, the Cork side didn’t put this game to bed until the third quarter as the stubborn Dublin outfit posed problems at both ends of the court.
The opening quarter was scrappy but with Montenotte playing a high tempo game they raced into a 13-9 lead midway through the quarter.
Meteors rallied as American Emily Leer posed Montenotte problems at the post, but a late Grainne Dwyer basket gave the Cork side a 20-17 lead entering the second quarter.
On the restart, Meteors played champagne basketball, outscoring Montenotte 13-3 in the opening five minutes.
Although Aine McKenna played a captain’s, they still trailed 37-35 at the break.
In the third quarter, Montenotte introduced Hayley Lenihan and she nailed three consecutive baskets that inspired her side to command a 59-49 lead entering the final quarter.
It was a case of going through the motions coming down the stretch as Montenotte moved into top gear with American Chantelle Alford showing some tremendous touches in offence and defence. In the end Meteors had to succumb to the brilliance of a side who went into the game minus Niamh Dwyer and Casey Grace.
Coach Mark Scannell was impressed with the way his team showed their quality when pressure reached fever pitch in the second quarter.
“We allowed them far too much space in the first-half but once we got to grips with them I was never overly worried they would pose us problems,”
Scannell said he was pleased that different players stepped up at different stages.
“Hayley Lenihan and Sarah Kenny played their parts but so did every player that came off the bench as we have a good squad of players at our disposal.” Scannell stressed the loss of Niamh Dwyer remains an immense setback, but stressed it will test the resolve of other players in his team.
“The bottom line is Niamh has done the business on a regular basis for us over many years and now it’s the opportunity for other players to win this cup in her honour, but she is doing a good job motivating the players.”
Montenotte face Killester in a repeat of last year’s final and Scannell believes his team will be ready as they have three weeks to prepare.
“Naturally Niamh will not make it but I am hoping Casey Grace will be fit as her physical presence could be crucial in this final. We will train and prepare hard because that’s par for the course in this club and that trend will continue in earnest.”
The mood in the Meteors camp was naturally muted as coach Mark Bryne reflected on his team’s defeat.
“I thought we played excellent basketball for long periods but, credit to Montenotte, they are so relentless and in the end showed why they are champions.”
Meanwhile, Pyrobel Killester are on their way back to the Hula Hoops Women’s National Cup final this year following a dramatic 72-65 win over Maxol WIT Wildcats. In a competitive game, the Clontarf side produced a storming fourth quarter to take their place in the decider for the second consecutive year.
For coach Karl Kilbride it was an evening to savour on Leeside.
“We’re very happy as I felt we didn’t play to our potential but at end of the day semi- finals are about getting the right result and we will take it. Wildcats pushed us hard but in the end I felt we were pulling away and the sound of the final buzzer brought relief to us all.”
For stand-in Wildcats coach, Jillian Hayes it was a game that was there for the taking, as she rued her teams performance coming down the stretch.
“We were right there but lost concentration for a three-minute period,” Hayes said.
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