Today’s Senior Women’s National Cup Final will certainly not be one for the faint-hearted as reigning champions Portlaoise Panthers go head-to-head with 2013 winners Oblate Dynamos.
In what is set to be a thrilling and tough final, you can expect to be sitting on the edge of your seat as the battle for supremacy between these two top sides will be played out in all its glory in the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.
Portlaoise will be looking to make it two in a row and if their League form this year is anything to go by, fans will be expecting them to take the Cup home to Co. Laois this evening.
Currently sitting at the top of the league, despite this being only their third year playing at this level, Panthers’ fans are quietly confident ahead of today’s game.
However, Oblate Dynamos are not ones to be underestimated. Crowned Cup winners in 2013, they will be looking to take the Cup title back.
In reality, today’s final is anyone’s game as two very experienced teams prepare to do battle, with tip-off in the Arena at 4.30pm.
Oblate Dynamos won the cup in 2013.
Speaking to Her.ie, Portlaoise Panthers coach, Peter Sullivan was looking ahead to today’s encounter.
“We’re looking forward to it,” he stated. “You have to be confident going into a game like this.
“Cup final weekend is where every basketball player wants to be and to be here two years in a row is simply fantastic.
“We haven’t lost one game this year yet, we’re at the top of the League, but to be honest, if you asked me to pick one opponent I would not want to meet along the way it would have to be Oblate Dynamos.
“It’s always a close and tough game when we meet them. The game at home in Portlaoise saw them 16 points ahead of us at one stage.”
Portlaoise Panthers celebrating a win.
“We know today’s not going to be easy, we don’t start well and we’re hoping to change that.
“We’ve kept a lot of the experience from last year’s winning side and we have an American this year, Kelsey Wolfe, who we will also be looking to on the day.
“The atmosphere in the Arena will also play a huge part. League positioning doesn’t matter on Cup Final day. It will all come down to how each player handles the experience and hopefully we can pull on to win,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Oblate Dynamos are also preparing for the game and one fan’s dedication has become a major hit online when he posted this ‘Oblate Dynamos Rap’ on YouTube.
Video via YouTube/Alan Carroll
We certainly can’t wait for today’s final and if yesterday’s games are anything to go by, spectators are sure to be in for a treat.
