Pierce points Killester to win

Basketball - Killester 78 Univ of Limerick 66: After a brief flirt with excitement the women's ESB Cup was engraved for the first time with the name Killester. It was a tough result for the University of Limerick, who the previous night had upset the hopes of cup favourites Tolka Rovers.

In the end there was no stopping the determination of Dart Killester. The north Dublin club seemed intent on getting their name on the cup throughout the weekend, and started last night's final like a team that couldn't fail.

By half way they were 44-29 in the clear. Emma Pierce was the early inspiration with a string of three-pointers and that pointed the way towards the victory. Pierce ended up the game's top scorer with 25 points and deservedly took the MVP award.

The Limerick side, however, after coming out of the third quarter 62-40 in arrears, launched one final assault and through the tireless Michelle Aspell and Niamh Mulally worked it back to a 12-point game. Yet that was as close as they could get. Vanessa Burke combined sweetly with Gillian Ennis to keep Killester safe.

Sinead Vaughan (15) and Burke (11) were the other chief operators in sealing Limerick's fate and with Pierce totalling seven three-pointers there was no arguing with the winners.

Unfortunately for both sides, TV pressure had forced the Irish Basketball Association to switch the women's final to after the men's final and they ended up playing in front of a half-full arena. The IBA will be eager to reverse the format next year.

At least there was some consolation for the University of Limerick club in that they took the junior women's title 73-58, despite a late rally by Presentation Thurles. After cruising into a 41-18 lead at half way, Limerick were thinking early about the celebration drive home but that quickly ended in the third quarter.

Lifted by Grainne Dwyer, Thurles cut the deficit with remarkable pace. Together with her sister Aine and Sarah Healy, Dwyer closed the game to 50-44. There too the comeback ended.

A succession of three-pointers from Carol Fennell and the consistency of Niamh Mulally took Limerick back into the clear and with that the deserving victory.