National Cup

Jan 11 2025

Ongar Chasers advance to NICC Women's National Cup Final at expense of Fr.Mathews

Ongar Chasers have secured their first appearance in the NICC Women’s National Cup final following a 68-63 victory over Fr.Mathews at Gurranabraher Credit Union Arena. They’ll now face either FloMAX Liffey Celtics or Ballincollig BC in the final next weekend.

Eva Lurascu struck 18, while Kellie Mae Murphy and Danica Stankovic and 12 and 10 points respectively for the Dubliners.

An evenly matched first quarter ended with Ongar Chsers in a narrow 21-19 advantage. Abbie Jeffrey – who would finish the contest with a game high xx points – established herself as a problem for Fr.Mathews in the paint and Chasers found it hard to come to grips with her. The second quarter was equally nip and tuck. Lurascu hit the only three of the quarter to extend Ongar’s lead, but it was Fr.Mathews who would finish the half stronger. Niamh Braham made the most of her trips to the free-throw line, making three out of four, while Jeffrey again made her presence felt beneath the basket, adding a further nine points to her total to leave it 35-34 to Ongar Chasers at the interval.

With the sides level at 40 a-piece with 6:11 in the third, Haroldas Sikorskis’ Chasers made the decisive move, a 13-5 run to end the quarter courtesy of a huge Danica Stankovic bomb from beyond the arc and six Kellie Mae Murphy points in succession. Fr.Mathews tried to ebb away at that advantage as the game moved into the fourth quarter. Twins Niamh and Alannah Braham combined for 10, while the outstanding Jeffrey had a further three baskets, but it was the girls in black who were celebrating at the buzzer, which sounded after one final Ezi Onwodi free-throw with the score at 69-63.

Quarter Scores: Q1: 21-19, Q2: 14-15 , Q3:18-11 , Q4: 16-18

Ongar Chasers:

Ana Postarnakova, Anna Morrison, Carmen Torres Puerto, Danica Stankovic, Emma Deering, Eva Iurascu, Katie Murphy, Kellie-Mae Murphy, Margherita Da Ponte, Milica Stankovic, Niamh Kelly, Ezi Onwodi

Head Coach: Haroldas Sikorskis

Top Scorers: Eva Lurascu (20), Ezi Onwodi (18), Kellie Mae Murphy (14)

Fr.Mathews:

Aoife Gibbons, Aine Fitzgerald, Niamh Braham, Alannah Braham, Saidbh Fitzgerald, Abbie Jeffery, Moira Duffy, Caoimhe Sreenan, Amanda O Regan, Avril Braham, Heather Lynch, Katie Kilbride, Sarah Whelan, Meabh Humpreys

Head Coach: Ger Gibbons

Top Scorers: Abbie Jeffrey (22), Niamh Braham (22), Alannah Braham (6)