Team Tom McCarthy’s Secure Conference Title with Home Win

Team Tom McCarthy’s Cassandra Buckley and Ulster University’s Kollyns Scarbrough in the thick of the action during Saturday evening’s Division One National League game at Castleisland Community Centre. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Team Tom McCarthy’s / St. Mary’s Division One team before Saturday evening’s game against Ulster University Elks at Castleisland Community Centre. Front from left: Cassandra Buckley, Orla White, Siofra O’Shea, Deirdre Geaney, Miriam Leane and Paris McCarthy. Back from left: Labhaoise Walmsley, Roisín Casey, Lorraine Scanlon, Emma Sherwood, Maebh Barry and Denise Dunlea. ©Photograph: john Reidy 29-2-2020

Home team supporters, Caoimhe O’Connor (left) with Hannah Griffin and Seán O’Connor at Castleisland Community Centre for the Team Tom McCarthy’s / St. Mary’s V Ulster University Elks Women’s Division One National League game on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Team Tom McCarthy’s Paris McCarthy driving towards the board with Labhaoise Walmsley in support as Ulster University’s Erin McGuire moves in during their Division One National League game at Castleisland Community Centre on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Team Tom McCarthy’s Deirdre Geaney looking for support as Ulster University’s Kollyns Scarbrough challenges during Saturday evening’s Division One National League game at Castleisland Community Centre. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Team Tom McCarthy’s St. Mary’s supporters: Muireann Walsh, (left) with Bláthnaid Casey and Rebecca Reidy at Castleisland Community for the Women’s Division One National League game against Ulster University Elks on Saturday evening ©Photograph: John Reidy

Team Tom McCarthy’s / St. Mary’s backroom team. Team Manager, Mike Culloty (left) with Assistant Coach, Aoife Nolan and Coach Liam Culloty at Castleisland Community Centre for the Women’s Division One National League game against Ulster University Elks. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Ulster University Elks’ Erin McGuire changes direction as she’s confronted by Team Tom McCarthy’s captain, Lorraine Scanlon during their Division One National League game at Castleisland Community Centre on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Team Tom McCarthy’s St. Mary’s secured the southern conference title at the weekend when they took the win over Ulster University in a close game from tip to final whistle.

Ulster’s Aoife Callaghan opened with a three and for St. Mary’s it was Denise Dunlea who registered the first two points from the free throw line.

Home Side Response

This was followed by another three for the Ulster side, this time from Lexi Posset but Lorraine Scanlon responded for the home side.

Team Tom McCarthy’s trailed by a point but with just three minutes to go in the quarter Denise Dunlea levelled, once again from the free throw line.

Baskets Exchanged

The sides exchanged baskets and the visitors led by a point but with just five seconds on the clock Cassandra Buckley drove through the Ulster defense to make the final score of the opening quarter and put Team Tom McCarthy’s in the lead, 21 points to 20.

Impressive Performance

Buckley opened the scoring in the second quarter, her impressive performance saw the St. Mary’s side go eight up.

As the quarter progressed University of Ulster came back through great performances by both Kollyns Scarbouourgh and Lexi Posset and the visitors levelled the game inside the final minute.

Both sides found it hard to find the target in the early part of the third quarter, scoring just two and five points respectively in the first four minutes of play.

Lead Reclaimed

They were level on 44 points when Team Tom McCarthy’s Siofra O’Shea hit a three to reclaim the lead for her side. By the end of the quarter just a basket separated the sides, St. Mary’s holding the lead.

Miriam Leane opened the final period putting the home side up five but University of Ulster came back and the lead alternated several times as the clock ran down.

Back to a Point

St. Mary’s led by three with 1.06 on the clock when Ulster University’s Kollyns Scarborough made two free throws to bring it back to a point, Lorraine Scanlon and Scarborough exchanged baskets to leave the score at 68 points to 67.

Ulster had possession with 3.9 on the clock when Deirdre Geaney stole the ball and was fouled as she attempted to reach the basket. She made the second free throw to see Team Tom McCarthy’s take the win on a score-line of 69 points to 67.

Top Scorers

Team Tom McCarthy’s / St. Mary’s : Lorraine Scanlon 25, Denise Dunlea 13 and Cassandra Buckley 8.

Ulster University: Kollyns Scarbourgh, 27; Lexi Posset, 14 and Erin McGuire, 7.

Team Tom McCarthy’s will meet Ulster University again on Saturday next in the league semi-final which will be played in Leixlip.