Maree remain in contention after taking spoils in Cork
GALWAY’S two women’s national league sides tasted victory at the weekend, with Maree claiming a 5-point win away to Fr Mathew’s of Cork in the Super League to keep them second in the table, and confirm their place in the post season play-offs; while NUIG Mystics ended a four-game losing run under when stunning Portlaoise Panthers on their home court in Division 1, although they then tasted defeat at home to Castleisland on Tuesday night.
It was not such a good weekend for Galway’s two national league men’s sides, however, with both Maree and Moycullen suffering heavy defeats to leave them at the wrong end of the table.
WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE
Fr Mathew’s 77
Maree 82
Maree’s co-captain, Carol McCarthy, nailed a clutch 3-pointer with less than two minutes left on the clock to wrestle back control of this tight game at the Fr Mathew’s Arena in Cork on Saturday evening.
Maree had led by nine points heading into the last quarter, but led by Irish international Grainne O’Dwyer, the home side ate into that lead to draw level with 1.50 left on the clock, and with Maree in foul trouble, the momentum appeared to be all with the home side.
Claire Rockall inbounded the ball to Dayna Finn deep in the Fr Mathew’s half of the court, and the Irish U-20 international drove towards the basket, sucking in the cover, before dishing the ball to McCarthy on the left, and she hit nothing but net to push Maree 3 ahead.
Finn was then sent to the free-throw line as the home side were forced to foul to win back possession, and she hit both to give Maree some breathing room and see them complete the double over the Cork side in the league.
Maree led 20-17 at the end of the first quarter, with McCarthy hitting seven of their points, including a ‘3’. She also opened the scoring for Maree in the second-quarter with another 3-pointer, and with Aine McDonagh also hitting two 3-pointers in the quarter, Maree had pushed out to a 48-39 lead at half-time.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
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