Sprite Cup Finals 2000 Holders crash out in Meteors shower ; Wildcats return
Women's Sprite Cup holders Tolka Rovers were stunned 62-59 by Dublin rivals Meteors at the semi-finals, Rovers dropping their first loss in any competition this season.
Tolka were the heavy favourites to make it through to the final on Sunday and when they led 43-29 at half time they looked certain to take up the first finalist spot. But Meteors outscored Tolka by 19-8 in the third quarter to turn the game in their favour and after a tense and close 4th quarter they held on for a narrow win.
Both teams started strongly with Orla Nolan scoring 8pts in the first quarter with some aggressive offensive moves. Karen Hennessy tied the game at 6apiece with 5.28 gone in the game, but then Tolka went on a scoring spree with an Angie McNally steal and full court lay-up. Rachel Kelly followed the score with another excellent steal to put Tolka ahead by 4. Meteors were under pressure by a strong Tolka defence and they gave away the third steal in a row. Sharon Kelly scored 4/4 at the line to give Tolka a 14-6 lead with 4 minutes to play in the quarter. But Meteors fought back with some tough work by Karen Hennessy under the boards and Orla Nolan in offence and Lisa Timmons tied the game going into the second quarter at 19apiece with a superb three pointer.
Rachel Kelly put Tolka ahead 24-21 with a superb baseline move but Meteors quickly replied with Catherine O'Sullivan hitting a three to make it 24 apiece.
But then things started to fall apart for Meteors when Karen Hennessy - who had been battling hard under the boards for them - picked up two fouls in a row and was subbed out of the game. That put Meteors into foul trouble with 7 minutes to go in the half and Tolka were to go to the line five times before half time, but only managed to make 6/10.Catherine O'Sullivan scored her second three to give Meteors a 1pt lead with 6 minutes to go, but Tolka stormed ahead to score 11pts without reply , with Vanessa Burke scoring 7 of the 11pts, and they went into the break 43-29 ahead.
Denise Walsh opened the scoring for Tolka in the second half scoring 1/2 from the line, but Meteors stepped up their defence and with Karen Hennessy back on the floor they began to cause Tolka problems. Lisa Timmons was outstanding, hussling the Tolka guards on every occasion and Meteors hit 7pts without reply from Tokla and with 2.23 to go they trailed by just 5pts 47-44.
Anne Marie Kyne made it a 1pt game with 15 seconds to go but Rachel Kelly put Tolka ahead 51-48 going into the last quarter with Meteors outscoring Tolka 19-8 in the third quarter - a direct reverse of last year's semi-final when Meteors saw a comfortable lead over Tolka slip from their hands in the third quarter.Anne Marie Kyne had the first attempt of the last quarter a lovely baseline shot that just popped back out. Meteors stepped up their defence once more with Timmons and Sinead Harvey hussling at the top of the key and Karen Hennessy dominating under the boards. Vanessa Burke missed an opportunity to put Tolka 7pts clear when she went 0/2 at the line and the Sinead Harvey had a steal and drive from the half way line and drew the foul from her old team mate Angie McNally to make it a three point play for Meteors 53-51. Rachel Kelly gave Tolka a 4pt cushion again But then Tolka hit a dry spot with their shot attempts hitting the rim while Meteors hit 6pts without reply. Tolka went on team fouls with 5.10 to go in the game and with 5 to go Orla Nolan made it a 2pt game. Gillian Morris tied the game from the line with 3.27 to go - her first score of the game. Morris then proceeded to haunt Tolka with some tenacious defence and had a quick steal and score to put Meteors up by 2.
Denise Walsh tied the game from the line with 2.35 to go but Orla Nolan put Meteors back in front by 1 almost immediately with 1/2 at the line. Tolka then stepped up their game putting Meteors under immense pressure and they seemed unable to get a shot attempt up, but with the clock running down, Morris was fouled by McNally and went to the line again with 53 seconds on the clock scoring both to put Meteors up by 3pts. Rachel Kelly missed an attempt and Karen Hennessy was quick to grab the rebound with Sharon Kelly forcing jump ball that gave Meteors possession with 41seconds left. Morris was fouled again, but missed both attempts and with 10 seconds left Vanessa Burke made it a 1pg game with 2./2 at the line. Karen Hennessy put the game beyond Tolka with a super basket and Rachel Kelly last second 3pt attempt just hit the ring to give Meteors a 62-59 victory.
Meteors: O Nolan (16), K Hennessy (15), C O'Sullivan (9), L Timmons (8), G Morris (6), AM Kyne (4), S Harvey (4), M Kelly, C Doyle, A Quinn, A Kearon, C Harvey.
Tolka Rovers: R Kelly (18), S Kelly (15),V Burke (10), N O'Brien (7), A McNally (6), D Walsh (3), F Gavin, G O'Reilly, R Dixon, E Scally, J McInerney.
Wildcats favourite for Cup after Killester blitz
Snowcream Wildcats ensured a berth in the Cup final for the third year in succession with a simple 63-43 defeat of Killester in the semi-finals, leading virtually from start to finish.
The Waterford side, runners-up last year and champions in 1998, were ahead 34-21 at half-time and maintained control over Stephen Eberley's women until the finish with Catriona White top scoring on 22 points. Sinead Vaughan with 15 was the sole double figure contributor for the Dubliners.
Wildcats: Catriona White 22, Jillian Hayes 13
Killester: Sinead Vaughan 15
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