Wildcats go oh so close
Christine O’Gorman who finished top scorer for Bausch and Lomb Wildcats last Saturday night.
Bausch and Lomb Wildcats went oh so close to causing the upset of the Superleague season when they went down 69-73 to reigning champions Glanmire of Cork in the Mercy sports hall last Saturday night.
This was the last home game of the season and the young Wildcats gave their supporters every reason to be optimistic for the seasons ahead, as for most of the game they had the champions on the rack.
The game had scarcely started when WIT student and birthday girl Elaine Kennington (20) had Wildcats six points to the good. Glanmire hit back as expected but not for long as fellow WIT student Christine O’Gorman hit a brace of fine scores to leave Wildcats 12-6 ahead after eight minutes.
Some fine outside shooting from the Cork side gave them the edge 15-19 at the end of the opening quarter.
Ding-dong battle
The game’s second quarter proved to be a ding-dong battle with Wildcats matching Glanmire’s best efforts in every area. Scores were exchanged but when Lisa Dooley hit a couple of amazing three pointers to put Wildcats ahead, even the most doubtful Wildcats supporter sat up in anticipation of the unexpected.
A couple of naïve fouls allowed Glanmire square up the game on the free throw line and a last gasp three pointer from Irish international Maire Breen left Wildcats 35-38 in arrears at the halfway stage.
The third quarter saw Glanmire put on a full court press which proved fruitful and the Bausch and Lomb side found themselves trailing by nine as they struggled against the press.
Gradually Wildcats edged their way back into the game mainly through the superb Christine O’Gorman who worked tirelessly throughout and reaped the benefits of her efforts by notching up the game high of 24 points.
As the game entered the final quarter Glanmire led by just three points who were pegged back every time they forged ahead. With four minutes to the final buzzer Helena Rohan netted twice and Elaine Kenninton struck twice more to level the game. From there on scores were hard to come by as both defences stood firm, the scoreboard read 69-69 with 49 seconds remaining.
Wildcats had two efforts which rimmed out, then with tension at fever pitch a Wildcat’s inbound went astray and Niamh Dwyer said thank you very much and laid up to put Glanmire ahead. Moments later a foul by Wildcats allowed Glanmire two more easy points on the free throw line in the dying seconds to signal game up for the gallant young Wildcats.