BASKETBALL Team Montenotte Hotel Cork 79 (44) Bausch & Lomb Wildcats 70 (22)

Team Montenotte Hotel Cork completed the three-in-a-row at the National Basketball Arena with a 79-70 success at the National Basketball Arena.

Team Montenotte Hotel Cork, who had gone into this game on the back of a dramatic semi-final over-time win over DCU Mercy, were very quick out of the blocks with Niamh Dwyer and Jennifer Strong opening up a double digits lead with 2.40 left to go in the first quarter.

An additional basket from Donna Buckley left Team Montenotte Hotel Cork up 19-7 at the end of the first and with Bausch & Lomb Wildcats American forward, Mel Thomas, not presented with too many shooting opportunities, Tony Hehir's team required a shot from former Irish international, Michelle Aspell, on the 24 second buzzer to lift their spirits.

But with their young star, Sinead Deegan, already on three fouls, Wildcats were starting to running low on options.

Indeed it wasn't 2.25 left on the clock that Thomas finally broke her duck with Team Montenotte Hotel Cork's lead at 36-17. But with Denise Walsh sneaking in for two baskets in the final minute, Team Montenotte had opened up a 44-22 lead at the break.

The start of the second half saw Wildcats return with renewed vigour with Cathy Kavanagh, Thomas and Aspell making three quick baskets on the trot.

But with gaps left at the gap, Team Montenotte Hotel Cork capitalized with some rather unopposed scores under the Wildcats baskets.

And enjoying a fifty per cent strike rate on their two point shots heading into the final period, the inside presence of Strong and Dwyer ensured a healthy 62-45 lead at the end of the third.

Michelle Fahy then stretched their lead to 21 points but her involvement but Team Montenotte Hotel Cork were then dealt a minor blow when the Irish international hobbled off the court.

In her temporary absence, Wildcats managed to cut their opponents lead to fifteen points. Fahy returned soon after but Team Montenotte Hotel Cork were then presented with another headache when Jennifer Strong was fouled out with three minutes to go.

Two subsequent frees from Jillian Hayes made it a ten point affair only for Team Montenotte Hotel Cork to stun their opponents with a superb outside shot.

And although Aspell was to respond with a three pointer of her own, Team Montenotte Hotel Cork experience was to show with Niamh Dwyer and and Fahy steadying the ship with vital scores at the end.

And speaking afterwards a jubilant Head coach, Mark Scannell had this to say
"Obviously the game plan was to shut down Michelle Aspell and Mel Thomas who are two great players. I suppose this win is just as good as the rest and its only sad that Marie Breen who is away in Austrailia wasn't here to share today with us."