Tipp star aiming to impress in sister act
GRÁINNE DWYER rejoins sister Niamh on the court today as she plays with Fr Mathews for the first time following her move from Cork city rivals Glanmire.
However, she is not expecting to feel much family love when lining out against NUIG Mystics as the Women’s Super League gets under way this afternoon.
“If you talked to my former teammates, people would tell you we (me and my sister) could kill each other. Absolutely, hammer and tongs, kill each other. She could pinpoint me from down the court and take me out,” Gráinne says.
“On the court that’s not a bad thing. We’re very, very passionate. But I love playing with Niamh. She’s a great player.”
The Tipperary women, who first picked up the sport in Presentation Secondary School in Thurles, previously played Super League together at Glanmire before Niamh left for Mathews.
Niamh has grown into her role at Mathews since she left having become the side’s assistant coach – something her younger sister will have adjust to.
“We’re going to see how this relationship fares out during the season,” Gráinne laughs.
“We’ve had two or three years without playing with each other because she hurt her knee (before leaving for Mathews). I genuinely miss playing with her.
“She just brings the best out of players around her. I’m really looking forward to playing with her.”
The departure of Irish international Gráinne from Glanmire for Fr Mathews caused surprise in basketball circles this year.
For Dwyer, who was crucial to the Glanmire’s record four-in-a-row Cup success in 2017, the decision was simple.
“It just becomes repetitive doing the same stuff. Being very successful, we had our ups and downs on and off the court,” she said.
“I couldn’t fault the club they were very good to me. I just wasn’t enjoying playing basketball any more. So it was more to do with me.
“I’ve achieved everything I could in Glanmire. Mathews are very involved in developing younger players. Now I’d like to pass my experience and my knowledge of the game on.”
Though admitting reaction to her move has been “a little frosty,” she hopes to get off to a flyer when starting her the season in Fr Mathews’ new arena at 5pm.
MEN’S SUPER LEAGUE – Belfast Star v Griffith College Swords Thunder, 6.30; DCU Saints v C and S Neptune, 7.0; Maree v Templeogue, 7.0; Pyrobel Killester v UCD Marian, 7.0; Keane’s Super Valu Killorglin v Moycullen, 7.15
WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE – Fr Mathews v NUIG Mystics, 5.0; Pyrobel Killester v Singleton Super Valu Brunell, 5.0; Courtyard Liffey Celtics v Maxol WIT Wildcats, 7.0