They may not have taken the win but Team Garvey’s St. Mary’s ladies put it up to table toppers The Address Glanmire at the weekend.
The squad has had big performances in their last three games despite being the only team in the ladies Superleague without an American player.
Deirdre Geaney hit the first two scores of the game for the home-side inside the first 30 seconds of play.
Excellent Defending
Glanmire’s Casey Grace and Claire responded to level but a big three from Garvey’s Paris McCarthy saw the Castleisland ladies go ahead again.
Team Garvey’s squad defended excellently inside but Glanmire’s Carrie Shepard was difficult to contain outside, she was on target and hit nine points from the perimeter.
A series of scores both from play and from the line kept the Castleisland side within range of their opponents and the first quarter finished 19 points to 24 in favour of the Cork side.
Scores Exchanged, Lead Alternated
Denise Dunlea opened the second quarter with a three and shortly afterwards added two from the line to level. Scores were exchanged and the lead alternated for the remainder of the quarter with big performances coming from all Team Garvey’s players.
Several steals were made and Paris McCarthy did an excellent job on Carrie Shepard holding her to a single point for the quarter.
Dunlea’s Brilliant Basket
Glanmire led by three as the clock ran down but a brilliant basket on the buzzer from Denise Dunlea saw Team Garvey’s trail by the minimum at the half time interval.
Glanmire came out fighting in the third quarter and pushed ahead by 11 but some excellent rebounding from both Emma Sherwood and Meabh Barry gave the opposition no second chances. The Cork side led by 12 points but two from the line from Meabh Barry brought it back to 10.
Lorraine Scanlon Rebound
With just 30 seconds remaining in the quarter when a Lorraine Scanlon rebound found its way to Denise Dunlea who set Meabh Barry up for a lay up to further reduce the gap.
With just eight points between the sides the game was still there for the taking in the final 10 minutes.
However, Glanmire scored back to back baskets through Carrie Shepard and Áine McKenna to push further ahead.
Deirdre Geaney responded with a three, Shepard and Scanlon exchanged baskets but as the quarter progressed the shots did not fall as easily for Team Garvey’s as they did for the visitors and Glanmire gradually increased their lead and went on to take the win.
Teams and Scorers
Final score: Team Garvey’s St. Mary’s 71 The Address Glanmire 89.
Team Garvey’s: Lorraine Scanlon 16, Emma Sherwood 11, Denise Dunlea 10, Meabh Barry 9, Paris McCarthy 8, Deirdre Geaney 7, Rheanne O’Shea 4, Niamh Ní Conchuir and Labhaoise Walmsley 2 each, Rachel Ryan.
The Address Glanmire: Carrie Shepard 29, Áine McKenna 23, Claire Melia 12, Jaylan Duran 10, Casey Grace 6, Amy Dooley 4, Lesley Ann Wilkinson 3, Mia Furlong 2, Louise Scannell.
Team Garvey’s St. Mary’s travel to Cork on December 29th where they take on Brunell, tip-off is at 7pm.
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