National League

Apr 10 2025

Preview: Domino's Women's Division One Final 2025

An unbeaten season is on the line, as well as promotion in the Domino’s Women’s Division One Final. McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles have enjoyed a 21-0 record in league and National Cup this season, but that’ll all be for nought if they can’t extend that run against Limerick Celtics when it counts.

This will be the fourth meeting between the two sides this campaign, with McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles coming out on top on all three previous occasions. The closest tie though was the Women’s Division One National Cup semi-final in Cork in January, where Limerick Celtics got within four points of their rivals in defence of their title.

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The matchup between Stephanie McBride and Shelby Harmeyer of Limerick Celtics and Rahmena Henderson and Lanetta Williams is sure to prove crucial, but the team that receives the biggest contributions from their Irish core is likely to come out on top. Emma, Ciara and Niamh Tolan have all enjoyed excellent seasons, but so have Sabhbh Edwards-Murphy and Louise Scannell of Limerick Celtics.

Sabhbh Edwards Murphy of Limerick Celtics with the Domino's Women's Division One title earlier this week.

“Honestly, just winning like that, we want to experience that feeling again,” said McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles Lanetta Williams, looking back on their National Cup title success in January. “I just know that we can do it again if we’re working all together as a team and you know that’s what we go for, to win every game in that way and just get better as we do it.”

“We’re just taking it one game at a time still,” she says quickly when the unbeaten season is brought up. “Every game is different and so all we can do is try to win every battle individually and as a team, do the best we can and hopefully show out for the fans and win.”

The two teams figure to be closely matched in the paint and Williams is well aware that a physical showdown awaits on Saturday afternoon. “They’re a great team. They have everything they need in every spot to be successful against any team in this league, so I really believe this is going to be a great game. It’s going to come down to which team can play harder and make shots, so hopefully that’s going to be us when it’s all said and done,” added Williams.

Path to the final

McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles entered the Domino’s Women’s Division One Playoffs with a perfect record in the regular season and the number one seeding. They were awarded a walkover against Oblate Dynamos at the quarter-final stage, before outlasting Cleveland Rockets 79-69 at the final four stage.

Limerick Celtics defeated Abbey Seals Dublin Lions 79-66 in the opening round of the post-season after finishing 3^rd in the standings in the regular season and had to dig deep in a local derby against Limerick Sport Huskies 85-80 to reach the promotion game.

Key Players

Rahmena Henderson, Lanetta Williams and Emma Tolan have all been decisive factors at different points this season, but it is Henderson, who was selected to the Domino’s Women’s Division One All-Star First Team that will be expected to be the main offensive threat for McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles. Henderson is averaging 21.6 points and 9.4 boards with an efficiency rating of 23. She’s also above the league average from the free-throw line at 78%.

 Rahmena Henderson figures to be the key player for McEvoy's Cavan Eagles if they're to be successful.

Limerick Celtics’ Stephanie McBride and Shelby Harmeyer both earned selections to the All-Star first team for their consistency this season. McBride finished 3^rd in the league in scoring with Harmeyer 5^th, so both are capable of taking a game over. McBride is also phenomenal on the offensive glass and her coaching team will be asking her to steal a few extra possessions at the National Basketball Arena on Saturday evening.