Waterford Wildcats 68-65 overtime winners against Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell in InsureMyHouse.ie U20 Women’s National Cup final

Waterford Wildcats beat Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell 68-65 after overtime, in a thriller at the National Basketball Arena to win the InsureMyHouse.ie U20 Women’s National Cup.

Waterford Wildcats had Caitlin Gloeckner to thank for getting them to overtime,  unleashing an ice-cool long range three point jump shot to make it 60-60 with 9.8 seconds to go. MVP Sarah Hickey also put a strong showing in overtime grabbing five of her team’s eight points to help propel them to victory – Hickey would post a game-high 29 points.

This final was on a knife edge throughout, Gurranabraher Credit Union established an early lead, 23-17 by the end of the first, Ava Walsh leading the charge offensively with eight points in the quarter.

The second quarter belonged to Waterford Wildcats, Hickey racking up half of her side’s points in it as they took the lead, 35-34.

Waterford Wildcats moved 41-36 ahead four minutes into the third quarter, after a pair of Hickey free throws and another basket. But Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell responded with an eight point run, finished off by Rachel Bowdren’s three point jump shot, to put them 44-41 up and the momentum seemed ot be with Danielle O’Leary’s side, as they closed out the quarter 53-45 in front. 

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell got the opening points of the fourth quarter with another Bowdren success from the three point line – her third of the contest – putting them 56-45 up. Waterford Wildcats then rattled off a 7-point run, started off with a pair of Gloeckner free-throws and finished with a Hickey basket, to make it a four-point game, 56-52 to the Cork club.

A Hickey layup, followed by an additional free throw made saw Waterford Wildcats bring it to within three, 58-55, with 1’23 remaining. 

Sarah Hickey, Waterford Wildcats, battles for possession during InsureMyHouse.ie U20 Women's National Cup final

A Rachel Lynch layup made it 60-57 to Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell with 18 seconds to go, she couldn’t add an extra after being fouled in the process. It gave Waterford Wildcats a window, and Caitlin Gloeckner took that opportunity with 9.8 seconds to go. There was to be no late winner so overtime was required. 

Hickey had some big moments in overtime, a put-back basket, followed by a layup with the shotclock buzzer approaching had Waterford Wildcats 67-62 up two and a half minutes in.

But Brunell got within two points after Clodagh Downey’s basket and a Rebecca Sexton free throw. A Hickey free throw at the other end and it was 68-65 to Wildcats with 18.2 seconds to go, with a Brunell possession. The Cork club couldn’t manage get the all-important points to force an addition overtime period as Waterford Wildcats claimed the title.

MVP Sarah Hickey said: It’s unreal, where else would I want to be on a Saturday evening other than celebrating a cup final with my team. We dug deep through the end, I think everyone in the Arena thought we were going to lose - Kaitlyn hit that three to put it into overtime and we pushed on from there and got the win.”

“We pushed through and dug deep [at the end], it’s the best weekend of the year, everyone wants to be here so what’s an extra five minutes to get that Cup at the end.”

Waterford Wildcats 68-65 Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell (OT)

Quarter Scores: Q1: 17-23, Q2: 35-34, Q3: 45-53, Q4: 60-60, OT: 68-65

Waterford Wildcats:

Caitlin Gloeckner, Orla Dullaghan, Sarah Hickey, Sheenagh Whelehan, Eimear O’Donnell, Robyn O’Grady, Opel Olajide, Zoe Raethorne, Isabelle Daniels, Áine Foran.

Head Coach: Jillian Hayes

Top Scorers: Sarah Hickey 29, Caitlin Gloeckner 19, Orla Dullaghan 8

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell:

Izzy McSweeney, Clodagh Downey, Kelsey Cooper, Ella Downey, Aoife Barrett, Laura Hannigan, Emily Peyton Blake, Rachel Bowdren, Rachel Lynch, Ava Walshe, Rebecca Sexton, Mia Lynch, Ciara Barrett.

Head Coach: Danielle O’Leary

Top Scorers: Rachel Lynch 22, Rachel Bowdren 14, Ava Walshe 10