Indomitable Limerick Celtics celebrate thrilling U18 Women's National Cup final success

LIMERICK Celtics won the U18 Women's National Cup edging Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell 51-49 in a closely-fought contest at the National Basketball Arena, Dublin on Saturday evening.

Ireland U18 international Laura Buckley scored 23 points, while four players hit double digits for rebounding for Celtics, Maebh Purtill led the way on the boards, with 18 for Celtics.

The first quarter got off to a slow start, with both sides seemingly nervous of the occasion and it showed both sides shooting performances, ending the quarter at just 9-9.

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Buckley picked up where she left off from her Domino's Women's Division One performance against Cleveland Rockets, scoring the opening six points of the game.

Brunell were making a difference on the fast-break, getting four steals in the first quarter, to bring the tie to the second quarter at level pegging at 9-9.

In the second quarter, the energy was slowly starting to pick up in the National Basketball Arena, with two raucous Limerick and Cork crowds roaring their sides on, Buckley and Madelyn Hartigan put Celtics ahead by four, 13-9.

A three, plus two free throws, from Brunell’s Abbie Lyons helped keep Brunell in the game midway through the second quarter, as the game was again tied at 15-15.

The game continued to swing back and forth between the two sides. Celtics’ Emer Purtill finished the half the strongest, she scored Celtics’ next eight points to close out the second quarter, as they took a 23-19 lead into the half-time break.

In the third quarter, Hartigan, Buckley and Laura Gocek got Celtics off to a good start, building an 10-point lead by the midpoint of the quarter. Celtics managed to capitalise on the energy from the Celtics support and get to a 36-23 lead.

A big blow was dealt to Celtics, when Irish international Hartigan had to check out of the game due to injury. Brunell finished the quarter the stronger of the two sides, with two big threes from Lyons and McKenzie Lucey inside the final minute, to reduce Celtics lead to nine points at the end of the third quarter, 41-32.

Brunell managed to keep the momentum with them in the final quarter of play. With three minutes left on the clock, Francesca Kyamagero hit a huge three to bring Brunell back into a one score game, at 47-45, to get the Brunell crowd off their feet. Purtill instantly responded with a tough finish through contact to reinstate the four-point gap.

With just under one minute left in the game, Abbie Lyons brought Brunell back to within two points once more, at 51-49.

Despite late efforts from Brunell, Celtics managed to close out the game with big rebounds from Purtill, who had 12 rebounds to go with her 15 points. Her sister Maebh Purtill made a huge difference inside with 18 boards of her own.

Quarter Scores:

Q1- 9-9, Q2- 10-14, Q3- 13-18, Q4- 17-10

Game Scores:

Q1- 9-9, Q2- 19-23, Q3- 32-41, Q4- 49-51

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell: Abbie Lyons (17), Jean Aherne (5), Sophie O’Keeffe (0), Meghan Cowhen (0), Millie Murphy (0), Francesca Kyamagero (17), McKenzie Lucey (7), Sarah Sheehan (0), Ava O’Mahony (3), Abbie Power (0), Saoirse O’Driscoll (0), Saoirse Lyons (0).

Limerick Celtics: Anna Nealon (0), Meabh Purtill (4), Caoimhe Sweeney (0), Jade You (0), Laura Gocek (3), Eabha Hayes (0), Laura Buckley (23), Robyn Walsh (0), Holly Meagher (0), Madelyn Hartigan (6), Emer Purtill (15), Megan Hehir (0).