Fr Mathew's stun Liffey Celtics in cup semi-final thriller

Dwyer sisters, Niamh and Grainne, helped claim a famous win for the Cork side.

MARCHING ON: Grainne Dwyer of Fr Mathews, left, with teammate Shannon Brady after the Basketball Ireland Pat Paudie O'Connor Cup semi-final match. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Catalyst Fr Mathew’s 71 Liffey Celtics 67 

A stunning defensive display from Fr Mathew’s proved too much for Liffey Celtics as the Cork side stunned the Kildare outfit in a thrilling semi-final of the Paudie O’Connor Women’s National Cup at the Neptune Stadium on Saturday.

Many heroes for the Cork side but the Dwyer sisters Niamh and Grainne battled like trojans coming down the stretch when the game threatened to run away from them.

It only took Grainne Dwyer seven seconds to opening the scoring with a neat banked shot as the Cork side looked up for battle.

The Kildare side went into the game without Kate O’Flaherty and her outside shooting was bound to restrict them in the offence court.

Shannon Brady showed her best form in the opening minutes and when American Jayla Johnson nailed a brace free throws Mathew’s commanded a four point lead.

Credit to Mathew’s they were playing with fire and passion but when Celtics got a run on them they surged into a three point lead in the seventh minute.

Suddenly both teams were struggling for baskets and a late Niamh Dwyer basket helped Mathew’s reduce the deficit to 20-16 entering the second quarter.

Consecutive baskets tied the game for Mathew’s on the restart and when Niamh Dwyer shot a dagger in the 12th minute it gave them a three point lead.

Amazingly the drought ended in the sixth minute of this period but they continued to chase the game with the half time buzzer looming.

Aine O’Connor nailed a nice jumper on the restart and the deficit was reduced further when Alexandra Navarette added another basket with Mathew’s now forced to call a time out with 43 seconds remaining.

At the interval Mathew’s led 37-29 but in reality they could have been ahead by a larger amount such was their dominance in the second quarter.

The Mathew’s intensity dropped and allowed their opponents get back in the game and despite dominating the quarter their lead was reduced to eight points entering the fourth quarter.

Fr Mathew's supporter Hannah McCarthy celebrates a late basket. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

On the resumption Mathew’s needed to get back playing smarter but Aine O’Connor reduced the deficit to six points with eight minutes remaining.

Eventually Grainne Dwyer nailed one free throw that halted a three minute drought and when sister Niamh followed up with a basket and bonus the Mathew’s lead was extended to six points.

Liffey responded again and five consecutive points brought the minimum between the teams midway through the quarter.

After getting back to tie the game Celtics were punished again when Niamh Dwyer produced a stunning three pointer that was followed by Johnson basket and bonus.

Coming down the stretch the experience of Niamh Dwyer ensured this day belonged to the underdogs as Mathew’s prevailed in style.

Scorers for Catalyst Fr Mathew’s: A Johnson 24, S Brady 15, N Dwyer 11, G Dwyer 10.

Flomax Liffey Celtics: A Navarette 23, T Ayulo 14, S Tiernan 13.

Flomax Liffey Celtics: A Navarette, C Boyce, K Bracken, K O’Sullivan, G Munnelly, A O’Connor, N Sherlock, K O’Flaherty, S Tiernan, T Ayulo.

Catalyst Fr Mathews: D Murphy-O’Riordan, L A Wilkinson, A Murphy, Murphy, Abby Murphy, G Dwyer, A Price, C McCarthy, A Johnson, A Corkery, S Brady, N Dwyer.

Referees: M Nazimek (Dublin), A Immers (Dublin), L Aherne (Limerick).