Preview: InsureMyHouse.ie Paudie O'Connor Cup Final

Grainne Dwyer was very definitive in her assessment of Catalyst Fr.Mathews place in the InsureMyHouse.ie Paudie O’Connor Cup final. “We’re sixth in the MissQuote.ie Super League table and deservedly so. Some people might be shocked that we’re in this final, but I’m not. I’m not.”

 “I’ve been in this club for four years and I’ve seen the growth in our players, on a personal level and a basketball level. I’ve seen how committed people are to it. When you get that and you bring in a player like Ariel Johnson, anything can happen you know,” she added.  

Pat Price has been a big addition too. His daughter Arianna is in the Catalyst Fr.Mathews ranks and having been enticed into the fold by his predecessor Niamh Dwyer, the club has been building on the foundations of recent seasons. Crucially, that coaching move also enabled Niamh Dwyer to return to playing, where she has been a calming influence throughout their InsureMyHouse.ie Paudie O’Connor Cup run, none more so than their victory in the last four.

Portlaoise Panthers fell 72-65 in the first round – Grainne Dwyer netting 14 points in a big road win for the club. That confidence flowed into their 92-70 win at home over Ulster University in the last eight before a scintillating 21-9 run in the second quarter was enough to see them over the line against a much fancied FloMAX Liffey Celtics outfit at the semi-final stage. 

Price and his staff managed to find gaps in the Kildare side’s 1-3-1 defence on that occasion and he will need to work some similar magic, combined with another stout defensive display from his players if they are to conjure a fairytale ending for their travelling fans.

Head Coaches Pat Price (Catalyst Fr.Mathews) and Liam Culloty (Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell) face off ahead of Sunday's InsureMyHouse.ie Paudie O'Connor Cup final. 

The solitary meeting between the teams in the MissQuote.ie Super League yielded an 85-84 win for Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell, so the ingredients are there for an intense struggle on Sunday evening at the National Basketball Arena. Lauryn Homan hit two clutch free-throws at the end of regulation on that day and that has been a microcosm of Homan’s development this year.

The addition of Jayla Johnson and Kyaja Williams to compliment Irish captain Edel Thornton has clearly had a positive effect on the younger cohort of the Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell bench. Liam Culloty’s side haven’t lost a game in which Thornton has featured all year, a key stat as they go in search of their first InsureMyHouse.ie Paudie O’Connor Cup success. 

In truth this is arguably the biggest weekend in the 40 year history of the club. Their U18 and U20 teams will both contest InsureMyHouse.ie National Cup finals ahead of the showpiece event on Sunday evening, with two players, Laura Hannigan and Ava Walsh taking to the court for all three teams. Should things go well for Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell throughout the weekend, a lot of minds will think of club founder Andrew Drumm who passed away last September and was at the heart of many crucial moments of club history.

On the court the Nellies have been ruthless in their two InsureMyHouse.ie Paudie O’Connor Cup outings to date, dispatching DCU Mercy and defending champions Killester by an average margin of 18 points.

A Cork derby hits differently though and the cross city rivalry is an aspect that really motivates 33 year-old Danielle O’Leary – “There’s a bit of extra bite alright with the rivalry and the fact that it’s southside v northside helps. You want to get out on top of that,” said the club veteran. O’Leary has been part of the organisation since the age of seven and a first senior trophy in a 14-year career would mean the world, as it no doubt would for all members of the two squads who will do battle from 5:30pm on Sunday at the National Basketball Arena, live on TG4.