LIMERICK Celtics enjoyed a marvelous double in the National League Finals in Dublin at the weekend.
Celtics secured promotion to the Women’s Super League in dramatic fashion, defeating the Cleveland Rockets 76-68 after overtime.
Jordan Hehir-coached Celtics needed an Amy Buckley basket with 1.7 seconds to go to force overtime and then dominated the additional period to secure top-flight status for the first time.
MVP Sidney Richards scored 10 of her 30 points in the overtime period.
On the win, Hehir said: “It is massive; I think coming up short last year, to do it one year was great. Of course I was sad (to miss out last year), but I can see how well the men have done this year and how much youth and heart we have in this women’s team. I’m very excited. I am very excited to go up and have the challenge of Super League for hopefully a number of years.”
Celtics: Laura Buckley (6), Meabh Purtill (6), Madelyn Hartigan, Amy Buckley (18), Sidney Richards (30), Sabhbh Edwards-Murphy (13), Aoife Morrissey (1), Jade You, Emer Purtill, Katie Richards (2), Aisling Jordan, Anna Nealon.
Also, Celtics made it back-to-back BIDL (Basketball Ireland Development League) Men’s titles, thanks to a narrow 70-68 Final victory over UCD Marian.
Philip Kearney’s double-double performance of 15 points and 16 rebounds for Celtics, under coach Paul Kennedy, saw him pick up the MVP prize.
Celtics: Eoghan Donaghy (12), Martin Frawley (9), Michael Cleary, Matthew Barry (16), Ruairi Cronin (14), Patryk Rejkowicz (4), Philip Kearney (15), Max Turski.
Both Finals were played at the National Basketball Arena.