Holders Abbey Seals Dublin Lions weather huge McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles surge to reach another InsureMyHouse.ie Women’s Division One Cup Final

Abbey Seals Dublin Lions will face Limerick Celtics in a bid to complete the defence of their InsureMyHouse.ie Women’s Division One Cup title after they weathered a powerful second-half surge by McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles to earn a 78-72 semi-final victory in Gurranabraher Credit Union Arena on Saturday night.

Rob White’s side appeared to be coasting having opened up a 50-25 point advantage by the half-time break, but the tenacious Cavan refused to bow and clawed back 16 points in the third quarter to ensure the Dubliners would have to battle all the way to the final buzzer.

Lions certainly started with intent as Emily Smyth’s three-pointer ignited a run that saw the Clondalkin side notch up 11 points before Cavan finally opened their account through Emma Tolan just over three minutes in.

Sydney Kin and Sophia Widmeyer were a real thorn in the side of their opponents, with the former emerging from this pulsating clash with 26 points and 16 rebounds, as Lions opened up a 30-12 advantage by the end of the first quarter.

Emilia Sexton did make a basket just before the buzzer, but Cavan were struggling to remain in touch with their Dublin rivals who, with 50 points in the bag by the half-time recess, had doubled their opponents’ tally.

Ciara Tolan was doing her best to preserve Cavan’s challenge with four points in the closing minute of the first half, while Sexton had nine in the can by that point, but Maeve Coleman’s side needed a much more substantial return on offence if they were to pull off, what would be, a stunning second-half comeback.

They certainly were not giving up the ghost as Emma Tolan spearheaded a surge that saw them reduce their arrears to a mere five points with just two-and-a-half minutes left in the third quarter, as their defence began to swallow up the vast majority of Lions’ inside play.

But, aided by a superb block and then a steal by Smyth, Lions regained a little more composure over the closing minute as Katie Flanagan netted a score and Widmeyer nailed two free throws to keep Lions nine points up heading into the fourth.

A Destiny Robinson basket saw Eagles cut that lead to six, but the loss of Emma Tolan to foul trouble with just over four minutes remaining did nothing to help their cause.

Timely baskets by Kin, along with a couple of scores from the line by Widmeyer, saw the holders steady the ship in the face of a tiring Cavan team that really gave it everything, but came up just short in their bid to progress.

Speaking after his side’s victory, Abbey Seals Dublin Lions Head Coach, Rob White said “Credit to Cavan, they were 25 down at half time and they came back.

“They really hurt us and made us think, but, credit to our girls as well, they were able to show that resilience when they did come back and everybody played their part, so it’s great for the girls and great for the club” he said.

 

Quarter Scores: Q1: 30-12, Q2: 50-25, Q3: 61-52, Q4: 78-72

 

Abbey Seals Dublin Lions:

Sydney Kin, Emily Smyth, Katie Flanagan, Tara Nevin, Caoimhe Gilligan, Ciara Wheeler, Sophia Widmeyer, Gillian Wheeler, Claudia Sanchez.

Head Coach:  Rob White

Top Scorers: Sydney Kin (26), Sophia Widmeyer (19), Gillian Wheeler (11).

 

McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles:

Niamh Tolan, Jewell Rosagaran, Emma Tolan, Destiny Robinson, Ciara Brady, Ciara Tolan, Casey Mulvey, Jane Larkin, Laura McFarland, Emilia Sexton.

Head Coach: Maeve Coleman

Top Scorers: Emma Tolan (16), Emilia Sexton (13), Destiny Robinson and Ciara Tolan (12 each).