Preview: InsureMyVan.ie Playoff implications everywhere you look

UCC Demons return to Dublin this weekend in search of a different type of fairytale.

It’s almost a week since Kyle Hosford hoisted the InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy Cup, but their InsureMyVan.ie Super League form continues to leave them in a precarious position.   

A cross-conference meeting with North Conference bottom side Bright St.Vincents might be viewed as an ideal opportunity to continue their momentum from the National Basketball Arena, however the Glasnevin outfit’s own form has improved significantly since the introduction of Justin Sylver and William Jenkins and they come into the contest fresh from a week’s rest. It’s not time to push the panic button for either club even with a defeat, but time is running out to make up lost ground on those above them.

At the opposite end of the North Conference, Belfast Star’s outstanding regular season record makes the 474km journey to Flexchem KCYMS, who remain in the playoff hunt despite their 6^th place position in the South Conference. Defending champions Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU needed two late buckets to take the spoils from the Killorglin Sports Complex last time out, so confidence is high for Michael McGinn and co. It was far from a routine success for the North Conference leaders against EJ Sligo All-Stars, Adrian Fulton will know his side are in for all they can handle on Saturday night.

Griffith College Éanna and Garvey’s Tralee Warriors are both vying for first and second seeding in their respective conference. For the Kerry side this begins a stretch of five road games of their last seven in the regular season, something that could prove key in tight moments. Contrastingly for Griffith College Éanna this will be their third home tie on the spin and they remain the only team to have lowered the colours of Belfast Star this season. They were the victim of a Kason Harrell fifty-piece in their last but expect their defence to bounce back strongly here. 

Killester remain one of the form teams in the country having won three of their last four and they welcome Energywise Ireland Neptune to IWA-Clontarf with the chance to solidify second place in the North Conference. All eyes will be on the aforementioned Harrell to see how he follows up that stellar performance, but no doubt Paul Kelleher will have a plan in place defensively to nullify his threat. If they can pick up the win, it’ll be the first time the Cork side will have been back to .500 since November. It appeared to start clicking for them offensively in their win over Bright St. Vincents and they will be desperate to hold onto that final playoff spot in the South Conference down the stretch.

Ulster University can make it back to back wins for the first time since the opening two games of the season if they take care of business on their home floor against a tricky Maigh Cuilinn side. The return of Nate Shafer has given fresh impetus to the team from Jordanstown and they will have an eye on sneaking fourth spot in the North Conference. Maigh Cuilinn are in a similar boat in that their form prior to their back-to-back Galway derby defeats against Maree BC had elevated them into contention for a post season spot in a very congested South Conference, but a third defeat on the spin could end those dreams as quickly as they began.

There are two other matchups this weekend with Templeogue making the trip West to face Maree, while EJ Sligo All-Stars welcome InsureMyHouse.ie Pat Duffy Cup finalists Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU to The Mercy. Each game has playoff implications in their respective conferences, as it would seem the case with every contest outside of UCC Demons and Bright St. Vincents.