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Rebels Wheelers too strong for Clonaslee
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Rebels Wheelers too strong for Clonaslee

Rebel Wheelers’ quest for seven IWA National Cups in a row continues with 75-30 victory over Clonaslee

Conor Coughlan and Dylan McCarthy combine for 42 as Rebel Wheelers look to secure their seventh consecutive IWA National Cup in two weeks’ time.

IWA National Cup semi-final

It was a fairly comprehensive victory for Rebel Wheelers as they started off the game by racing into a 9-0 lead. Scores from Clonaslee’s Conor Dufficy were surrounded by Rebel Wheelers’ two’s and three’s as the Wheelers led 17-4 as the opening quarter came to a close.

Clonaslee managed to slow down the Wheelers offence at the start of the second quarter, with an 8-5 score in the opening four minutes of the second period. However, that was about as good as it got for Clonaslee as Rebel Wheelers went on a 12-3 run for the remainder of the half to give them a 25-point lead at the interval. Dylan McCarthy ran the show in the second quarter, scoring 14 of his 23 points, and 14 of Rebel Wheelers’ 20, in that period.

REPRO FREE ***PRESS RELEASE NO REPRODUCTION FEE*** EDITORIAL USE ONLY Irish Wheelchair Association National Cup Semi Final, MTU Arena, Cork 3/1/2026 Rebel Wheelers vs Clonaslee Rebel Wheelers team Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

As we returned for the second half, Conor Dufficy was doing everything he could for Clonaslee as he scored 8 of their 12 in the third. Still, yet again, Rebel Wheelers had too much with a 19-point quarter, this time led by Irish international Conor Coughlan, who had seven of his 19 in the third. He was helped by Alex Hennebry, who scored 6 of the Wheelers 19 in the third. Coughlan and Hennebry’s showings gave Rebel a 32-point cushion heading into the final ten minutes of the game.

REPRO FREE ***PRESS RELEASE NO REPRODUCTION FEE*** EDITORIAL USE ONLY Irish Wheelchair Association National Cup Semi Final, MTU Arena, Cork 3/1/2026 Rebel Wheelers vs Clonaslee Clonaslee’s Conor Dufficy Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

As the final quarter began, Coughlan, McCarthy and Adam Drummond would start in the same manner the rest of the game went, as they fired Rebel to a 39-point lead. As we got halfway through the fourth, Darragh O’Regan and Dylan McCarthy would find a groove of scoring between them as they put Rebel 45 ahead with the score at 71-26 with four minutes left. Four points apiece in the final four minutes meant Rebel went home 45-point victors with a final scoreline of 75-30.

REPRO FREE ***PRESS RELEASE NO REPRODUCTION FEE*** EDITORIAL USE ONLY Irish Wheelchair Association National Cup Semi Final, MTU Arena, Cork 3/1/2026 Rebel Wheelers vs Clonaslee Clonaslee team Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

Rebel Wheelers will now move on to the final in Tallaght, where they will take on either Titans WBC or South East Swifts, with that match taking place on Sunday in MTU.

Quarter Scores: Q1: 17-4, Q2: 20-8, Q3: 19-12, Q4: 19-6

Game Scores: Q1: 17-4, Q2: 37-12, Q3: 56-24, Q4: 75-30 

Rebel Wheelers:

Jack Quinn (5), Paul Ryan (6), Oisin O’Connor (4), Alex Hennebry (6), Kevin O’Callaghan (0), Conor Simpson (0), Rory Motherway (0), Darragh O’Regan (8), Cathal Lynch (0), Conor Coughlan (19), Dylan McCarthy (23), Adam Drummond (4).

Clonaslee:

Stephen Robbins (4), Michael Dennedy (3), Aaron Galvin (0), Conor Dufficy (21), Kieran Dufficy (DNP), Brianna Culliton Conroy (2), Garrett Culliton (DNP), Ross Doran (0).