Defending champs Dublin Lions fall to Limerick

DEFENDING champions Abbey Seals Dublin Lions finished second best to Limerick Celtics 64-55 to win the InsureMyHouse.ie Women’s Division One National Cup for the first time.

After a scoreless opening two and a half minutes, the side’s exchanged threes, Samantha Colman’s basket matched by Emily Smyth moments later.

Sophia Widmeyer put Abbey Seals Dublin Lions 7-6 up with four minutes gone, but after that Limerick Celtics went on a 15-point run to take control of the game, Mikayla Brandon helped herself to nine points in that run, either side of two Lucy Devoy three pointers, as she also found her range.

Limerick Celtics took a 21-11 lead in the second quarter and extended their advantage further to 19 points – Brandon’s three point jump shot had them 32-13 midway through the quarter.

Abbey Seals kept their opponents scoreless for the rest of the quarter, while grabbing eight points of their own to close the gap to 32-21 by half-time, Widmeyer’s three the last points of the half.

The third quarter saw Sydney Kin score 11 of our side’s 15 points, a layup from her saw Abbey Seals Dublin Lions trail 45-34 with two and a half minutes to go in the third quarter and the Dublin club’s fans were starting to believe.

Abbey Seals Dublin Lions’ Gillian Wheeler is challenged by Lucy Devoy and Aoife Morrissey of Limerick Celtics

Limerick Celtics, however, would hold a 46- 36 lead by the end of the quarter.

Tony Hehir’s side stretched the gap once more at the start of the fourth quarter, Aoife Morrissey’s basket had them 51-38 ahead two minutes in.

A layup from Kin and additional converted free throw reduced the deficit to 53-45 with three and a half minutes to go.

Abbey Seals Dublin Lions were beaten by Limerick Celtics in the final

It was a six-point game, 57-51, with 30 seconds to go thanks two three’s from Lions’ Emily Smyth, either side a Lucy Devoy basket for Celtics – the composed Devoy would finish with 18 points.