THE FINAL GAME of an action-packed weekend in the National Basketball Arena sees Courtyard Liffey Celtics try to upset Ambassador UCC Glanmire at 5.15pm this evening.
Glanmire have been the dominant force in Irish basketball over the past number of years and will look to make it four cup titles in a row (and their seventh overall).
The likes of Grainne Dwyer, Aine McKenna and Claire Rockall will prove key for them if they are to overcome Liffey Celtics.
It is a first cup final at this level for the Leixlip-based club and they are relishing the underdog tag.
Going into the game with nothing to lose, they will look to the impressive Jazmen Boone, Karen Mealey, Emma O’Connor and Ailbhe O’Connor to pull off the upset win.
For TG4 basketball analyst and UCD Marian player Conor Meany, the reason for the Cork outfit’s superiority is simple.
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“Glanmire have some of the best athletes — across all sports — in the country,” he says.
“Grainne Dwyer is obviously the main name that people would be familiar with over the past few years and she’s just a phenomenal player.
“Then you’ve Claire Rockall as well who has played over in America and has come back so is definitely someone to look out for.
“If you watch the Glanmire team though, you’ll just be blown away by the athleticism — they haven’t lost so far this year — and that athleticism just overwhelms teams.”
He TG4 co-analyst — and editor of BallinEurope — Emmet Ryan says that this final might have come a year too early for Liffey Celtics.
“If you told them they’d get to a cup final at the start of the season, they’d have bitten your hand off.
“This is their first ever cup final, so it’s a huge thing in their history and they’ve got a great handle on youth development so their future is bright too.
“Their team is so young but that means it probably won’t be their year.”
Jazmen Boone and Ailbhe O'Connor celebrate after their semi-final. Tommy Dickson / INPHO
Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO
If Liffey Celtics are to have any chance, Meany knows exactly who they’ll look to.
“They have a player called Jazmen Boone. She’s their American player and she’s just fantastic.
“She was over here last year on a scholarship and played for Waterford and Mark Byrne, their coach, he brought her back again this year and she was just brilliant in the semi-finals.”
Like Ryan, Meany believes the favourites will be very difficult to beat.
“Liffey Celtics haven’t been in the finals before so it’s going to be great for them, a new experience and they also have a lot of talent so it’s just going to be a case of whether or not Glanmire’s experience and athleticism overwhelm them on the big stage or not.
“If Liffey Celtics can stay in the game, it might put doubts in the minds of the Glanmire players and we could have another cracking women’s final but I do think Glanmire will get the job done, just because they have the experience and are unbeaten so far.”
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Can Liffey Celtics shock Glanmire to claim the womens' National Cup final?
Updated at 12.38
THE FINAL GAME of an action-packed weekend in the National Basketball Arena sees Courtyard Liffey Celtics try to upset Ambassador UCC Glanmire at 5.15pm this evening.
Glanmire have been the dominant force in Irish basketball over the past number of years and will look to make it four cup titles in a row (and their seventh overall).
The likes of Grainne Dwyer, Aine McKenna and Claire Rockall will prove key for them if they are to overcome Liffey Celtics.
It is a first cup final at this level for the Leixlip-based club and they are relishing the underdog tag.
Going into the game with nothing to lose, they will look to the impressive Jazmen Boone, Karen Mealey, Emma O’Connor and Ailbhe O’Connor to pull off the upset win.
For TG4 basketball analyst and UCD Marian player Conor Meany, the reason for the Cork outfit’s superiority is simple.
“Glanmire have some of the best athletes — across all sports — in the country,” he says.
“Grainne Dwyer is obviously the main name that people would be familiar with over the past few years and she’s just a phenomenal player.
“Then you’ve Claire Rockall as well who has played over in America and has come back so is definitely someone to look out for.
“If you watch the Glanmire team though, you’ll just be blown away by the athleticism — they haven’t lost so far this year — and that athleticism just overwhelms teams.”
He TG4 co-analyst — and editor of BallinEurope — Emmet Ryan says that this final might have come a year too early for Liffey Celtics.
“If you told them they’d get to a cup final at the start of the season, they’d have bitten your hand off.
“This is their first ever cup final, so it’s a huge thing in their history and they’ve got a great handle on youth development so their future is bright too.
“Their team is so young but that means it probably won’t be their year.”
If Liffey Celtics are to have any chance, Meany knows exactly who they’ll look to.
“They have a player called Jazmen Boone. She’s their American player and she’s just fantastic.
“She was over here last year on a scholarship and played for Waterford and Mark Byrne, their coach, he brought her back again this year and she was just brilliant in the semi-finals.”
Like Ryan, Meany believes the favourites will be very difficult to beat.
“Liffey Celtics haven’t been in the finals before so it’s going to be great for them, a new experience and they also have a lot of talent so it’s just going to be a case of whether or not Glanmire’s experience and athleticism overwhelm them on the big stage or not.
“If Liffey Celtics can stay in the game, it might put doubts in the minds of the Glanmire players and we could have another cracking women’s final but I do think Glanmire will get the job done, just because they have the experience and are unbeaten so far.”
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