National League

Apr 12 2026

Fr. Mathews defeat Claregalway 74-45 to win the BIDL Women’s title

Fr. Mathews are the 2025/26 BIDL Women’s champions, defeating Claregalway 74-45 in the playoff final at the National Basketball Arena on Sunday. Amy Corkery scored 28 points as she was awarded the MVP in the final.

Fr Mathews were looking to do the double, having won the NICC Women’s National Cup in January, but it was Claregalway who led 16-14 at the end of the first quarter. Georgina Ni Hasa Martin had nine, while Cara Cormican had grabbed five points, including the final score of the quarter in the closing seconds for Claregalway.

Fr. Mathews started the second quarter with an eight point run, snapped by Ailish O’Reilly’s basket, but that would prove to be Claregalways only score of the quarter. A Mila Pichet layup and two Amy Corkery free throws in the final minutes had Fr. Mathews in a commanding 34-18 at half-time, Corkery with 10 points by the break.

Fr. Mathews extended their lead in the third quarter, Corkery and Heather Lynch doing much of the damage with with six and five respectively. Allanna Braham’s two free throws at the finish made it 52-29 to the Cork club.

Claregalway had a four-point run in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, Mary Cunniffe’s jump shot saw them trail 52-33. Fr. Mathews as expected responded and went on an 11 point run, finished off by Corkery’s fifth three point jump shot of the contest - to bring her tally to 22 - and a free throw by Gemma Walshe, to make it 63-33 with six and a half minutes to go.

Claregalway struggled from the three point line all game, but finally landed one through Ailish O’Reilly to trail 63-39 with four and a half minutes to go. Corkery slotted another three to make it a 30-point game bring it up to 70-40 and it would finish 74-45.

Purchase tickets for National League Finals weekend here. All games from National League finals weekend are live on basketballireland.tv, while you can watch ‘Super Sunday’ live on TG4 from 1300 on Sunday, with the Domino’s Women’s Super League final between UCC Glanmire and Trinity Meteors at 1315, followed by the Domino’s Men’s Super League final featuring Ballincollig and Killester at 1615. Get live stats from every game on the Swish All Hoops App.

Quarter Scores: Q1: 14-16, Q2: 20-2, Q3: 18-11, Q4: 22-16

Game Scores: Q1: 14-16, Q2: 34-18, Q3: 52-29, Q4: 74-45

Fr. Mathews:

Natasha Bowdren (0), Niamh Braham (4), Alannah Brahm (5), Mila Pichet (4), Gina Carey (0), Abby Murphy (11), Amy Corkery (28), Heather Lynch (11), Amanda O’Regan (4), Lynn O’Dwyer (2), Niamh Dwyer (4), Grainne Walshe (3).

Head Coach: Ger Gibbons

Claregalway:

Orla Hynes (2), Georgina Ní Hasa Martin (12), Ailish O’Reilly (7), Mary Cunniffe (6), Lauren Concannon (2), Laura Hoffman (3), Cara Cormican (7), Deirdre Brennan (0), Helen Moran (4), Michelle Canavan (2), Elisha Cosgrove (0), Hannah Coen (0)

Head Coach: Paul Flanagan

Friday, April 10th

U20 Men's National League Final

Templeogue BC 46-78 Titans BC (full game report available here)

Saturday, April 11th

U18 Boys All-Ireland League Final

Oblates BC 92-68 Titans BC (full game report available here)

BIDL Men's Final

UCD Marian 68-70 Limerick Celtics (full game report available here)

U18 Girls All-Ireland League Final

Kilkenny Stars 61-59 Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell (full game report available here)

Domino's Women's Division One Final