FloMAX Liffey Celtics overcome Killester to claim Paudie O'Connor National Cup crown

FloMAX Liffey Celtics beat Killester 65-53 to secure their second Paudie O'Connor National Cup title at the National Basketball Arena on Sunday.

The Kildare’s outfit's strength in depth proved telling, illustrated by Hazel Finn coming off the bench to claim the game MVP - her energetic performance at both ends seeing her pick up the award after 13 points and eight rebounds.

Liffey Celtics built an early 5-0 advantage in the contest after Alexandra Navarette’s layup. But Ieva Bagdanviciene’s three reduced the deficit to one in the fourth minute.

Michelle Clarke’s driving layup kickstarted a seven-point run for Killester, as they went 14-9 up with two minutes to go in the first quarter, but it was a one-point game, 14-13, by the end of the it after Finn’s two-point jump shot.

Liffey Celtic’s Irish internationals clicked into gear in the second quarter, a Rachel Huisjdens two-point jump shot and a Finn layup nudged the County Kidare outfit 17-14 in front early on.

Next up was Sorcha Tiernan, who landed a three with three minutes gone, to put Karl Kilbride's side 20-16 up. Tiernan was also linking up well with Huisjdens, she picked her out in the paint and a layup from the former DCU Mercy player had Liffey Celtics 26-18 ahead at the quarter midpoint.

Killester needed a response, captain Michelle Clarke landed from the three point line with three minutes to go to trail 30-21, only for Kate O’Sullivan to respond in kind seconds later. A Tiernan jump shot and it was 35-21 to Liffey Celtics with 1.15 left in the quarter. Killester’s American Samantha Haiby, was largely kept quiet in the first half, her layup in the closing seconds cut the deficit to ten, 35-25, at half-time.

A pair of Navarette layups and two Tiernan jump shots and it