National League

Feb 12 2025

Midweek movement in Men's Super League standings ahead of round 20

There’s been midweek movement in the Men’s Super League standings, as UCD Marian and EJ Sligo All-Stars picked up big wins on the road over Killester and Energywise Ireland Neptune respectively in Wednesday evening’s matchups on basketballireland.tv.

UCD Marian rebounded from defeat against Belfast Star last weekend to put in once of the most complete team performances of the season in their 114-100 win over Killester in Clontarf. Lovre Tvrdic, Jonathan Jean, Eoin Nelson and Tanner Graham all reached 20-points as the Southsiders tightened their grip on fifth place in the table.

"It was an extremely enjoyable game to watch," said head coach Ioannias Liapakis afterwards. "Very high pace, very physical with a lot of ball movement. The game was divided in two parts, the first quarter which Killester was playing better and controlled the game and the rest of the three quarters which we dominated. For 30 minutes we touched perfection offensively, having 4 players with more than 21 points each. We’re delighted with the result and extremely proud of our performance."

There's little time to soak in the glory of the performance though as they are back in action against struggling Maree BC in just two days time.

"We're going to celebrate tonight and from tomorrow we gonna start preparing for a very important home game against Maree. We know that it’s gonna be extremely difficult game because Maree are playing one of their last cards for their survival, also they had the whole week to prepare compared to us who we have only two days, but we’re really looking forward to Saturday's game and we hope to continue our momentum," added Liapakis.

EJ Sligo All-Stars were rewarded on a 317km midweek journey to Neptune Stadium with an 82-81 victory that sees them edge closer to a bunched playoff pack, despite still sitting in 10th postion in the Men's Super League standings. Energywise Ireland Neptune will feel this is one that got away though, missing four, go-ahead shots in the last 60-seconds of regulation. That won't bother Sligo head coach Shane O'Meara though, who was full of praise for his players in the aftermath:

"So delighted for the guys, travelling to Cork mid-week is a big ask but we talked about staying together no matter what. We feel we can compete with any team, we have had some bad luck during the season with injuries and in fairness to the lads, they've shown great resilience."

A long road trip continues as they become the first team to play Garvey's Tralee Warriors in MTU Kerry on Saturday. Warriors have won two of their three games to remain in third place in the standings since losing the Tralee Sports Complex to January’s heavy snowfall. Closing the gap on the top two with another victory would mean a lot on what’s sure to be an emotional night for the club. However, O'Meara is hoping this win can be the catalyst for a push to the post-season for his side:

"We know Tralee away is a tough one, but hopefully we can get over the line and make a good run at making the playoffs."

Leaders UCC Demons host Templeogue BC in a meeting of teams with contrasting ambitions on Saturday evening in Parochial Hall. Demons need to win as they push towards locking in the one seed for the playoffs, while the Dubliners know a win would create real daylight between themselves and the possibility of Division One basketball in 2026.

Templeogue eased their relegation fears by accounting for fellow trapdoor candidates Bright St. Vincent’s in a tense affair last weekend, backing that up with success in Cork is another challenge altogether.

Hunting UCC Demons are Killester, who will continue to adjust to life without the injured Paul Dick when Energywise Ireland Neptune arrive in Clontarf. The North Dublin side were dealt a blow by their aforementioned loss against UCD Marian and will now be looking over their shoulders at the chasing pack with the battle for home court in the playoffs firmly underway.

Belfast Star and Griffith College Éanna combined for over 200 points and required overtime to separate the sides when they last met in November and though much has changed for Star from a personnel perspective since then, all indicators are that little will be between them once more. Éanna are coming off the back of a disappointing fourth quarter reversal on the road in Sligo and will be desperate to avoid successive losses for the first time since the middle of December.

At the other end of the table Flexachem KCYMS can enhance their playoff push with victory against Bright St Vincent’s on the road. Killorglin racked up 103 points in a 29 point blowout of their opposition earlier this season and a repeat of that performance would be a much needed tonic for head coach Declan Wall and their fanbase.