Pyrobel Killester end 44-year wait for Super League title

Pyrobel Killester are the MissQuote.ie Super League champions after they beat FloMAX Liffey Celtics 90-62 in the play-off final at the National Basketball Arena on Saturday.

It's their first women's Super League title since 1980.

The sides were forced into a play-off after they both finished with equal 17-3 records at the end of the regular season.

Killester made a fast start in this decider and never really looked back. MVP Ieva Bagdanaviciene picked up 11 points in the opening quarter, as the Dublin club opened up an 23-12 lead. FloMAX Liffey Celtics closed that gap, helped by Alexandra Navarette’s three along to way, to trail 23-17 by the end of the first.

But Killester raced out of the blocks in the second quarter, and captain Michelle Clarke’s three from the corner just before the midpoint had them 36-19 to the good.

A Sorcha Tiernan fast-break and layup, followed by a pair of Navarette free throws got FloMax Liffey Celtics up and running.

However a Bagdanaviciene three from the corner followed - which brought her tally to 17 at that stage - and Killester were 39-23 up with three and a half minutes to go in the quarter. The Lithuanian would finish with 26 points.

A long range three by Tiernan, from midway between the halfcourt and three point line, with a little over 30 seconds to go in the second quarter saw Liffey Celtics trail 43-32, but Claire Melia had the last say, her layup helping Killester to a 45-32 half-time lead.

Melia opened the third quarter with a layup and a two point jump shot, Killester appeared to have a firm grip on proceedings, 49-32 up.

They had a 25-point lead, 63-38, with a little over two minutes to go in the third, following Michelle Clarke’s effort from the three point line, another Melia lay-up