Maree ladies suffered a heart-breaking two-point loss in extra time to PV Falcons in a nail-biting National League basketball division one clash at the weekend.
With both teams treading the bottom of the league table, although Maree have games in hand, this 67-69 defeat was disappointing for the Galway side that is developing with every competitive outing.
Tight defence, which forced errors and turnovers, marked the opening quarter. Maree’s starting five all contributed to the scoreline which read 16 - 15 in Longford’s favour.
Although Longford pulled ahead early in the second, Maree made a great recovery with baskets from O’Hagan and McCarthy, who followed up with a big three. A lay up from Caitriona Foley ensured a break-even quarter, but Maree still lagged behind Longford by a point at half time, 28 - 27.
The third quarter was tense for Maree as they were out-boxed by the much taller Longford team who ran away with an eight-point lead. Maree, however, began to settle and made an impact on the the score line. Fve points from Marion Murren, O’Malley at the free throw line, and McCarthy, who put away a two-point shot followed by an inspirational three-pointer, reduced the deficit to a single point.
Another McCarthy three saw the sides level at the start of the fourth before captain Niamh O’Hagan followed with an offensive reboundto put Maree in the lead. Although Clancy scored another basket, Longford never let up. McGowan went on to score the next eight points before Maree regained the inititiave. O’Hagan, Aoife O’Malley, and Maebh Malone once again reduced the deficit to a single point, and with only seconds left, Colleen McInerney was fouled going to the basket, scoring a free throw to equalise and keep Maree in the game for extra time.
Extra time proved dramatic and tense as Longford, who had forced the pace throughout, started aggressively to take a five-point lead. However Aoife O’Malley replied with a two and Niamh O’Hagan scored a free throw, and as Maree dug deep Caitriona Foley’s speciality spin drive to the basket evened the score again. Longford’s Siobhan McGowan and O’Malley again exchanged scores, before Longford’s top scorer successfully scored from the free throw line. Then with just four seconds left Maree’s Carol McCarthy took a three-pointer. After spinning on the rim, it came back out, shattering Maree’s hopes of winning the game.
Maree senior ladies’ next match is away to Brunell Cork on January 18.
Maree: Christina Brennan, Caoimhe Clancy (8 ), Hannah Coen (3 ), Maeve Conroy, Caitriona Foley (4 ), Maebh Malone (2 ), Carol Mc Carthy (15 ), Colleen McInerney (6 ), Marion Murren (5 ), Nicola O’Connell, Niamh O’Hagan (9 ), Aoife O’Malley (13 ). Coach, Joe Shields; Assistant coach, Adrian O’Neill; Manager, Bernie McCarthy.
