Preview: Race for final playoff spot headlines Domino's Women's Super League

The penultimate week of the regular season in the Domino’s Women’s Super League will see much of the playoff picture determined.

SETU Waterford Wildcats (14-2) clinched the regular season crown last weekend and their focus can now shift to the post-season and a home playoff game against Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers, Catalyst Fr. Mathews or Utility Trust St. Paul’s.

One of that trio will miss out on the playoffs altogether, with Catalyst Fr. Mathews (6-10) and Utility Trust St. Paul’s (6-10) facing off in the final round on March 15^th in a game that could yet determine who will be the 8^th seed, though the Cork outfit are in pole position in the event of a tiebreaker situation, having won the reverse fixture 68-47 earlier this season.  

 Catalyst Fr. Mathews Grainne Dwyer (right) guarding Samatha Haiby of Killester during their Domino's Women's Super League fixture. 

Catalyst Fr. Mathews can make Utility Trust St. Paul’s task even more difficult by winning their first Cork derby of the season on Saturday against Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell. They’re currently 0-3 in that sphere, but that hasn’t come into the equation according to the most experienced player on the roster;

“It’s one game at a time for us,” said Catalyst Fr.Mathews’ Grainne Dwyer. “We are focused on Brunell this weekend. Local derbies are the games to want to be playing in. A good team performance and a win at the weekend would build confidence and momentum for us going into the last game of the season against St Paul’s.”

James Fleming’s side have the unenviable task of taking on the regular season pace setters in their own gym, a task he believes his team will relish.

“Really looking forward to our trip to the regular season champions, Waterford have being the most consistent team all year and deserve to be where they are,” said Fleming. “I don’t think they are going to take their eye off anything and we will be up against it. As for Fr.Mathews, that’s for another day, but if comes down to that we will be very happy to have put ourselves in a position to be in with a chance of making the playoffs in our first season at this level.” 

FloMAX Liffey Celtics (12-4) will confirm their second seeding if they can win a Paudie O’Connor Cup final rematch against Killester (9-6) on Saturday evening. The orange and black are likely to need at least one more win from games against Celtics, University of Galway Mystics and Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell to cement third spot in the standings.

Trinity Meteors (9-7) are favourites to clinch the final home playoff berth. They’ll have home comforts against Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers (7-9), while their nearest pursuers The Address UCC Glanmire (8-8) take on winless University of Galway Mystics (0-15). Meteors hold the tiebreaker over Glanmire, should the sides finish level in 4^th position following the final round of games. Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell (8-8) are also in that shake-up despite a season disrupted by injuries at different junctures. It'd take a couple of other results going their way if the North Cork team were to jump ahead of The Address UCC Glanmire and Trinity Meteors though.

The top eight teams in the Domino’s Women’s Super League will advance to the playoffs to crown the overall champion, with the top four teams taking home advantage in the quarter-final stage against the teams placed 5^th to 8^th at the end of the regular season. 

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It’s a similar story in the Domino’s Women’s Division One, as the format of the post-season is identical to the Domino’s Women’s Super League, with the top eight teams advancing to the quarter-finals.

McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles (14-0) unbeaten season confirmed their status as the one seed last weekend in the battle for promotion. Limerick Celtics (9-5) are frontrunners to take second spot from local rivals Limerick Sport Huskies (9-5), having more winnable games remaining on paper against Templeogue (5-9) and Moy Tolka Rovers (3-12).

iSecure Swords Thunder (7-7) can keep their hopes of a home draw in the last eight alive by beating the team currently occupying 4^th position in the table Phoenix Rockets (8-7) on Saturday afternoon. Oblate Dynamos are currently in the final post-season spot, Moy Tolka Rovers will need to upset the regular season winners McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles if they’re to leapfrog them with one gameweek remaining.