St Marys pipped by Portlaoise in close run thing

WOMEN’S NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 1 Team Tom McCarthys St Marys 65 Portlaoise Panthers 69

A SLOW start possibly cost Team Tom McCarthy’s their Garveys home game against Portlaoise Panthers on Saturday last.

The visitors who are currently second placed in the southern conference took a 14-8 lead in the first quarter of the game. St Marys had missed some early opportunities but had also played some great defence with Lorraine Scanlon preventing Claire Melia from doing much damage. It was mid way through the quarter before Mia Hopkins registered the first score of the game for the home side.

Team Tom McCarthys had a big second quarter, scores from Hopkins, Sarah O’Sullivan, Mary Herlihy and Denise Dunlea and Shauna Ahern ensured that the home side trailed by only a single point at the interval.

Claire Melia opened the third quarter for Portlaoise, but Hopkins responded with a three and the sides were level for the first time in the game. Denise Dunlea added another three and Team Tom McCarthys took the lead for the first time. Baskets were exchanged for the next few minutes, but St Mary’s were the stronger side for the quarter and led 54 to 45 going into the final 10 minutes.

An early fourth quarter score from Claire Melia saw Portlaoise reduce the gap once again, but Siofra O’Shea responded for the home side. St Marys were playing with intensity now and mid way through the quarter they had increased their lead to 13.

However, they were in foul trouble and two unanswered scores and a bonus brought Portlaoise back into it. The home side lost Lorraine Scanlon to injury with just under two minutes remaining and lost players in foul trouble, seven points separated the sides, Portlaoise defence was stepped up a notch and they drew foul after four from the home team and converted each time from the free throw line.

Panthers took the lead by a point with six seconds on the clock and Hopkins had an opportunity to take the lead again through free throws but she failed to convert unlike Sinead Melia and Claire Wheeler for the visitors who hit three from four ensuring a four point win for Portlaoise.

ST MARYS: Mia Hopkins 26, Denise Dunlea 12, Lorraine Scanlon 6, Mary Herlihy 4, Siofra O’Shea 4, Maebh Barry 4, Sarah O’Sullivan 3, Labhaoise Wamsley , Shauna Ahern, Cliona Coffey 2 each

PORTLAOISE PANTHERS: Sinead Melia 27, Claire Melia 12, Ciara Wheeler 10, Catherine Ashe 7, Maeve Cahillane 5, Shauna Dooley 4, Ciara Byrne 2, Sharon Melia 1, Jamie Sherburne 1