Fr Mathews hope to cause an upset against in-form Brunell in Paudie O'Connor Cup final

Gráinne Dwyer is hoping that Sunday will be one of the good days at the National Basketball Arena.

The vastly experienced player will line out for Catalyst Fr. Mathews in the InsureMyHouse.ie Paudie O'Connor Cup final. She's played in the biggest game in Irish basketball plenty of times before, and knows the joy of victory and the earth-shattering pain of defeat.

"It doesn't get old winning the cup," she says.

"One doesn't feel better than the other. I've competed in a lot of cup finals. I have six with Glanmire, and two or three others that I competed in and lost.

"I've two with Wildcats so I have been at both ends of it and they're all so different. It would be very special with Mathews.

Catalyst Fr.Mathews - Route to the final

72-65 v Portlaoise Panthers
92-70 v Ulster University
71-67 v FloMAX Liffey Celtics

"Myself, [sister] Niamh, Shannon Brady - our other American but she's nearly Irish at this stage - we've been here since the start five years ago.

"Some people might find it shocking that we're there but I see the work that goes in. I see what our players can bring and the bond.

"We've been very fortunate this year to got a new sponsor in Catalyst and we get a bus to most of our away games. It's been so valuable because we train two nights a week.

"We all have full-time jobs or there's girls in college. We don't really get to converse as much as we should because there's so much going on.

"So that time travelling on the road has been the making of us."

Opponents Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell are the favourites though, with their form this season carrying them to the top of the SuperLeague at the moment.

Danielle O'Leary is one of the stars. She's been with the club since she started playing basketball and was involved