Preview: Vital week in hunt for playoff spots in Domino’s Men’s Super League and Domino’s Women’s Super League

With just four weeks of regular season games remaining, the Domino’s Men’s Super League is finely poised going into the final stretch. Two teams face three games this week – Garvey’s Tralee Warriors and Ej Sligo All-Stars - while it’s a double gameweek for most of the remaining clubs.

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors kickstart their week with a Kerry derby at Flexachem KCYMS on Wednesday. It is followed by a trip to Energywise Ireland Neptune on Friday, concluding with a home fixture against Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU. 

Head coach John Dowling isn’t concerned with a hectic schedule. “Players love the games, so our guys are looking forward to three massive games. It will tell us a lot about where we are at this vital stage of the season and no bigger test than our local rivals KCYMS tonight,” he said.

EJ Sligo All-Stars player Jonathan Brown at Tuesday's announcement that Domino's are the new title sponsors of the Men’s and Women’s Super League and Division One competitions

10^th placed EJ Sligo All-Stars also face a trio of games this week, as they look to bump themselves into the top 8 and a playoff spot. First up is a Connacht derby with Maree on Wednesday, followed by home ties against UCC Demons and Templeogue on Saturday and Sunday.

Head coach Shane O’Meara stated: “We have six games left to close the gap and hopefully earn a playoff spot. We are fully aware that it's a huge challenge, but equally confident that we are capable of beating anyone in the league if we find a performance. We are taking it one game at a time, so Maree tonight is the most important game of our season. A win tonight would make the challenge a little less difficult.”

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Maree must win their remaining games this season and hope that Bright St. Vincent’s and Templeogue fail to register another victory to avoid relegation. They registered a 113-74 road win at Bright St. Vincent’s last weekend and head coach Gavin Garland hopes they can continue that vein of form. They start off by hosting EJ Sligo All-Stars, before another home fixture on Sunday, against Belfast Star. 

“The men have had the pressure of must-win games all year. I have come in with the goal for the lads playing together and enjoying their basketball, and you saw that last Saturday against Vincent’s. It will be slightly harder to prepare, recover, and train with three games in eight days, but the way they are training we will be very competitive in all games”, Garland said.

The top two meet on Sunday, as UCC Demons (16-4) host Killester (15-4), while Killester have a Dubin derby at home against Griffith College Éanna on Friday.

UCD Marian will be looking to bounce back from Tuesday’s 75-73 loss at Bright St. Vincent’s, they’re at Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU on Friday, followed by a home tie with Griffith College Éanna. Bright St. Vincent’s only play once in the coming days, at home against Energywise Ireland Neptune. Belfast Star host Flexachem KCYMS, before their trip to Galway to take on Maree.

Outside the top two of SETU Waterford Wildcats and FloMAX Liffey Celtics, the Domino’s Women’s Super League is equally tight in the hunt for a playoff spot - there are four teams level on eight wins, along with three teams on six wins each.

Defending champions Killester (8-6), host Catalyst Fr. Mathews (6-9) on Saturday and head coach Mark Grennell is looking for a response from his players after their 78-71 home reversal at the hands of The Address UCC Glanmire. 

“We feel we have a performance to put in this weekend against Catalyst Fr. Mathews. Bitterly disappointed at how we played last weekend. We will look to put February behind us and get March and the defence of the league off with a bang!”, Grennell said. 

Trinity Meteors (8-7) are another looking to return to winning ways, after their 84-78 home reversal against Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell. They have the long trip to Killarney to take on Utility Trust St. Paul’s (6-9), who picked up a vital 47-41 win at Portlaoise Panthers last time out.

Trinity Meteors head coach Hillary Netsiyanwa said: “We are looking forward to making the trip down to play St Paul’s, they’ve won their last four games so they are on form. It’s a crucial time in the season and it’s all to play for. Our goal is to finish out the regular season with three wins and make a good run going into playoffs. We have proven we can compete with the best teams in the country, so bringing back consistency and playing our style of basketball over the next few weeks will be crucial to our success.”

The other fixture on Saturday sees University of Galway Mystics host FloMAX Liffey Celtics on Saturday, while on Sunday The Address UCC Glanmire take on Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers and Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell are at home against table toppers SETU Waterford Wildcats.

Hazel Finn will be in action for FloMAX Liffey Celtics against her former club University of Galway Mystics in the Domino's Women's Super League on Saturday.

A Limerick derby kickstarts the gameweek action in Domino’s Men’s Division One, as Limerick Sport Eagles host unbeaten South Conference winners Limerick Celtics at UL Arena. There are three derbies on Saturday, Moy Tolka Rovers face Mater Private Malahide in all-Dublin matchup, while in the Galway derby Titans play Maigh Cuilinn and Scotts Lakers Killarney vs Killarney Cougars.

There are four games on Saturday, North Conference winners ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers (16-2) travel to Team NorthWest (8-10). Tipp Talons host SETU Waterford Vikings, Drogheda Wolves take on Ulster University and it’s Carrick Cruisers versus Joels Dublin Lions.

In Domino’s Division One, leaders McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles (13-0) will seek to continue their perfect season when they play Templeogue on Saturday. Limerick Sport Huskies play Moy Tolka Rovers and Oblate Dynamos and Cleveland Rockets on the same day. Sunday’s action sees iSecure Swords Thunder have home advantage in their Dublin derby against Abbey Seals Dublin Lions.

Fixtures

Domino’s Men’s Super League

Wednesday February 26th

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

Flexachem KCYMS v Garvey’s Tralee Warriors, Killorglin Sports Complex 1945

Friday February 28th

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

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

Killester vs Griffith College Éanna, IWA Clontarf, 2015

Saturday March 1st

Belfast Star vs Flexachem KCYMS, Newforge Sports Complex, 1700

EJ Sligo All-Stars vs UCC Demons, Mercy College, 1930

Bright St. Vincent’s vs Energywise Ireland Neptune, St. Vincent’s CBS, 2000

Sunday March 2nd

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors vs Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU, MTU Kerry, 1530

EJ Sligo All-Stars vs Templeogue, Mercy College, 1500

Maree vs Belfast Star, University of Galway Kingfisher, 1500

UCD Marian vs Griffith College Éanna, UCD Sports Centre, 1500

UCC Demons vs Killester, Mardyke Arena, 1600

Domino’s Women’s Super League

Saturday March 1st

University of Galway Mystics vs FloMAX Liffey Celtics, University of Galway Kingfisher, 1530

Utility Trust St. Paul’s vs Trinity Meteors, Aura, 1600

Killester vs Catalyst Fr. Mathews, IWA Clontarf, 1715

Sunday March 2nd

The Address UCC Glanmire vs Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers, Mardyke Arena, 1330

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell vs SETU Waterford Wildcats, Gurranabraher Credit Union Parochial Hall, 1445

Domino’s Men’s Division One

Wednesday February 26th

Limerick Sport Eagles vs Limerick Celtics, UL Arena, 1930

Saturday March 1st

Team NorthWest vs ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers, ATU Donegal, 1700

Tipp Talons vs SETU Waterford Vikings, Scoil Ruian, Killenaule, 1830

Moy Tolka Rovers vs Mater Private Malahide, Tolka Rovers Sports Complex, 1900

Titans BC vs Maigh Cuilinn, Ballinfoyle Castlegar Centre, 1900

Drogheda Wolves vs Ulster University, Ballymakenny College, 1930

Carrick Cruisers vs Joels Dublin Lions, Phoenix Centre, 1930

Scotts Lakers Killarney vs Killarney Cougars, Killarney Sports & Leisure, 1930

Domino’s Women’s Division One

Saturday March 1st

McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles vs Templeogue, Virginia Show Centre, 1600

Limerick Sport Huskies vs Moy Tolka Rovers, St. Munchin’s College, 1900

Oblate Dynamos vs Cleveland Rockets, Oblate Hall, 1930

Sunday March 2nd

iSecure Swords Thunder vs Abbey Seals Dublin Lions, ALSAA, 1730