Women’s National Cup: Brilliant Brunell show no mercy

Edel Thornton, Brunell, during the warm-up prior to the Liffey Celtics game. Pic: Jim Coughlan.

Brunell produced another sterling performance to see off DCU Mercy in the Paudie O’Connor Women’s National Cup quarter-final at the DCU complex.

The Gurranabraher Credit Union-sponsored outfit were solid over four quarters, and with their American duo of Jayla Johnson (22) and Kyaja Williams (21) putting in good performances, they never looked in trouble.

The return of captain Edel Thornton has made a huge difference to the Cork side who can now look forward to a semi-final meeting against Pyrobel Killester at the Neptune Stadium.

For their Tralee-based coach Liam Culloty, it was another solid performance from his side.

“Although DCU Mercy are not having a good league campaign, they are a tough side to break down on their home court, and I thought my team showed great maturity and composure from start to finish,” he said.

Killester, the only side to defeat Brunell in the Super League, will know that with Thornton in their side, the semi-final at the Neptune Stadium in January will be a lot tougher task.

It was a walk in the park for Killester as they easily saw off Trinity Meteors in their quarter-final at the IWA Clontarf.

Killester have Irish senior internationals Claire Melia and Mimi Clarke in their squad, and will look forward to playing in the cauldron of the Neptune Stadium in January.

Catalyst Fr Mathew’s, helped by 30 points from Ariel Johnson, saw off a gritty Ulster University challenge to book a place in the last four of the Cup following their quarter-final win at the Fr Mathew’s Arena on Saturday.

Mathew’s started well before going into meltdown and allowing the northerners reduce the deficit to two points at the interval.

Inspired by their outstanding American, Johnson Mathews, they put the game to bed in the third quarter. For their veteran former Irish senior international Grainne Dwyer, it was an evening to remember for her club.

“This was all about getting the result we wanted, as sometimes quarter-finals can be potential banana-skin games and we didn’t want to be, dragged into a battle on our home court,” she said.

“Last season was really disappointing, but in this campaign I do feel we can mix it with the best and roll on the semi-final.”

Flomax Liffey Celtics will be Fr Mathew’s semi-final opponents as they easily overcame Waterford Wildcats 84-63.