Preview: Regular season finale of InsureMyVan.ie Super League

Maree BC and Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU must win on the road in the final weekend of the InsureMyVan.ie Super League to be in with a chance of securing top seed in the South Conference for the post-season.

A win for the Galway side against fellow playoff bound Killester will give head coach Charlie Crowley back-to-back number one seedings going into the last eight. Should they fall to a defeat in Clontarf, Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU could leapfrog them by completing a regular season double over Cork rivals Energywise Ireland Neptune, whom they defeated on the opening day of the season. 

Energywise Ireland Neptune have been dealt a blow ahead of that game with the news Irish international Jordan Blount sustained a broken foot in training.

“Either way a home quarter-final is a good achievement, considering the strength in depth of the South Conference,” said Ciaran O’Sullivan, head coach of Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU. “We want to ensure that we’re sharp and have some momentum now going into the playoffs. A win puts us in the mix for the top spot so that’s obviously what we’re targeting.”

“They’re a formidable side,” said Charlie Crowley about upcoming opponents Killester. “They’ve proven to being one of the best sides in the country for the last number of years. I think we’re seeing the best of them now,” he added, before turning his attention closer to home.

“I think last weekend was a real disappointment for us,” admits Crowley. (A 17-point defeat against Griffith College Éanna) “Probably one of the only times this year where nearly everyone was off the pace. How you respond to those games is a true test of your character. The way things have fallen, we’ve been up against playoff teams five out of our last seven games, so it gives a good indicator of what to expect for the playoffs.” 

Elsewhere in the South Conference, the final playoff spot is still up for grabs with UCC Demons needing a 21-point win over Flexachem KYCMS if they’re to overhaul the Kerry team and into fourth place. The reverse fixture in September saw Killorglin awarded a 20-0 win, after UCC Demons were judged to have used an ineligible player. Kendall Jacks has been instrumental to Flexachem KCYMS winning four from five, if he can match or better the production of Seventh Woods or Elijah Tillman, it will go a long way to sealing, what would have been viewed as an unlikely playoff berth at the outset of the season.

Maigh Cuilinn’s final game in the InsureMyVan.ie Super League following their relegation sees them host Garvey’s Tralee Warriors, who will surely have one eye looking towards next weekend’s trip to either Killester or Griffith College Éanna with little on the line for either side in this one.

In the North Conference, Belfast Star and EJ Sligo All-Stars are cemented in first and fourth place respectively, but Griffith College Éanna and Killester could still swap the second and third seed. Having beaten Griffith College Éanna twice this season, Killester will overtake them and secure a home tie on the playoffs should they win at home to Maree and Griffith College Éanna fail to get it done on the road in Belfast. Darren McGovern’s side have a good recent record away from home, they’ve won four of their last five. 

The relegation scrap has also come down to the final round of games in the North Conference, with Bright St. Vincent’s and Ulster University tied on three wins. UU must not lose against EJ Sligo All-Stars to give them a chance of avoiding an immediate return to the InsureMyVan.ie Division One. Even if Ryan McCormick’s outfit can pick up a first win since January, they will need Templeogue to beat Dublin rivals Bright St. Vincent’s in Glasnevin to stay in the top tier.

The previous meeting between the pair was a stunning 107-105 win for Michael Bonaparte’s Bright St. Vincent’s in Nord Anglia in December. They’ve without doubt been watching a lot of footage of that game as motivation this week.