National League

Dec 28 2022

Preview: Post Christmas crackers in all four divisions as National League resumes

‘It should be a great game,’ said DCU Mercy head coach Mark Ingle ahead of Friday afternoon’s resumption of the MissQuote.ie Super League against Singleton SuperValu Brunell.

Should the Dublin side win, they will close the gap to The Address UCC Glanmire and Trinity Meteors to two games and keep their pre-Christmas momentum intact. Their previous meeting to start the season was a thriller, with the Cork team coming out on top 102-101. ‘Obviously we will be doing our best to reverse that result, especially with home advantage,’ added Ingle. Singleton SuperValu Brunell are without a win since October having started the season 4-0. Ireland captain Edel Thornton has been a shining light despite that run of form, averaging 27.6-points this season.

Trinity Meteors know that a win against University of Galway Mystics will give them sole possession of top spot in the table and keep the pressure on the defending champions, who continue to match them stride for stride. ‘We have been playing well as a team so we’ll need to ensure we do all we can to refocus our efforts after the Christmas break to prepare fully for our trip to Galway. I’m very much looking forward to getting back at it,’ said Trinity Meteors supremo Niall Berry.

17-points separated the teams in the reverse fixture. University of Galway Mystics head coach Paul O’Brien will be using that game as a benchmark. ‘Games this time of the year are always tricky, as we won't have had as much training as I would like with the holidays, but we are coming into the game with some confidence after our last win.’ He said. If they are to pull off the upset, Irish underage international Kara McCleane is sure to be at the heart of the display. She continued a fine individual season last time out, hitting 29-points in a victory over Ulster University.

A couple of post-Christmas cracker buck end the return of the InsureMyVan.ie Super League playoff hunt.

Energywise Ireland Neptune arrested a two-game slide by accounting for Moycullen last time out. They welcome high-flying University of Galway Maree to Neptune Stadium, looking to separate themselves in the race for fourth spot. Colin O’Reilly’s charges are the league’s leading scorers, notching 93 points-per-game, while their opponents boast the second-best defence in the division. The game will come down to who can impose their will on the other, a fact not lost on University of Galway Maree head coach Charlie Crowley.

‘The Christmas period is the most challenging part of the season to get right. We will be doing our best to have the group fully engaged mentally and physically for the Neptune game,’ he said.

Northern Conference leaders Belfast Star and DBS Éanna know any slip up by University of Galway Maree will need to be capitalised upon, but they will have to go through one another to do so this week. ‘Belfast has always been one of toughest teams to play against,’ said DBS Éanna head coach Darren McGovern. ‘They have everything needed to be successful and their record proves that. We played poorly up in Belfast earlier in the season so hopefully we can improve.’ 87-67 was the final score on that day, it’s sure to be a much different contest this time out.

Belfast Star’s players enjoyed some time off to reset according to head coach Adrian Fulton. He’s hoping a refreshed vigour will push them into the playoffs in the later stages of the campaign. ‘We have given the lads a good break, some of headed away for Christmas. We will only have a couple of practices together before the Éanna game so it's not the ideal preparation for a top of the conference clash. That being said, the players have made a huge commitment since August and we will need another huge effort throughout the 2nd half of the season,’ said Fulton.

‘Every game from now on is very crucial,’ believes Griffith College Templeogue head coach Mark Keenan, as they attempt to recover from a 3-7 start to make the post season. They make the trip up the N4 to take on EJ Sligo All-Stars, with Keenan all to aware that their opponents will have similar aspirations. ‘Sligo in Sligo will be a tough task. They have a very talented team this year and are making their mark on the InsureMyVan.ie Super League. We are confident in our own ability and we must play really well to come away with a win.’ The tandem of Greg Poleon and Tom Childs have insured that EJ Sligo All-Stars have settled well into life at the top table of Irish basketball. A couple of wins to resume their campaign and they could propel themselves into contention from their current 5-5 mark.

The other promoted team UCC Demons have also found the transition to the InsureMyVan.ie Super League almost seamless, as their 6-4 record would suggest. They return to home comforts following three road games in the lead up to Christmas. ‘It’s great to be back at Mardyke,’ said head coach Danny O’Mahony. ‘Tralee are finding a bit of form getting back-to-back wins so I’m sure this will have the making for a great game’.

There was some respite for Garvey’s Tralee Warriors’ John Dowling in the run up to the festive season. Two victories against Dublin teams, Bright St.Vincent’s and Griffith College Templeogue reignited their campaign. Another victory here will see them move to 5-6, but the Kerry team’s boss knows it will be no easy task ‘Danny has his group of players playing their best basketball, so we know if we are to compete with them we will have to be at our best,’ he said.

Elsewhere on Friday evening, pride is on the line for Moycullen and UCD Marian, as the sides currently propping up the North and South Conference meet. Both teams have been unlucky with injuries and tight results at various stages of the opening part of the InsureMyVan.ie season, but will be hopeful a positive result here will kickstart a revival in form for the second half of the year.

Fixtures

InsureMyVan.ie Super League

Friday, December 30^th

1830|Energywise Ireland Neptune v University of Galway Maree, Neptune Stadium

1800|UCC Demons v Garvey’s Tralee Warriors, Mardyke Arena

1900|Moycullen v UCD Marian, Kingfisher Gym

1930|Ej Sligo All-Stars v Griffith College Templeogue, Mercy Sligo

2000|DBS Éanna v Belfast Star, Colaiste Eanna

Monday, January 2^nd

1500|Killester v Bright St. Vincent’s, IWA Clontarf

1600|Emporium Cork Basketball v Flexachem KCYMS, Ballincollig Community School

InsureMyVan.ie Division 1