Preview: Women's Division One National Cup Quarter-Finals

It's National Cup Quarter-Final Weekend and we have four cracking ties to decide who will be on the docket for semi-finals weekend in Cork in January.

Limerick Sport Huskies v Limerick Celtics, Saturday, 1700

Limerick Celtics will need to overcome a rivalry game with Limerick Sport Huskies if they’re to keep their defence of the Women’s Division One National Cup on track.

The sides met on the opening weekend of the National League season and it was Huskies who came out on the right side of an 83-73 win in St. Munchins. Scout Frame and Delia Moore were in top form for Huskies on that occasion, combining for 63 points, 25 rebounds and 12 assists to drag their team over the line. Their only two losses this season have come at the hands of McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles and Cleveland Rockets, so expectations will be high that a spot on semi-final weekend is within their grasp.

Limerick Celtics are yet to recapture the form which saw them hoist silverware at the National Basketball Arena last January. They’re currently in 6^th place in the Women’s Division One standings, dropping their last two games against iSecure Swords Thunder and McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles. Nothing like a local derby to end a funk though and a resurgent performance from Stephanie McBride would give them renewed hope that the cup could be their outlet again this season. 

Abbey Seals Dublin Lions vs Oblate Dynamos, Saturday, 1730

Abbey Seals Dublin Lions have been National Cup specialists in recent years. The Clondalkin side took home the trophy in January 2023 and reached the decider against a year later, going down 64-55 to Limerick Celtics in the decider.

Another deep run will be on the agenda for first year head coach Martin Conroy when Oblate Dynamos make the short hop from Inchicore on Saturday evening. The solitary meeting between the pair in the league finished in an 89-64 blowout for Lions, but the since departed Jessica Fressle had 23 points on that occasion. Sofia Paska has continued to shine though, the centre had 23 points and 9 rebounds in their most recent win against iSecure Swords Thunder a week ago. 

Dynamos took out iSecure Swords Thunder and Phoenix Rockets on a run to the last four a year ago, but they will be big underdogs to reach the same stage this time around. Their only win of the season so far came against Moy Tolka Rovers a couple of weeks ago. Sophie Staunton continues to show her quality at every opportunity. Adia Brisker and Heather Meagher will need to be on top of their games respectively if Terry’s Staunton’s team are to cause an upset.

McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles vs Moy Tolka Rovers, Sunday, 1600

Unbeaten McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles welcome Moy Tolka Rovers to the Virginia Show Centre looking to make it back to back appearances at the semi-finals weekend in Cork. 

Eagles have the tightest defence in Irish basketball, giving up a miserly 46.4 points per game in five outings in the Women’s Division One this season, while their opponents Moy Tolka Rovers have the third worst at 79.3 points per game.

They key matchup could be Rahmena Henderson (McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles) against Jahnae Gyles (Moy Tolka Rovers), with the most productive likely to be on the right side of what will likely be another close game. Elsewhere there is a plethora of current and former Irish youth internationals on the floor. Ciara and Emma Tolan are both averaging more than 10 points per game for Eagles this season, while U16 international Naomi Farrington has been getting extensive minutes for Tolka this season.

Expect them to give plenty of minutes to former DCU Mercy and FloMAx Liffey Celtics player Meagan Hoffman, her experience could be crucial if the Dubliners have a shot of getting it done on the road.  

iSecure Swords Thunder vs Cleveland Rockets, Sunday, 1630

iSecure Swords Thunder needed overtime in their preliminary round game against Templeogue 74-66 to earn a home tie against Cleveland Rockets in the last eight.

Rockets come into the game on a four game win streak, rebounding in spectacular fashion to their 0-3 start to the Women’s Division One season. The consistency of Irish senior international Caitlin Gloeckner at the point guard position along with the shooting from Georgie and Charlay McGrath in recent weeks has been a big part of that. 

Thunder head coach Paul Carr will also be wary of the presence of Jessica Fairweather, but in Makayla Miller he has one of the more dominant figures in women’s basketball in the country right now. Miller is averaging an impressive 32 points and 11 rebounds a game, with Thunder unbeaten when any other player reaches double digit points this season. 

Cleveland Rockets have enjoyed the better pedigree in this competition in recent seasons, reaching the final two years ago and this stage last season. Should iSecure Swords Thunder come out on top on Sunday, it’ll be the first time they’ve reached the last four since the 2021/22 campaign.