Preview: Playoff race hots up in Women’s Super League

Utility Trust St. Paul’s head coach James Fleming says this weekend’s Women’s Super League fixture at Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers is a “cup final”, as they chase down a playoff spot.

Just outside the playoff positions in ninth, his side boosted their hopes with a 89-54 win over University of Galway Mystics last weekend and he’s hoping momentum is with the Killarney club. “We have been playing really well of late and have found a bit of form. Ourselves and Portlaoise know each other very well and there is never anything between us. They have two of the best Irish players in the league in Lynn (Tunnah) and Amy (Dooley) and two really good Americans. It’s a cup final for us, we feel we need to win three of our last four to make playoffs, so we have prepared accordingly. Hopefully we will get another performance, but it’s going to be extremely tough in Portlaoise.” 

Utility Trust St. Paul's head coach James Fleming

The Address UCC Glanmire have a new American on their books, Trinity Oliver, to help bolster the end of season chances. Oliver joins from Australian club Launceston and replaces Callie Cavanagh who left for personal reasons. Head coach Mark Scannell is hopeful that Oliver, DelJanue Larose Williams – who scored 26 points in their 67-56 win over Catalyst Fr. Mathews last weekend – and some homegrown stars can inspire a strong finish to the campaign, starting with their trip to Killester on Saturday.

“For the first time all season I think we are in position to make a run. Claire (O’Sullivan) back and Aine (McKenna) healthy. Trinity Oliver, who I always liked as a player, comes into our line up and DelJanue (Larose Williams) is playing great, we could be a handful. Each game now is like a final and we ll treat it as that. Killester are really tough, especially at home and we'll need a best of 2025 performance”, Scannell said.

Áine McKenna in action for The Address UCC Glanmire 

Another Cork club on the road to Dublin this weekend are Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell, who face Trinity Meteors. Despite having the influential Edel Thornton back in the ranks, head coach Liam Culloty says injuries elsewhere are taking their toll. 

“Very tough challenge ahead this weekend for us. Trinity Meteors away is always a really difficult fixture. We still have a couple of injuries to key players which has been the story of our season, but it has been great to have Edel (Thornton) back for the last few games and we are looking to finish as high as possible in the table. Hopefully by the time the playoffs come around we will have everybody healthy and raring to go”, Culloty stated.

Edel Thornton returned to the Ireland team in February's FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers games with France and Latvia.

Leaders SETU Waterford Wildcats host University of Galway Mystics, while second-placed FloMAX Liffey Celtics are away at Catalyst Fr. Mathews. 

In the Men’s Super League Bright St. Vincent’s have the chance to help steer themselves away from the relegation trapdoor with two home games in three days, starting with a home tie against Maree on Saturday, followed by hosting a Dublin derby against in-form UCD Marian on Monday.

Head coach Carter Vance said: “It’s no secret that every game that we have left holds a ton of weight. We have a hungry and talented team in Maree coming to Glasnevin on Saturday, as well as a very polished and well-coached UCD squad on Monday. The approach remains the same in regards to pre-game preparation and in-game play: control what we can control.”

JaRon Demarco Thames scored 37 points of Bright St. Vincent's in last weekend's 96-89 win over Flexachem KCYMS in the Men's Super League.

In Women’s Division One the top two collide, as unbeaten McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles (10-0) travel to Limerick Cetlics (9-4) on Sunday. There are three games on Saturday, it’s a Dublin derby as Moy Tolka Rovers host Oblate Dynamos, Cleveland Rockets are at home to Abbey Seals Dublin Lions and Templeogue take on Limerick Sport Huskies at Nord Anglia.

Men’s Division One action starts on Friday night, with second-placed ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers at home against Tipp Talons. Unbeaten leaders Limerick Celtics (18-0) are on the road at Joels Dublin Lions on Saturday. Third-placed Ulster University have two games, starting away at Scotts Lakers Killarney on Saturday, followed by a Sunday date at Limerick Sport Eagles. Limerick Sport Eagles also play twice, they’re at Moy Tolka Rovers on Saturday. Elsewhere are Saturday Team NorthWest host Killarney Cougards, Titans BC play Drogheda Wolves, it’s Carrick Cruisers versus Maigh Cuilinn and SETU Waterford Vikings at home against Mater Private Malahide.

Fixtures

Women’s Super League

Saturday February 22th

Killester vs The Address UCC Glanmire, IWA Clontarf, 1645

SETU Waterford Wildcats vs University of Galway Mystics, Mercy College 1700

Catalyst Fr. Mathews vs FloMAX Liffey Celtics, Fr. Mathews Arena, 1700

Trinity Meteors vs Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell, Trinity Sports Centre, 1730

Sunday February 23th

Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers vs Utlity Trust St. Paul’s, St Mary’s Hall, 1530

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Men’s Super League

Saturday February 22th

Bright St. Vincent’s vs Maree, St. Vincent’s CBS, 1900

Monday February 24th

Bright St. Vincent’s vs UCD Marian, St. Vincent’s CBS, 2000

Wednesday February 26th

Maree vs EJ Sligo All-Stars, Calasanctius College, 1930

Flexachem KCYMS v Garvey’s Tralee Warriors, TBC, 1945

Friday February 28th

Energywise Ireland Neptune vs Garvey’s Tralee Warriors, Neptune Stadium 2000

Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU v UCD Marian, MTU Arena, 2000

Killester vs Griffith College Éanna, IWA Clontarf, 2015

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Women’s Division One

Saturday February 22th

Moy Tolka Rovers vs Oblate Dynamos, Tolka Rovers, 1700

Cleveland Rockets vs Abbey Seals Dublin Lions, Newforge Sports Complex, 1700

Templeogue vs Limerick Sport Huskies, Nord Anglia, 1900

Sunday February 23th

Limerick Celtics vs McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles, Crescent College, 1515

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Men’s Division One

Friday February 21st

ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers vs Tipp Talons, St. Mary’s Hall, 2030

Saturday February 22th

Team NorthWest vs Killarney Cougars, ATU Donegal, 1700

Titans BC vs Drogheda Wolves, Ballinfoyle Castlegar Centre, 1900

Scotts Lakers Killarney vs Ulster University, Killarney Sports & Leisure, 1930

Moy Tolka Rovers vs Limerick Sport Eagles, Tolka Rovers Sports Complex, 1930

Carrick Cruisers vs Maigh Cuilinn, Phoenix Centre, 1930

SETU Waterford Vikings vs Mater Private Malahide, SETU College Hall, 1930

Joels Dublin Lions v Limerick Celtics, Coláiste Bride, 1930

Sunday February 23th

Limerick Sport Eagles vs Ulster University, UL Arena, 1500

Wednesday February 26th

Limerick Sport Eagles vs Limerick Celtics, UL Arena, 1930