Preview: Crucial encounter could shape the Domino's Men's Super League playoff path

With just two weeks to go in the Domino’s Men’s Super League regular season, five teams are locked in a battle for their playoff lives.

Just one game separates Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU, Belfast Star, Energywise Ireland Neptune (all 11-11) and EJ Sligo All-Stars (10-11) in 6^th-9^th position respectively, while Flexachem KCYMS (9-13) in 10^th still hold a remote chance of sneaking into 8^th place and the final playoff position. 

Energywise Ireland Neptune take on the banana skin of already relegated Maree on Saturday evening. Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU welcome Bright St. Vincent’s to Cork, while the eye-catching matchup comes at the Newforge Sports Complex where Belfast Star will host EJ Sligo All-Stars.

Speaking ahead of the game, Belfast Star’s Irish international Conor Quinn is happy with the way the squad has come together at a pivotal stage in the season: “It’s a huge game for both of us,” said Quinn. “The mood is good in the camp and we are excited to be in the position we are in.”

Star go into the contest having won three of their last four and Quinn feels the perseverance within the squad has helped them make a playoff push following a difficult start to the season.

“We are beginning to click on both ends of the floor. There has been of things thrown at us this year and everyone has continued to stay the course and show up. So I think we are battle tested and ready to go. It’s shown the last few weeks,” he added.

EJ Sligo All-Stars have one game in hand on their rivals, which comes against Maree next Wednesday, but a repeat of their 89-79 win against Star back in December will go a long way to confirming their spot in the post-season.

Just above that dogfight, one win from their remaining two games will see UCD Marian confirm a 5^th place finish on their return to the top-flight. They face back-to-back Dublin derbies against Killester and a Bright St. Vincent’s side battling relegation though and could slip to a lower seeding should they take their eye off the ball.

Griffith College Éanna go in search of a fourth win on the bounce at a crucial moment in the campaign in Coláiste Éanna on Saturday. The South Dubliners, who currently sit in 4^th place in the standings, take on second placed Garvey’s Tralee Warriors. The Kerry outfit are themselves coming off the back of a 82-69 win against Ballincollig in what promises to be a tasty encounter. 

Sandwiched between that pair in third place are Killester, who are aiming to bounce back from a 108-96 loss to regular season winners UCC Demons in a fiery game last weekend. They host the league’s other relegation threatened side Templeogue BC, who are desperate to record a fifth win of the campaign and draw level with cross city rivals Bright St. Vincent’s in 11^th position.

---

In Domino’s Men’s Division One six of the eight playoff spots have been locked in. Limerick Celtics (19-1) and ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers (17-2) will top their respective conferences, with Ulster University (15-6), Moy Tolka Rovers (14-6), Titans BC (12-7) and Scotts Lakers Killarney (11-8) all joining them in the post-season.

Maigh Cuilinn (10-10) can seal the fourth and final spot from the South Conference by beating either ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers or Tipp Talons in their final two games, with Talons being the only team that can oust them from that position. The Tipperary side would have to win their remaining four games, including beating Maigh Cuilinn by 11 points to secure the tiebreaker - and hope the Galway side can’t find a way past Portlaoise on Saturday.

In the North Conference Drogheda Wolves (10-10), Mater Private Malahide (10-10) and Team NorthWest (8-11) all remain in the hunt. The latter will be eliminated should they fail to win against Titans BC on Saturday night in Ballinfoyle. Mater Private Malahide have a tough stretch against the two number one seeds, Limerick Celtics and ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers, while Drogheda Wolves face struggling Killarney Cougars and a Joels Dublin Lions team already eliminated from playoff contention. 

The team that earns the best record over that two game stretch will be rewarded with an away trip to Limerick Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.