Niamh Dwyer inspires Fr Mathews to comeback win in Women’s National Cup decider

The 43-year-old led a third-quarter rally which left Liffey Celtics stunned.

MVP Fr Mathews’ Niamh Dwyer with her niece Frankie Desmond and her children Reece and Eden presented by Jason Thornton, Chair of the NABC. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

Fr Mathews mounted a third-quarter comeback to stun Liffey Celtics and claim their first NICC Women’s National Cup, following a 59-52 win over Liffey Celtics at the National Basketball Arena on Saturday. 

43-year-old Niamh Dwyer rolled back the years, racking up an 18-point second half, to inspire her side the victory and claim the MVP in the process.

Liffey Celtics, who were looking to claim a third title in four years, held a 16-9 lead after the opening quarter, helped by back-to-back three’s from Karen Mealy at the end of it.

Mealy continued where she left off at the start of the second quarter with another three. Dwyer’s put-back basket with four minutes to go made it a six point game, 21-15. Caoimhe Masterson’s layup had Liffey up by nine points, 26-17, with two and a half minutes to go. The Kildare side would be 32-21 up by half time, Megan O’Sullivan’s jump shot the final score of the quarter.

Liffey Celtics kicked on in the third quarter and appeared to be coasting as they stretched their advantage to 15 points, 40-25, following Rebecca Keating’s mid-range jump shot with four minutes to go. Fr Mathews responded impressively rattling off a 12-point run, completed by a Dwyer layup, to put the game back in the balance, 40-37.

The game was level at 40 apiece a minute into the fourth quarter, following a Niamh Braham layup and a free throw from Amy Corkery. It was still level with six minutes to go, 45-45, following a three from Ciara Bracken. In the closing stretch Dwyer proved inspirational, she unloaded a three with two minutes remaining to give Fr. Mathews a 54-49 lead. She landed another three with 32.9 seconds left on the clock, to make it 59-51 and it was to be the Cork club’s day.

MVP Dwyer said: “I walked in here today and I don’t know if I’ll ever be here again on a cup final weekend. I was like a kid again all week with the excitement. I told my own two, they’re seven and they woke up every morning telling me - four days to Dublin, three days to Dublin - that was like a Christmas countdown for me. This was my Christmas Day. I’ve had a whole month of Christmas.”

Fr Mathews: Natasha Bowdren (0), Niamh Braham (6), Alannah Brahm (4), Mila Pichet (2), Amy Corkery (11), Heather Lynch (2), Amanda O’Regan (3), Meabhdh Humphries (7), Niamh Dwyer (21), Amy Fitzgerald (2), Katie Kilbride (1), Chloe Ferris (0).

Liffey Celtics: Rebecca Keating (2), Ciara Bracken (14), Caoimhe Masterson (4), Kayla McGonagle (DNP), Karen O’Shea (4), Ciara Mulleady (4), Aoife Tienan (3), Rachel Mulleady (DNP), Karen Mealy (9), Megan O’Sullivan (12), Beatrice Olaru (DNP).