Wildcats hit 113 points in a cup romp over Galway Mystics
Wildcats Aoife Brett tackled by Mystic's Lily Hynes
SETU Wildcats advance to the National Cup semi-finals after a comfortable home victory over Galway Mystics on Saturday last at the Mercy sports hall. They now join three other victorious semi- finalists in Liffey Celtics Kildare; Killester Dublin; and St Paul's Killarney Co. Kerry in the open draw taking place at HQ this coming week . Those semi- finals will take place early January in Cork city with the final a week later in the National Arena Dublin.
The STS sponsored Wildcats lined out without two of their starters in captain Helena Rohan and Kate Hickey who are sidelined with injuries. Unfortunately for Galway they also had a number of players unavailable through injuries. This gave others the opportunity to step up and be counted and sure enough they did as young Isobel Daniels and Adriana Shallci impressed with good game play as well as some delightful three pointers.
The game started at pace with baskets been traded before Wildcats Chelsea Cain went on a scoring spree netting 14 points to open a gap that put the home side in control leading by double scores 30-15 at the end of the opening quarter . As the game progressed Wildcats continued to dominate with Miriam Rasenberger and Aoife Brett adding a number of scores to offset some tremendous baskets from Galway which kept them hanging on. Then the game captain Sinead Deegan who was in excellent form fell awkwardly and damaged her ankle forcing her to withdraw from the game adding further to Wildcats injury worries. Soon the half way stage buzzer sounded with Wildcats leading 53-34 and looking to already have a place in the semi-finals in the bag.
Into the third quarter which mainly belonged score wise to Sarah Hickey and Aisha McCalla who netted a number of tremendous baskets while the ever improving Orla Dullaghan also had many fine scores as well as many athletic rebounds. Galway never threw in the towel and had the game’s best performer in Kiera Rivers who finished top scorer and rebounder. As the game entered the final quarter Wildcats led 86-44 and drove on to finish with a 53 point difference at the games end 113-60. Not the usual classic the Wildcats supporters are used to but however there are many tough tests ahead, and none more than this Saturday's away game against St Paul's Killarney who eliminated a fancied Dublin Meteors in their cup semi last weekend in the capital.
Coach Jillian Hayes- Hickey and her team are in top spot in the Super League travelling to Kerry, but a mounting injury list has to be concerning as they strive to remain at the summit.
