National League

Mar 30 2022

Preview: MissQuote.ie Champions Trophy and Division 1 League Cup finals

The Address UCC Glanmire head coach Mark Scannell says his team will “need to bring our best stuff” to overcome Singleton SuperValu Brunell in the MissQuote.ie Champions Trophy final, hailing Ireland co-captain Edel Thornton as “one of the players of the year”.

The MissQuote.ie Super League and InsureMyHouse.ie Paudie O’Connor National Cup champions came through a tricky Champions Trophy semi-final, defeating DCU Mercy 76-66 and are now just one win away from the treble.

 The Address UCC Glanmire coach Mark Scannell speaking to his players at a time out during the MissQuote.ie SuperLeague match

“We are looking forward to another shot at a national trophy and it’s great to get another chance to play in the Arena. It’s been a very successful year and now our focus is on trying to finish it off, but Brunell will be very difficult opponents and have two very good Americans and one of the players of the year in Edel (Thornton), so we really need to bring our best stuff”, Scannell said.

He added, “It should be an exciting game and there is no doubt both teams will go for it, neither of us know any other way to play. Our experience will be very important, I know the girls love playing on the big stage and hopefully that will stand to us. Finally I’d like to pay tribute to all the teams for how they got through this very difficult season and continued to excel and produced such great basketball.”

The Address UCC Glanmire won all three of the previous encounters between the sides this season, 86-77 at Singleton SuperValu Brunell in October and were twice winners in January, 92-82 in InsureMyHouse.ie Paudie O’Connor Cup semi-finals, followed by a 92-81 success a week later in the MissQuote.ie Super League.

Singleton SuperValu Brunell finished second in the MissQuote.ie Super League, thereby handing them a home semi-final in the MissQuote.ie Champions Trophy semi’s, defeating WIT Waterford Wildcats 78-75 and now head coach Tim O’Halloran is relishing the chance to end the season with silverware. “We are very excited to be playing in the last game of the season and it’s always a big occasion when you play in the Arena. Add to that it’s against Glanmire just adds to the occasion. We will give it our all and hope we come out on top.”

 Singleton's SuperValu Brunell players, from left, Shannon Ryan, Lauryn Homan, Edel Thornton and Simone O'Shea stand for Amhrán na bhFiann before the InsureMyHouse.ie Paudie O’Connor Cup semi-final

NUIG Mystics target the treble

 Hazel Finn of NUIG Mystics

NUIG Mystics continue their pursuit of a treble when they face Ulster University on Saturday, in a repeat of the MissQuote.ie Division 1 League final. Mystics won that last final 76-57, but head coach Paul O’Brien insists that result will have no bearing in the MissQuote.ie Division 1 League Cup decider.

“We are happy to be involved in the final weekend of the National League season. It’s been a great year for us, so to have a chance to win another competition is something we are excited about. Templeogue ran us really close last week and hopefully that will stand to is against Ulster.

“The score from the league final against Ulster doesn't reflect how tight the game really was and I'm sure they will be looking forward to getting another crack at us this season. Hopefully both teams will put on a good performance.”

His Ulster University counterpart, Patrick O’Neill, added: “This is the second final where we get the opportunity to play Mystics and we will be looking to reverse the previous result. In saying that, we know how good they are and it will take a team performance to get us over the line. Our ladies have put a lot of work into preparing for this final and we will be ready at the weekend.”