Domino’s Men’s Super League Week Three Preview

Two weeks down and just two teams in the Domino’s Men’s Super League remain undefeated. Both Belfast Star and Flexachem KCYMS can keep that 100% record intact by defending their home court against Limerick Celtics and Killester live on basketballireland.tv respectively. Doing so would cement their status as a threat to defending champions UCC Demons as the seasons hits top gear. 

Last weekend saw a slate of thrillers with EJ Sligo All-Stars, Flexachem KCYMS, Garvey’s Tralee Warriors and St. Vincents all take wins in the dying embers of the game. Most notably was Elijah Faapitos buzzer-beater for Sligo to get the All-Stars their first victory of the season against Limerick Celtics.

The biggest statement last weekend was made by Belfast Star who defeated Energywise Ireland Neptune by 36 points led by the Irish international Rapolas Buivydas, who had 24 of his own points which put the Stars to 2-0 after they beat Sligo in week one by 26. Adrian Fulton’s men host Limerick Celtics this weekend hoping to me it three from three as we take a look at week three.

Belfast Star v Limerick Celtics, Saturday, 6:30pm

These two teams had two polar opposite Saturdays last weekend. For Celtics, AJ Williams and Abdul Wurie were the driving force in a game where the lead changed 11 times and unfortunately for the Limerick side, it was not a repeat of their late week one triumph over Ballincollig. It was EJ Sligo All-Stars who took home the win 88-86 to leave the newly-promoted Celtics side at 1-1 to start the season. They will be hoping to get their season back on track when they travel back up north this weekend to face Belfast.

Star have had a convincing start to the season with two double-digit victories, edging the favourites tag ever closer to Adrian Fulton's charges. With Ireland's next international window fast approaching, Rapolas Buivydas will be aiming to continue his fine form from last weekends game. Flanked by a supporting cast of Aidan Quinn, Max Richardson and Conor Liston, who combined for 56 of the 112 points that Belfast put on the board, Buivydas and company know another notch on the win column will really throw down a marker to the rest of the league that the side from the North really mean business.

Energywise Ireland Neptune v Ballincollig, Saturday, 6:30pm

Both Cork sides Ballincollig and Energywise Ireland Neptune have endured a rather sobering start to the season in the Domino's Men's Super League. A tough opening loss for Neptune to local rivals UCC Demons and then a heavy defeat to Belfast last Saturday didn’t do any favours for the Cork side. Averaging 90.5 points and being 0-2 is surely going to be weighing on the minds a bit, as they prepare for another Cork derby this weekend against Ballincollig.  

Ballincollig have been slightly more unlucky when it comes to their record this season. In week one, they lost in the final moments of the game to promoted side Limerick Celtics 88-87. And just last week, they had led for the majority of the third and fourth quarter but surrendered the lead to St. Vincent’s in the final four minutes as they lost 95-91 to go 0-2. Having two players averaging 19 and 23 points in Latavious Mitchell and Latrell Jossell, is more comforting for the men from Cork that their fortunes are sure to turn around quite quickly.

Both sides will be hoping this week is the week it all turns around as both sides look to get to 1-2 in the table live on basketballireland.tv

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors v UCC Demons, Saturday, 7pm

Defending champions UCC Demons lost their unbeaten status after falling to Flexacham KCYMS last Sunday. As for Tralee, they started off the season also with a defeat to Killorglin, but they bounced back last Saturday with a massive win at home to UCD Marian.

A 21-point showing from Jordan Perkins was enough to just get the Warriors over the line against UCD in a game where both sides led by as much as seven points, had been tied up on 14 occasions and switched leads a total of ten times. But in the fourth quarter, Tralee took the lead inside the opening minute of the final ten and never let up from there as they took home a 77-74 victory.

As for the Super League champions, UCC welcomed Jordan Blount and Flexachem KCYMS to the Mardyke Arena last Sunday. In a game where the Demons felt firmly in control with a 16-point lead in the third quarter, it was Eche Okeke with a stunning 35-point performance in his Super League debut for the team. For UCC, it was the duo of Tala Fam Thiam and Shariff Black that were the driving force behind their offence with Thiam scoring 19 points and adding 5 rebounds whilst Black scored 16 and added 10 rebounds to go with it.

With both sides looking to tilt their 1-1 records in their favour, we are in for a hotly contested game with two times that have strong offensive showings in their pockets so far.

Fan view of tonight’s epic buzzer beater by Elijah Faapito to give EJ Sligo All-Stars their first win of the Domino’s Men’s Super League 🫨

This is Irish Basketball! 🔥#DominosMSL | #IrishBasketball pic.twitter.com/hveQNz8W2D

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) October 11, 2025

UCD Marian v EJ Sligo All-Stars, Saturday, 7pm

Another two teams that are even in the win and loss column so far sees UCD Marian hosting EJ Sligo All-Stars on Saturday night. Both teams were involved in nail-biting finishes last time out, suffering mixed fortunes in the process.

In UCD, they’ll feel they could have been at 2-0 heading into this weekend after putting on a solid performance in Kerry against Tralee but lost grip in the game as time ticked down in the fourth eventually leading to a three point defeat. Led by Joshua Reynolds, who scored 22 and added 6 rebounds and 6 assists to push Tralee all the way but it just wasn’t meant to be.

As for Sligo, they dug in and put on a gritty performance to take down the promoted Limerick Celtics at the buzzer thanks to Elijah Faapito's steal and jumper to get the All-Stars their first victory of the season after what was a rather damning defeat to Belfast in week one by 26 points. 67 of Sligo’s 88 points against Limerick came through three men. Jazere Noel dropped 26 with 8 boards, Christian Michael Williams hit 23 points and Ryell Rodney Etyle-Rock hit 18 of his own on debut to give all the confidence for the Connacht side heading into this weekend in Dublin.

Griffith College Éanna v St. Vincent’s, Saturday, 7pm

Both sides here managed to get their seasons back on track last weekend with Éanna taking down Killester in a Dublin derby and St Vincent’s were in a thriller against Ballincollig which resulted in them taking home a win 95-91.

For Éanna, a 12-point loss to UCD Marian was not the way they had hoped the season would get underway for them. However a 24-point performance from Sean Jenkins supported by the cast of Mikah Blackwell and Kristijan Andabacka, who combined for 37, was exactly what the doctor ordered as Éanna beat Killester by 11-points last Saturday to go 1-1.

When it comes to St. Vincent’s season it has been a very mixed bag. A hefty defeat to Killester in week one really knocked the Dublin side for six as they lost by 24. A big response was required last weekend and it was delivered as they turned over Ballincollig 95-91 with 36 points from Jaylyn Richardson being the standout performance from the game. Newly-acquired from Portlaoise, James Phelan contributed 18 points in a way that will surely enhance his reputation to the Vincent’s faithful.

After rather painful defeats in week one, both teams will be hoping the form continues in what is sure to be an end-to-end affair live on basketballireland.tv

Flexachem KCYMS v Killester, Saturday, 7:15pm

Flexachem KCYMS have really put the league on notice so far this season. Starting off with a convincing seven-point victory against Tralee in a game where they led by as much as 17. Killorglin really solidified their status as a challenger last weekend when they managed to take down the defending champions UCC Demons in Cork where they came back from 16 points down to win by 6. Eche Okeke will be hoping to continue his form after dropping 35 on his debut against Demons.

As for Killester, it has been quite the bumpy start to the season. Defeating St. Vincent’s by 24 in their opening game gave them as much confidence as require to head into week two against Éanna with all the confidence in the world. Yet it didn’t turn out as planned as 48 points from the duo of Paul Dick and Robert Braswell IV didn’t get Killester over the line and Éanna took home the win to put Killester at an even mark two weeks into the season.

Killorglin will be hoping to stay unbeaten after Saturday evenings fixtures come to a close but they’ll face a tall task against a Killester side who have shown they have the ability to pile on the pressure when they need to and they themselves will be hoping to go 2-1 and go level with Killorglin come Saturday night.