Slow start proves costly for Portlaoise women as they fall to Limerick
Portlaoise Panthers' Katie Rose Harrison out in a huge stint against Limerick Celtics at the weekend Photo: ©INPHO/Ben Brady
MIDLANDS Park Portlaoise Panthers went toe to toe with hosts, Limerick Celtics for three of the four quarters in their Domino’s Women’s Super League clash in Crescent College on Saturday, but the early ground they had lost in the opening period was to prove costly.
Indeed, they trailed 29-17 by the close of that first quarter, with that gap being enlarged to 18 at one point in the second, but credit to Panthers, they dug in and edged the middle two periods, but just not by enough to reel their opponents back in.
Jennifer Levine hurt them from downtown with five of her attempts dropping through the string, as she picked up 18 points on the day, while Meabh Purtill and Maya Cunningham were so effective under the boards for the home side, the two combining for a huge 29 rebounds, along with 23 points.
Alyssa Velles was just as prolific for Portlaoise from beyond the arc, as she emerged with a game-high 23 points, but even that, and the 21 rebounds mopped up by Chinwe Iwunze and Bria Shine, were not enough to spark an effective revival.
Limerick held out for their opening win of the campaign, while Portlaoise were left licking the wounds of their third straight defeat ahead of a huge double-game weekend that will see them travel to defending champions, Trinity Meteors on Saturday, before they return to Dublin two days later to face Killester.
While disappointed at seeing her side again come up just short in Limerick, Velles was quick to draw on the positives of their performance, remarking: “It was definitely a hard-fought battle for all 40 minutes.
“We didn't start out as strong as we had hoped to in the first quarter, and we allowed Limerick to get a good edge on us going into the second and were playing catch-up the rest of the game.
“The shots just weren't falling as much as we needed them to and Limerick were just the better team on the day, but, give us a couple weeks, and I think, if we met them again, it would be a completely different story.
“There were a lot of positives to take from that game, despite the slow start, and I think we can continue to build on everything that we're doing well and really just try to keep gelling as one cohesive unit.
“We're all just trying to get used to how everyone plays and each other's strengths and how we can best set each other up individually to be successful.
“It's still very early on in the season, so I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do and how we grow and be more successful as the season goes on” she told the *****Laois Nationalist*****.
It was Limerick who made the early running in this contest, an eight-point run late in the first quarter, helping them into a 29-17 lead by the close of that period.
Matters grew even more ominous for the visitors after Limerick enhanced their cushion by six as Levine struck from long range and Laura Buckley followed up with a deuce.
Portlaoise, however, managed to hold their opponents to only a further three points over the closing seven minutes of the first half, while Jasmine Burke, Velles and Iwunze got in for scores that brought the game back to 10 (38-28) by the break.
The gap was further reduced to six in the third, but Limerick managed to pull clear again thanks to timely buckets from Amy Buckley, Purtill and Levine, only to see Velles and Katie Rose Harrison drain much-needed attempts from off the arc to keep Panthers in the reckoning at 54-45 heading into the fourth.
Yet, Ger Jago’s side just could not draw close enough to really test the resolve of their opponents over a closing ten-minute period that was effectively tit-for-tat.
Velles, nevertheless, is hopeful she and her Portlaoise team mates can put that loss behind them and really push for an opening win against two of the Super League’s power houses this weekend.
“We have a match on Saturday in Trinity and then a quick turnaround with a game on Monday against Killester” she said. “Those will be two games in which we’ll be looking to try to get a win on the board, and I think they're both winnable games for us if we can put a really good 40 minutes together” she insisted.
Laura Buckley, Meabh Purtill, Eabha Booth, Amy Buckley, Jennifer Levine, Laura Gocek, Siun Kelly, Robyn Walsh, Maya Cunningham, Aisling Jordan.
Top Scorers: Jennifer Levine (18), Laura Buckley (13), Meabh Purtill (12), Maya Cunningham (11).
Ruth O’Brien, Holli Dunne, Megan Dunne, Katie Rose Harrison, Jasmine Burke, Chinwe Iwunze, Bria Shine, Alyssa Velles.
Top Scorers: Alyssa Velles (23), Holli Dunne (9), Chinwe Iwunze (8), Bria Shine (8).
