Cumber stars as UCC Glanmire seal Women's Super League final berth
UCC Glanmire's Viane Cumber pulls away from Liffey Celtics' Sorcha Tiernane. Pic: Howard Crowdy
Career Decisions UCC Glanmire will contest the final of the Domino’s Women’s Super League following their impressive win over Liffey Celtics at the Mardyke Arena on Saturday.
In a game that the Cork side dominated over four quarters, impressive displays from Viane Cumber (30), Jewel Watkins (20), Claire O’Sullivan (14) and Annaliese Murphy (9) ensured they saw off their Kildare opponents without too much fuss.
For coach Mark Scannell having his team competing for major silverware again is testament to the work he has done this season with his squad.
“Look I think we have been playing some serious ball in the last couple of months and we played as expected against a very gritty Liffey Celtics side who were buoyant after their win against St Paul’s in Killarney last week.
“The final against Trinity Meteors will be another test of our character but this is what our club is all about and I am honoured to be coaching such a tremendous group of players whose attitude is spot on,” said Scannell.
Both sides made errors in the opening possessions, but the home side got a boost with consecutive baskets from Emer Dunne that tied the game in the second minute.
The Kildare side were concentrating on exposing Glanmire at the post and when Aine O’Connor drained a basket in the third minute the sides were tied at eight points each.
Gradually Viane Cumber found her range with consecutive three pointers as Glanmire edged into a 16-15 lead midway through the quarter.
The biggest problem for Glanmire was their poor defending that allowed their opponents score unchallenged lay ups.
In the closing minutes of this period Glanmire’s defending continued to be suspect and they were punished accordingly as Liffey Celtics commanded a 23-22 lead entering the second quarter.
On the restart Faye McDonnell came up with two crucial baskets and when Aine McKenna followed up with a classy interception they edged into a five- point lead.
Cumber once again showed her class with a stunning three pointer that increased the lead to eight points in the 13th minute as the Celtics coach Hilary Nets immediately called a time out.
On the restart Annalise Murphy nailed a huge three pointer and suddenly it was a 13- point lead for the home side.
Claire O’Sullivan was once again superb for the home side in the manner she defended and picked off her mid-range jumpers and with 1.08 remaining to the interval the home side had a nine- point lead with a time out called to steady the ship.
Two steals on the restart was just what the doctor ordered for Glanmire and they looked the happier of the sides going in at the break commanding a 51-38 lead.
The opening exchanges from both sides were scrappy before Jewel Watkins went coast to coast for a superb Glanmire basket.
There is little doubt the Glanmire defence was superb in the opening four minutes and entering the 26th minute they had raced into an 18- point lead.
Annalise Murphy has had a great fortnight and she came up trumps again outside the paint with consecutive three pointers as this Glanmire side now had one foot in the final.
Coming down the stretch Glanmire commanded a 22-point lead and coach Scannell allowed his team take their foot off the gas.
They can now look forward to their clash with Trinity Meteors on Sunday April 12 at the National Basketball Arena.
V Cumber 30, J Watkins 20, C O’Sullivan 14, A Murphy 9.
B Kane 17, K Williamson 15, D Bursch 12.
A McKenna, J O’Shea, C O’Sullivan, A Murphy, M Furlong, J Watkins, M Loughrey, L Walsh, E Dunne, F McDonnell.
Liffey Celtics: B Kane, C Langan, C Mulleady, S Brady, A Doyle, K Williamson, D Bursch, C Njonguo, C Boyce, S Tiernan, E Boyce, A O’Connor.
L Cassidy (Dublin), M Malaysko (Portlaoise).
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