Drimnagh came to Killarney full of confidence following their easy 14-point win over Scruffys last November. However, they found a very determined Killarney side on this occasion and Scruffys signalled their intentions from an early stage racing 5-0 ahead after two minutes with a basket from Sarah Cartmill and a three-pointer from Diane Griffin. Tamala Vaughn replied for Drimnagh but Scruffys were moving very well and further scores came from Catriona O Connell and Diane Griffin and a three-pointer from captain Lynn Jones. Carolyn O Mahony and Dara Barrett came off the bench and played prominent roles and Scruffys led 22-11 at the end of the first quarter.

The Killarney girls continued to dominate with the superb Sarah Cartmill hitting a three-pointer while Muiriosa Galwey was also making a notable impact. Sharyn Kelly and Tamala Vaughn kept Drimnagh in touch but further scores from the dynamic duo of Griffin and Cartmill pushed Scruffys 35-23 clear with 2:31 left in the first half. Drimnagh hit back with a three-pointer from Karen Staunton and a Vaughn basket to cut it to 35-28. Carolyn O Mahony made a big three-point play and Scruffys finished the half with a massive three-pointer from Dara Barrett to lead 41-32 at half time.

The Killarney side took command again upon the resumption and early baskets from Diane Griffin had them leading 45-34 after three minutes. Sharyn Kelly replied with a three-pointer for Drimnagh but Muiriosa Galwey was equally impressive from three-point land and Scruffys led 50-37 with 4:30 left. Drimnagh kept plugging away but struggled to contain the dominant Sarah Cartmill and successive baskets from her kept Scruffys ahead by 59-50 as the game entered the final quarter.

Drimnagh s fighting spirit continued and big scores from Vaughn and Kelly narrowed the gap to 59-55. Scruffys responded and the outstanding Cartmill scored again while Diane Griffin nailed a magnificent outside shot to stretch the gap to 63-55 with 7:23 remaining. A three-pointer from Georgina McKenna brought Drimnagh back again but this was quickly cancelled out by a similar effort from Griffin as Scruffys led 66-58.

The brilliance of Sharyn Kelly narrowed it again to 68-64, and she continued to shine for the visitors but accurate free throw shooting from Cartmill and Griffin kept Scruffys 72-67 ahead with 2:40 left.

The Drimnagh challenge collapsed after this and their fouling tactics were punished by Scruffys who had further scores from the free throw line from Cartmill, Jones and O Connell to secure a 10-point win.

Overall this was a fully deserved victory for the Killarney girls who were really up for this match from the word go. Sarah Cartmill and Diane Griffin were superb and created countless problems for the visitors. Their colleagues played smartly by looking to, and assisting this double scoring threat at all times when Scruffys needed a basket. Team captain Lynn Jones was particularly resourceful with excellent assist play while the roles from Carolyn O Mahony and Dara Barrett off the bench were a huge boost to the overall challenge.

Scruffys:: Sarah Cartmill (27), Diane Griffin (26),Muiriosa Galwey (6), Lynn Jones (5),

 

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