Eagles push unbeaten Killarney to the limit
Basketball Super League
McEvoy's Cavan Eagles 53
St Paul's, Killarney 59
The atmosphere was electric at the Virginia Show Centre on Saturday as McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles came agonisingly close to toppling unbeaten St Paul’s Killarney in a gripping Domino’s Women’s Super League encounter that showcased heart, determination and top-class basketball from both sides.
In the end, it was the Kerry outfit who held firm, prevailing 59-53, but not before being pushed to their limits by a resurgent Eagles side who refused to yield.
It was one-way traffic early on as St Paul’s flew out of the blocks, keeping the Eagles scoreless for the first five minutes and establishing a 14-0 lead through their unstoppable American Maisie Burnham and the ever-consistent Irish senior international Lorraine Scanlon. Soleil Barnes finally got Cavan on the board, followed by baskets from Ciara Tolan and Alex Mulligan, but a late three-pointer from Tara Cousins saw Killarney take a commanding 17-5 lead after the opening quarter.
St Paul’s head coach James Fleming used his bench smartly, with Denise Dunlea and Lynn Jones adding defensive energy as St Paul’s maintained control in the second quarter. With Burnham in devastating form and Scanlon hoovering up rebounds, she had already reached double digits by half-time, the visitors surged into a 35-17 lead at the break.
Whatever was said in the Eagles’ locker room at halftime worked wonders. Emerging with renewed focus and aggression, Katie O’Sullivan ignited the comeback with a series of confident drives to the basket, while Mazzie Harris followed up with key midrange jumpers.
The home crowd began to find their voice as the momentum shifted. When Ciara Tolan nailed a big three-pointer, the gap was down to seven (40-33) and belief started to ripple through the stands. St Paul’s steadied the ship briefly with back-to-back threes from Burnham and Lovisa Hevinder, but the Eagles weren’t done.
As O’Sullivan and Barnes continued to chip away, the deficit shrank to 46-39 heading into the final stretch. Then came the moment that had the Virginia crowd on its feet, a thrilling three-pointer from Mazzie Harris that tied the game at 53-53 with just over a minute remaining.
For a brief spell, the impossible seemed possible. The Eagles had clawed their way back from 18 points down to level terms against one of the most dominant teams in the league.
But top teams find ways to win, and that’s exactly what St Paul’s did. Maisie Burnham, the game’s outstanding performer, drained a huge three-pointer under pressure before fellow American Tara Cousins followed with another dagger from beyond the arc. A couple of late free throws sealed it, and though the final margin stood at six points, the contest had been anything but comfortable for the visitors.
Despite the loss, there was immense pride in the Eagles’ camp. Their stirring second-half fightback underscored the team’s growth, depth and grit. O’Sullivan and Ciara Tolan led the scoring with 13 points apiece, while Harris recorded another double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds). Barnes contributed eight points and tireless defensive work, and Mulligan added key baskets during the surge. Captain Niamh Tolan led by example throughout, and Ciara Brady brought composure and defensive intensity off the bench.
Team captain Niamh Tolan commended the team’s response:
“A poor start really let us down, but once we settled and started to play our game, we showed that we can mix it with the best teams in the country. The fight we showed in that second half is something we can really build on.”
Though the defeat keeps St Paul’s perfect record intact, the Eagles leave the court with their heads held high, proof that they can compete with the very best in the league.
Next up, McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles host Fr Mathews at the Virginia Show Centre on Saturday, November 1 at 3pm. If Saturday’s performance is anything to go by, it promises to be another thrilling encounter.