Wildcats eye first Cup win in 25 years

Waterford Wildcats' Sarah Hickey with Rachel Lynch and Rebecca Sexton of Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom Maher

Three of the top four in the Women’s Super League standings will take the court this afternoon in Neptune Stadium, where the finalists for the 2024/25 Paudie O’Connor National Cup will be decided.

Utility Trust St Pauls are the odd one out of FloMAX Liffey Celtics, SETU Waterford Wildcats and Killester, but they will have their own intentions of upsetting the odds.

“Saturday’s game is as tough as it comes,” began Celtics head coach Karl Kilbride, about the Wildcats matchup (12pm on basketballireland.tv)

“Wildcats have been the most consistent team in the league all year. They’ve also won a bunch of really close games along the way, which will really stand to them in a one off cup game. “They’re incredibly dangerous in transition and rebounding the ball offensively."

The league meeting ended 75-72 in favour of Waterford, but they needed free-throws from Sarah Hickey and Ashia McCalla to see it out following a late Ciara Bracken jumper.

Bracken misses out through injury this weekend, however with the potential for six Irish senior internationals to be on the court simultaneously, this game promises to be of the highest quality on both ends of the floor.

“It’ll be down to the team that executes best on the day,” said Wildcats head coach Jillian Hayes, aiming to lead her team to their first Cup in 25 years – with daughters Sarah and Kate (Hickey) at the heart of this generation.

“We both have great Americans and Irish players that can lead a team to a win. This is where everyone wants to be. One win and it’s on to the finals and both teams will want that so badly,” added Hayes.

This evening Killester face Killarney side St. Pauls, who are enjoying their maiden run in this competition. James Fleming’s charges have also already caused a cup upset in the quarter-finals, taking down a fancied Trinity Meteors team.

“We are not going up to make up the numbers,” said the St. Pauls head coach. Really looking forward to the challenge of being huge underdogs against Killester. We have a few injuries worries so hopefully they will clear up. Mimi Clarke and Samantha Haiby caused us fierce problems in the league and the addition of Hannah Thornton gives them a tall presence inside.” 

Killester head coach Mark Grennell has concerns over shooter Ieva Bagdanaviciene – who missed their last Women’s Super League win over Trinity Meteors.