Killester gain revenge as Haiby masterclass sinks Liffey Celtics
Sam Haiby scored 30 points for Killester in their Domino’s WSL National Cup final against FloMAX Liffey Celtics. Pic: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
A stunning second half surge from Sam Haiby guided Killester to victory over Liffey Celtics in the Domino’s Women’s Cup final at the National Basketball Arena. A dogfight throughout, the North Dublin club exacted revenge after losing to Celtics in last year’s decider.
It was a nervy start to the game before Michelle Clarke settled the nerves for Killester with an early three. The Killester captain scored eight of her side’s first 10 points as they looked to take command.
The defensive pressure on both ends however meant that wasn’t going to be an easy task and Liffey Celtics were able to find more scoring options to move into a 17-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter was almost a carbon copy of the opener. Yet again it was Clarke leading the way for Killester. A brilliant block by her on Brooke Kane led to a three-pointer for her a few seconds later. The lack of scoring support around Clarke however limited Killester’s progress.
Sorcha Tiernan had a nice lay-up in the middle of the quarter to rally her side and Celtics ended up having the better of the closing exchanges of the first half to go into the break up 36-34.
It was the third quarter where Haiby, widely considered the best player in the women’s Super League, stepped up in a big way. A four-point play from the American was quickly followed by a three as she totalled 10 points in the quarter to finally give Clarke the scoring support she needed.
Celtics were the ones struggling for chances now as Kane, whose off-ball work was exemplary, was having a nightmare shooting performance. The hard-working American finally found some form of payoff as she fought for a three-point play to keep her side in the fight.
A further three from Tiernan late in the third ensured Celtics remained in the fight as they trailed 56-50 entering the final frame.
The tension in the game was clear and half of the game’s starters ended up fouling out in the fourth quarter. Hannah Thornton and Audrey Roden fouled out for Killester while Liffey Celtics finished the game with Kane, Williamson, and Destinee Bursch all forced to sit.
Despite the losses, the two leaders on the court became clear. Haiby, with a cool head, kept finding ways to punish errors by Liffey Celtics but Sorcha Tiernan fought valiantly to keep the defending champions in the contest.
A Haiby three to put Killester up by nine points with less than two minutes to go looked to have killed off the fight in Celtics. Tiernan however was going down swinging and two threes by her made it a one score game entering the final moments.
It was Haiby, with her cool head, who closed things out with free throws to drag Killester over the finish line.
Aine O’Connor, Brooke Kane, Crea Langan, Kate O’Flaherty, Sarah Brady, Aoibhinn Doyle, Katie Williamson, Destinee Bursch, Carley Njonguo, Clara Boyce, Sorcha Tiernan, Erin Boyce.
Tiernan 23, Bursch 15, Williamson 14Â
Michelle Clarke, Amy Elliott, Sam Haiby, Leilani Turner, Sarah Courtney, Sarah Power, Audrey Roden, Nora Allen, Laura McFarland, Ieva Bagdanaviciene, Hannah Thornton, Maeve O’SeaghdhaÂ
Haiby 30, Clarke 20, Bagdanaviciene 8
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