St Paul’s leave it late but dig out win

Denise Dunlea: Outstanding for Killarney

For the second week running Utility Trust St Paul’s rolled up their sleeves when it mattered most and dug out a win with a superb final quarter performance.

They added the scalp of Killester to that of Brunell and, on successive weekends, they have now defeated the 2024 League champions and 2024 National Cup winners.

Earlier in the season these games were slipping through the grasp of James Fleming’s side but the experience of those defeats have obviously rubbed off on them. It is something team captain Denise Dunlea, outstanding again, feels they’ve learned from.

Alex Wittinger hit 21points

The Scartaglen native was content after the win: “We definitely have learned a lot from the two defeats to Killester. They have great shooters who were dangerous but we regrouped and shut them down in the second half. We’ve had a lot of close games and I think we’ve learned from those. We stayed calm and picked our chances well.”

It was in the first half of this game, played in the Irish Wheelchair Association Gym in Clontarf, that Killester really had their eye in. Irish international Michelle Clarke was clinical, hitting five from beyond the arc and alongside Hannah Thornton they tormented the Paul’s defence.

Killester were 23-15 ahead at the end of the first quarter, two ahead at half-time and the third quarter threatened to get away from St Paul’s with Killester opening up a 10-point lead at one stage, 61-51.

It was at this stage that Fleming switched the defensive playbook as they were relying on Kerr, Diop and Wittinger to keep them afloat. The score of the game from Rheanne O’Shea following an incisive passing movement seemed to act as a spur and even though Killester held a 63-55 lead it felt like the worm was turning.

A strong start to the final quarter certainly enforced that theory as Kerr (3), Diop and Wittinger (3) all struck. Meanwhile down the other end St Pauls were executing some strong stops and that cut the lead to three, 67-64.

Rheanne O’Shea: Score of the game

With 4.20 to go Dunlea cut that to one, that being the cue for Wittinger to give St Paul’s the lead. But some good defensive play from Strother and Haiby led to breakaway scores which put Killester back in the driving seat with 2.18 on the clock.

Not to be derailed, St Pauls stuck to the task with Dunlea and Diop cutting the gap to one. Killester’s offence had all but dried up now and Wittinger put her side ahead again from the free-throw line.

With the Dublin side now in team fouls St Paul’s could afford to up the ante and the winning points came from the free-throw line. Dunlea added to her total and Diop stole the ball to clinch the win. At the third time of asking St Pauls had eventually got the number of Killester.

Alex Wittinger hit 21, Gracen Kerr netted 20, Denise Dunlea 14, Mathilde Diop 13, Rheanne O’Shea and Lorraine Scanlon both notched our and Lynn Jones and Meabh Barry also contributed handsomely.

For Killester Michelle Clarke shot 21, Hannah Thornton 17, Destiny Strother and Samantha Haiby 16 each.

Utility Trust St Paul’s have a free weekend and the Galway Mystics will be the next visitors to Killarney on Saturday, February 15.

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