03 January 2026
Neptune Stadium, Cork
Final Score: Trinity Meteors 57-69 FloMAX Liffey Celtics
Half-time: Trinity Meteors 31-38 FloMAX Liffey Celtics
Top scorers Meteors: S.Kenny 12, A. Learn 12, A.Moran 12
Top Scorers Eagles: D.Brusch 21, K.Williamson 15, B.Kane 13
Trinity Meteors squared off against FloMAX Liffey Celtics in a widely anticipated National Cup Semifinal in Cork. With Liffey Celtics coming into the game on a five-game winning streak, Meteors knew they were facing a tough side.
Liffey Celtics got on the board first, as guard Destinee Brusch used her quick, agile speed to blow by her defender and score with a beautiful reverse layup. Trinity Sport Scholar, Ava Learn, got off to a hot start for Trinity, attacking the basket early and using her strength and size to finish inside the paint. This was followed by Hazel Finn, who brushed by her defender with a quick first step to lay the ball in with her right hand to tie the game at 6-6. Both teams attacked the basket early, opting not to settle for outside shots. Catherine Connaire and Kylie Horstmeyer both got their names on the scoresheet with two crafty drives. Destinee Brusch created huge problems for Trinity Meteors’ defence, scoring multiple three-pointers off the dribble for Liffey Celtics in the first quarter. Meteors had multiple opportunities to take the lead towards the end of the quarter, but despite some great defence creating numerous fastbreak opportunities, they were unable to capitalise, resulting in Trinity trailing by three after the first.
Trinity Meteors struggled to score early in the second quarter, as Liffey played some tenacious defence. Trinity responded by also increasing their defensive intensity. Ciara Mulligan forced a turnover with excellent help defence, while Ava Learn used her wide wingspan to intercept passes and come up with steals. Aisling Moran was a huge spark off the bench, hustling hard and scoring multiple times at the basket. A Moran three-pointer followed by a Sarah Kenny midrange jump shot resulted in Meteors tying the game with just three minutes to go in the quarter. However, Liffey Celtics responded through the duo of Katie Williamson and Destinee Brusch, going on a big run to close the quarter as the Kildare side entered halftime with an advantage of seven points.
Meteors’ defence would step up massively at the start of the second half, led by their defensive anchor Ava Learn. She disrupted Liffey Celtics throughout the half, recording four steals and three blocks, including an impressive one off the backboard, as momentum began to shift towards the South Dublin side. Sarah Kenny pulled up in rhythm on the fastbreak from three-point range as Meteors trimmed the deficit to just three points. This was followed by two baskets from Aisling Moran at the rim, bringing the lead down to just one as they entered the final quarter.
Ciara Mulligan’s two-point basket assisted by Franciska Treiliha would push Meteors ahead at the start of the fourth quarter. Another effortless transition three-pointer from Kenny kept Meteors level with the reigning cup champions in the opening minutes of the deciding quarter. From there, things went downhill for Seamas Donnelly’s side. Five scoreless minutes saw Trinity fall into a double-digit deficit with just two minutes remaining. On top of this, foul trouble heavily hampered the Dublin side with Hazel Finn fouling out halfway through the fourth while Ava Learn also being severely limited after picking up four fouls. Despite a valiant lastminute comeback effort led by Connaire and Moran, Meteors would fall short as Liffey Celtics advanced to their second consecutive National Cup Final. A disappointing end to a strong cup run from Trinity Meteors.
Trinity Meteors return to league action next weekend, hosting Fr. Mathews at 5.30pm in Coláiste Iosagáin on Saturday.
Quarter Scores:
Q1: 15-18 Q2: 16-20
Q3: 16-10 Q4: 10-21
Game Scores:
Q1: 15-18 Q2: 31-38
Q3: 47-48 Q4: 57-69
Trinity Meteors: #3 Hazel Finn, #5 Caoimhe Gilligan, #6 Catherine Connaire (C), #7 Sarah Kenny (C), #8 Helena Keane, #10 Martina Destro, #11 Ciara Mulligan, #12 Aisling Moran, #13 Franciska Treiliha, #14 Ava Learn, #16 Kylie Horstmeyer, #32 Riodhna McGrath
Head Coach: Seamas Donnelly
FloMAX Liffey Celtics: #2 Brooke Kane, #3 Crea Langan, #4 Kate O’Flaherty, #5 Kelly Bracken, #6 Aoibhinn Doyle, #7 Katie Williamson, #8 Destinee Brusch, #11 Carley Njonguo, #14 Clara Boyce, #23 Sorcha Tiernan, #24 Erin Boyce, #34 Aine O’Connor (C)
Head Coach: Hillary Netsiyanwa
