Last gasp Coughlin sees Gneeveguilla win thriller

LADIES DIVISION 3 CUP FINAL Cahersiveen 50 Gneeveguilla 56

ONE of the finals of the weekend that was only decided in the final minute as Gneeveguilla displayed tremendous heart to stay with Cahersiveen and though it was a two point game with one minute to go, Gneeveguilla held their nerve. MVP Laoise Coughlan scored three points while Sarah Murphy younger sister of Paul, brought her tally to 12 as Gneeveguilla held on for a famous win.

A cracking opening quarter saw Cahersiveen jump into an early 6-0 lead thanks to scores from Caoimhe Teahan (3) and Clodagh Quinlan but Coughlan, Loretto O’Leary and Mary Cremin kept Gneeveguilla in touch.

It was a very even first quarter with the lead changing hands several times and at the end of the first period the sides were tied on 14-14. The second quarter was a replica of the first with Caoimhe Teahan draining six for Cahersiveen while a three point play from Shauna Guerin had Gneeveguilla 23-22 in front at half-time.

Cahersiveen raced 32-26 in front at the start of the third thanks to fine scores by Teahan (4), Ellen O’Sullivan (4) and Elaine Curran (2) but Gneeveguilla refused to throw in the towel and a basket from Sarah Murphy and three point play from Amy Murphy and suddenly it was a one point game again as every basket was hard won.

Cahersiveen now led 34-33 entering the final quarter but Sarah Murphy, Shauna Guerin and the class of Laoise Coughlan saw Gneeveguilla to victory when Cahersiveen’s big guns just failed to fire down the stretch but in truth it could have gone either way.