Portlaoise women suffer setback in bid for Super League play-off berth
"That was an extremely tough loss to take." Portlaoise head coach, Peter O'Sullivan
Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers 41
Utility Trust St. Paul’s 47
MIDLANDS Park Portlaoise Panthers suffered a setback in their quest to secure a berth in this season’s Women’s Super League play-offs after they were outpaced down the stretch by the in-form Utility Trust St Paul’s in Sunday afternoon’s clash in St Mary’s Hall.
In what was a defence-dominated showdown, both sides really struggled to garner any sort of attacking momentum, although it was the visitors who enjoyed the better of it in the second quarter, outscoring Panthers by nine in that period to take a six-point lead into the half-time recess.
The hosts did, however, mount an eight-point run in the fourth that hauled them back on to level terms at 41 points apiece, only to see their Kerry rivals dig in again and serve up crucial buckets over the closing minute through Callie Cavanaugh and Gracen Kerr Sunday’s result leaves the two sides deadlocked on 18 points in the table, and, while both teams do now have a win apiece in their head-to-head record, a slightly better points difference over these two games does afford St. Paul’s the inside track in the race for the play-offs.
“That was an extremely tough loss to take,” sighed Portlaoise head coach, Peter O’Sullivan. “Both teams appreciated the enormity of the game and I think that’s what led to the low-scoring affair.
“On a positive from our side, to only allow a team score 47 in Super League showed our intensity on the defensive end, but unfortunately, we just couldn’t get it to click in offence” he told the *****Laois Nationalist*****.
Portlaoise were first from the blocks on Sunday, Alyssa Velles draining a superb three with just 50 seconds gone, and, while they managed to remain out in front for the remainder of the opening quarter, they still had St. Paul’s snapping at their heels.
Cavanaugh was already proving a handful on the inside with six early points, but further buckets from Lynn Tunnah, Jessica Fressle and Amy Dooley saw the hosts end the first period with a narrow 11-8 advantage.
Yet, within a minute of their return to the court, St Paul’s had edged in front for the first time, Kerr and Mathilde Diop each serving up a deuce.
Both players continued to prove a real thorn in the side of the Portlaoise defence, as they combined for 17 points in the second quarter alone, Kerr’s big hit from outside the arc propelling the visitors 13 points clear with just over three minutes remaining before the half-time break.
But Panthers, who had gone more than five minutes without a score, picked up seven points in just over two to drag themselves back into the running, Megan Dunne and Dooley delivering in the paint before Velles served up a much-needed basket from downtown to reduce their arrears to four.
Diop did, however, muscle her way in for another deuce with 30 seconds left in the first half to see the Kerry side take a 30-24 lead into the half-time recess.
With just 30 percent success from the floor in the opening half, Panthers really needed to increase their return in the second half, but they managed just a further nine points in the third quarter.
Defence, however, was keeping them in it, as St. Paul’s managed to go just one better in that penultimate period to take a 40-33 advantage into the final quarter.
They managed to widen the gap slightly to eight points before Portlaoise began to slowly work their way back, starting with a deuce from Fressle that was followed with a basket from Tunnah and two from Dooley to restore parity at 41 points apiece with 1:21 left on the clock.
Yet, just when it looked like St. Paul’s might be overtaken, up popped Cavanaugh with a crucial score from the perimeter to nudge them back in front, before Kerr then worked her way in for another deuce that she followed up with two free throws to ensure a big win for the visitors.
With only three games remaining in the regular season, Portlaoise will be hoping they can bounce back quickly when they travel to Cork next Sunday to take on The Address UCC Glanmire.
“A game against Glanmire is always going to be tough away from home,” said O’Sullivan.
“They’re on a good run of form, but we know we need to get a win from somewhere to keep our play-off hopes alive, so we’ll regroup during the week and go strong at that match next Sunday.” MIDLANDS PARK PORTLAOISE PANTHERS: Holli Dunne, Ciara Byrne, Megan Dunne, Lynn Tunnah, Jessica Fressle, Amy Dooley, Alyssa Velles.
Top Scorers: Alyssa Velles (10), Amy Dooley (10), Lynn Tunnah (8), Jessica Fressle (7).
UTILITY TRUST ST. PAUL’S: Leah McMahon, Rheanne O’Shea, Lynn Jones, Gracen Kerr, Denise Dunlea, Lorraine Scanlon, Callie Cavanaugh, Mathilde Diop.
Top Scorers: Gracen Kerr (14), Callie Cavanaugh (14), Mathilde Diop (11).
