National League

Jan 27 2023

Preview: Trinity Meteors and Killester face off once more; Six teams jostle for InsureMyVan.ie Super League position

Facing Trinity Meteors one week removed from defeating them to lift the InsureMyHouse.ie Paudie O’Connor Cup is ‘probably the worst match up we could have asked for,’ according to victorious Killester head coach Mark Grennell.

The two teams meet just six days on from a 90-76 win for the Clontarf club at the National Basketball Arena, which saw Killester (6-5) crowned National Cup champions for the fourth time in their history. ‘Niall (Berry) is obviously an excellent coach and the calibre of player they have in the team - we are fully expecting a reaction. It’ll be interesting to see if we can dig deep again and find a bit more magic,’ added Grennell. 

Grennell’s opposite number Niall Berry knows his Trinity Meteors (10-1) team need to rebound quickly to keep pace with The Address UCC Glanmire (10-1) at the top of the MissQuote.ie Super League table: ‘We know Killester will be coming into this game with a lot of confidence, and rightly so. We just need to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and focus on what we can control to give ourselves the best chance of success this weekend,’ said Berry. 

Niall Berry

Niall Berry, Trinity Meteors head coach. 

It's third against fourth, as DCU Mercy (7-4) hit the road to play Waterford Wildcats (6-5). Mark Ingle has bolstered his DCU team by bringing in the exciting Amelia Motz from Abbey Seals Dublin Lions for an end of season playoff push. Motz has averaged 19.5-points per game in the MissQuote.ie Division 1, shooting 69.6% from the line in the process. Ingle will be hoping that she can bring a new dimension their seventh ranked scoring offense, as he prepares his team for ‘another really tough game against Waterford’. Wildcats have bounced back well from being knocked out of at the semi-final stages of the cup, beating i3PT Fr.Mathews 89-88 in their last outing and another win against a near rival here could go a long way to securing their post-season status when it’s all said and done.

Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics, i3PT Fr.Mathews and Singleton SuperValu Brunell (4-7) will still feel a good run to close the year can vault them into fourth position with any slip-ups from the current incumbents. For Karl Kilbride’s Celtics, the challenges don’t come any tougher than welcoming the defending champions to your building: ‘I know the girls are really excited for the game. We’re both in very different places right now. Glanmire are pushing hard at the top of the league and we’re still kind of trying to find out who and what we are. We’ve been working really hard on trying to be more consistent at the defensive end and with Glanmire coming in as the highest scoring team in the league, we’ll need to be solid in that regard and controlling our boards or I’ve no doubt we’ll be punished.’

‘We are looking forward to getting back to work big game next Saturday in Leixlip,’ said The Address UCC Glanmire head coach Mark Scannell. ‘We are practicing hard this week, drilling into our scouting to hopefully be ready to compete on Saturday. Liffey (Celtics) are always tough up there and they have threats all over the court. It will be a good test after the break,’ he concluded. 

University of Galway Mystics (1-10) will be full of confidence as they look to pick up a second win of the season against Singleton SuperValu Brunell. A large contingent of their roster were part of the club’s InsureMyHouse.ie Women’s U20 National Cup success a week ago and head coach Paul O’Brien is excited to see what it will do for morale at the back end of the campaign: ‘In Edel Thornton, they have one of, if not the best players in the league. She is great at getting to the basket and finishing or finding an open teammate, which puts huge pressure on defences. We have been happy with how we have been playing recently and need to keep our performances high, and hopefully, that will start to translate to more wins. Winning the cup last week has given our group an injection of confidence, and hopefully, we can play to the level required to get a win on Sunday in Cork,’ said O’Brien.

UGM

University of Galway Mystics celebrates winning the InsureMyHouse.ie Women's U20 National Cup. 

The weekend’s other game will see Ulster University (3-8) make the long journey to Cork to face i3Pt Fr.Mathews. Patrick O’Neill’s team have notched two wins in succession against Waterford Wildcats and Singleton SuperValu Brunell, to take them to within one game of the trio of sides sitting above them in the table. Emily Maupin was the difference maker for them in the game against Brunell, scoring 34-points on debut. Niamh Dwyer’s i3PT Fr.Mathews are the third best defensive team in the MissQuote.ie Super League and if they can match their scoring output in their previous two games (88 & 72) they’ll be a threat to anyone, especially on their home floor.

Both University of Galway Maree and DBS Éanna will need to move on quickly from the ecstasy and agony of participating in an InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy Cup final, as the race to the InsureMyVan.ie Super League playoffs heats up.

Charlie Crowley’s Southern Conference leaders suffered a third defeat of the season against Killester last time out, which leaves just one game separating the top six in the overall standings. They now face the unenviable task of a Galway derby with Moycullen on a very different week of preparation. ‘This is one of the best feelings I’ve ever experienced,’ said Crowley in his post-match interview last week before firmly refocussing his thoughts onto this weekend’s challenge. Crowley will need his leaders to step up once more this week, as John Cunningham’s Moycullen appear to have found their scoring touch. Averaging 58-points per game to date, Moycullen have brought that up to 73ppg in their last three on the back of superb shooting from leading scorer Grant Olsson (21ppg).

CC

Charlie Crowley celebrates a basket during last weekend's InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy Cup final. 

Emporium Cork Basketball (8-3) and UCC Demons (8-4) are two of those waiting to capitalise on any slip-up from the newly crowned InsureMyHouse.ie National Cup champions, as they face Garvey’s Tralee Warriors (5-7) and DBS Éanna (9-3) in what could be season defining contests for all involved.

‘Our games over the last two seasons have been played with ferocious intensity,’ said Emporium Cork Basketball player/coach Ciaran O’Sullivan. ‘Both teams know one another very well, so it's all about execution on the day. We look forward to playing in a sold-out Ballincollig Community School against a team full of confidence after beating DBS Éanna in their most recent league game. Garvey’s Tralee Warriors have steadied the ship, winning three of their last four following a tumultuous start to the defence of their InsureMyVan.ie Super League crown: ‘Firstly would just like to congratulate Maree on their fantastic cup victory and what they have built over the last few years,’ said head coach John Dowling. ‘For us we are just focused on one game at a time. The lads are working very hard and once we perform to our standards, we know we can mix it with any team.

The cross-conference matchup between UCC Demons and DBS Éanna promises to be one of the games of the weekend. The Cork outfit are on a four-game heater, with head coach Danny O’Mahony looking for another ‘40-minute performance’ to get over the line in ‘another tough clash’ for his side. DBS Éanna supremo Darren McGovern said he’d give his team time to gather themselves in the wake of their cup final loss: ‘They’ll have a couple of days off and go back in then, it’s another tough game against UCC Demons in the league so we have to move on,’ said McGovern. One thing is for sure, the clash of Michael Randolph Junior (UCC Demons) and whomever McGovern chooses to pick him up defensively will be the key to the outcome.

Elsewhere in the Southern Conference, Energywise Ireland Neptune (7-5) and Flexachem KCYMS (3-9) take the court just 48 hours after the passing of Garreth Blount, brother of Irish international and Neptune star Jordan, on what’s sure to be a very emotional night at Neptune Stadium. A minute’s silence will be observed at all games this weekend to remember Garreth’s contribution to the basketball community in Ireland. The Cork team are the highest scoring offense in the InsureMyVan.ie Super League, buoyed by the addition of another scoring threat in Tarkus Ferguson who picked up 22-points against Bright St.Vincent’s last time out. Robert Alan Kelly Jr is having a breakout season for Declan Wall’s charges, though Killorglin are without a win in three outings, so come into Neptune Stadium needing to arrest that slide as soon as possible.

Belfast Star (9-3) could tighten their grip on the Northern Conference, if they can overcome a very strong Killester (8-3) in De La Salle College on Saturday. Head coach Adrian Fulton believes the fixture is a great acid test of his team’s title credentials: ‘Right now I think Killester are the team to beat. I have seen quotes suggesting they are under the radar, don't know what radar that is? They have the most experienced back court in the country, a generational talent in Paul Dick and talented pros. Throw in an excellent coaching staff and that's a recipe for success.  They beat us well in Dublin a few months ago. We are 9-3, but still not firing on all cylinders. Our players are great to work with and are continuing to push each other in practice to help us keep improving. It should be a terrific battle,’ said Fulton.

His opposite number Brian O’Malley wants his outfit to take inspiration from what Killester’s women’s team have achieved in the past week: ‘Mark (Grennell) has long been part of our set up here and we desperately miss him, but it was great to see them put on a tremendous performance to secure the trophy. Belfast Star are deep, versatile and a real handful. We got the better of them previously, but that game was a bit of an outlier as Fulty (Adrian Fulton) wasn’t present. With Cooper and Briggs, they have a deadly duo and that’s not even mentioning Richarson, the Quinns, Conor Johnston. We had a good win over Maree and hopefully we can keep that going this weekend,’ added O’Malley.

Elsewhere in the Northern Conference, EJ Sligo All-Stars (6-6) look to get back over .500 when they take on InsureMyHouse.ie National Cup semi-finalists Bright St.Vincent’s (3-9). The Dublin side have lost three games in succession leading into this while Shane O’Meara’s Sligo are more confident offensively, as evidenced by their 104-point performance against Flexachem KCYMS.

Griffith College Templeogue (4-8) have been giving a lift by Lorcan Murphy’s return around practice, although he remains some way off returning to the court. In his absence, the roster appears to be sharing the scoring burden. No fewer than four players reached double digits in their last InsureMyVan.ie Super League outing. UCD Marian (2-10) have found the going difficult with a very young and inexperienced roster so far this season, but have shown in spells that they’re a match for most sides when they execute their gameplan. Head coach Ioannis Liapakis will see this as a good opportunity to pick up a Dublin derby win, as they seek their first league win since November.

Top billing in the MissQuote.ie Division 1 undoubtedly goes to McEvoy's Cavan Eagles taking on Portlaoise Panthers at the Virginia Show Centre. It's a fantastic chance for the Laois side to close the gap on the National League rookies at the top of the table. There's also a tasty rematch, as Phoenix Rockets and Abbey Seals Dublin Lions go head to head after the Dublin team picked up National Cup honours a week ago. Elsewhere St. Pauls Killarney play Swords Thunder, Griffith College Templeogue hostLimerick Sport Huskies,  Moy Tolka Rovers take on SETU Carlow and it's Oblate Dynamos v Marble City Hawks. 

Over in the InsureMyVan.ie Division 1, leaders Moy Tolka Rovers increased the pressure on Limerick duo Celtics and Huskies, who don't play this weekend, by defeating Malahide 86-79 on Wednesday evening to move to 11-2. Drogheda Wolves and Ulster University will look to do the same as they do battle in one of the marquee contests, while Dwyers of Cork Fr.Mathews are on the road against SETU Waterford Vikings as they try to move to 9-3. Elsewhere it's Team North West against Portlaoise Panthers, it's derby day in Killarney as Scotts Lakers SPK and Killarney Cougars meet and SETU Carlow make the trip to face Abbey Seals Dublin Lions. 

Fixtures

InsureMyVan.ie Super League

Saturday, January 28th

1600|Emporium Cork Basketball v Garvey’s Tralee Warriors, Ballincollig CS

1830|Energywise Ireland Neptune v Flexachem KCYMS, Neptune Stadium

1830|Belfast Star v Killester, De La Salle College

1900|Bright St. Vincent’s v EJ Sligo All-Stars, St. Vincents CBS

1900|Moycullen v University of Galway Maree, Kingfisher Gym

1930|Griffith College Templeogue v UCD Marian, National Basketball Arena

Sunday, January 29th

1500|UCC Demons v DBS Éanna, Mardyke Arena

InsureMyVan.ie Division 1

Saturday, January 28th

1700|Ulster University v Dorgheda Wolves, Jordanstown Sports Village

1700|Team North West v Portlaoise Panthers, ATU Donegal

1900|SETU Waterford Vikings v Dwyers of Cork Fr. Mathews, Carrickpherish Hall

1930|Scotts Lakers SPK v Killarney Cougars, Killarney Sports & Leisure

2030|Abbey Seals Dublin Lions v SETU Carlow, Colaiste Bride

MissQuote.ie Super League

Saturday, January 28th

1700|i3PT Fr.Mathews v Ulster University, Fr. Mathews Arena

1730|Trinity Meteors v Killester, Trinity Sports Centre

1800|Waterford Wildcats v DCU Mercy, Mercy Secondary School

1900| Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics v The Address UCC Glanmire, Leixlip Amenities Centre

Sunday, January 29th

14:45|Singleton SuperValu Brunell v University of Galway Mystics, Parochial Hall

MissQuote.ie Division 1

Saturday, January 28th

1600|McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles v Portlaoise Panthers, Virginia Show Centre

1630|St. Pauls Killarney v Swords Thunder, Aura

1700|Griffith College Templeogue v Limerick Sport Huskies, National Basketball Arena

1800|Moy Tolka Rovers v SETU Carlow, Tolka Rovers SC

1900|Oblate Dynamos v Marble City Hawks, Oblate Hall

Sunday, January 29th

1500| Phoenix Rockets v Abbey Seals Dublin Lions, Lisburn Racquets