Utility Trust St. Paul’s clinch last remaining playoff spot while Griffith College Éanna prevail in overtime to finish third

There was plenty of movement in the table on the final day of the Domino’s Women’s Super League regular season as Utility Trust St. Paul’s clinched the last available playoff berth following their 64-59 victory over Catalyst Fr. Mathews in Presentation Gym on Saturday evening, while Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers moved up to fifth in the wake of their 69-55 success at home to Number One seeds, SETU Waterford Wildcats in St. Mary’s Hall. In Domino’s Men’s Super League, a 106-103 overtime win against Number One seeds, UCC Demons at Mardyke Arena on Sunday saw Griffith College Éanna improve to third place just ahead of the playoff quarter-finals.

Utility Trust St. Paul’s clinched the final playoff berth in Domino’s Women’s Super League after they battle their way to a 64-59 victory over Catalyst Fr. Mathews in a winner-takes-all encounter in Presentation Gym on Saturday evening.

Down by eight points at the close of the first quarter, the Kerry side won the next three, thanks in no small measure to Alexandra Wittinger’s haul of 26 points and 10 rebounds, along with the additional 16 points that Gracen Kerr put up.

“I’m absolutely delighted with my players and management on making the playoffs” exclaimed James Fleming, St. Paul’s head coach.

“We were superb today as a group and we dug deep. Mathews are a very good basketball team and they shot the ball really well early on.

“I thought, defensively, we were excellent in the second half and Alex Wittinger was superb all through. It’s a massive day for our club” he said.

FloMAX Liffey Celtics locked down second seed in the table after they weathered a tough challenge from The Address UCC Glanmire to win out 86-76 in Leixlip on Saturday night and set up a date with the same opposition in the playoff quarter-finals.

The Cork side finished with four players in double digits, including DelJanae Williams on a game-high 27 points, but they still came up short against their Kildare rivals, for whom Sorcha Tiernan and Allie Navarette each put up 20, while Áine O’Connor and Kate O’Flaherty combined for a further 29.

That win did, however, come at a price for Celtics, who will be sweating on the fitness of Eboni Williams after the American was forced to retire in the third when she went down with an ankle injury.

Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers moved up two places to finish fifth in the table after they closed out the regular season with a third win on the bounce, beating Number One seeds, SETU Waterford Wildcats 69-55 in St. Mary’s Hall.

A blistering first quarter, in which they opened up a 12-point gap on their opponents, paved the way for another impressive victory for the Laois side, as Jessica Fressle and Amy Dooley served up a combined 21 points and 22 rebounds, while there was more solid scoring from Lynn Tunnah (15), Ciara Byrne (14) and Alyssa Velles (14).

Defending Women’s Super League champions, Killester signed off on the regular season with an 86-81 success at home to Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell in Clontarf on Saturday followed by a 76-35 road win over University of Galway Mystics on Sunday.

Samantha Haiby was immense for the Dublin side in their opening weekend game, carding a double double with 40 points, 15 rebounds and five assists, while it was Michelle Clarke who led the scoring for them against Galway the following day on 17 points.

Defending Women’s Super League champions, Killester signed off on the regular season with a hard-fought 86-81 success at home to Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell in Clontarf.

Samantha Haiby was immense for the Dublin side, carding a double double with 40 points, 15 rebounds and five assists, which went a long way to helping the hosts see off a Brunell team whose challenge was fuelled largely by the combined 40 points that Edel Thornton and Deaja Richardson delivered between them.

Fourth place finishers, Trinity Meteors completed their regular season campaign with an 84-55 road win over University of Galway Mystics.

Shannon Cunningham had a big game for Galway with 26 points and 14 rebounds, but it was not enough to propel them to, what would have been, a first win of the season, as Trinity prevailed with the help of Alexandra Mulligan and Emma Merriweather, who each carded 16 points for the visitors, the latter also soaking up 14 rebounds.

On the final weekend of the Domino’s Men’s Super League regular season, Griffith College Éanna served up a dramatic 106-103 overtime win against Number One seeds, UCC Demons to move up to third place in the table just ahead of the playoff quarter-finals.

A three-point buzzer beater by Joshua Wilson saw Éanna force overtime, during which Neil Lynch served up the decisive score from downtown to effectively clinch victory for the Dublin side with 23 seconds left on the clock.

Sean Jenkins had a huge game for the visitors, putting up 37 points, while Mark Reynolds and Tyland Crawford combined for the same amount, as Éanna navigated their way past a huge Demons test that was built, to a large extent, on Elijah Tillman and the 35 points, 12 rebounds and six assists he served up on the day.

“I thought today's performance was great” remarked Darren McGovern, Griffith College Éanna head coach.

“We did have a big lapse with five minutes to go in the second quarter which Demons capitalised on very well.

“Sean Jenkins scored the ball really well, but we'll have to sweat on a small injury he picked up.

“The win gives us a home draw against Sligo which is a tough match-up, but hopefully we’ll be ready” he said. 

UCD Marian secured themselves the fifth seed spot after they ran out 115-83 winners at home against a Bright St. Vincent’s team, who, only this week, were assured Super League status for next season.

UCD tore from the blocks in Saturday night’s encounter, storming into a 30-point lead by the end of the opening quarter on a night that saw Lovre Tvrdic amass a colossal 51 points for the hosts.

“Tonight’s game was a sample of how good we are when we stay focused and disciplined” remarked Ioannis Liapakis, UCD Marian head coach.

“We dominated the game for 40 minutes and we couldn’t have asked for a better way to play our last home game.

“Every single player tonight did an amazing job and, of course, there’s no words to describe Lovre’s performance with 51 points.

“It’s a phenomenal season for us so far and we can’t be more proud and grateful to our players who deserve all the credit” he stressed.

EJ Sligo All-Stars head into playoffs as sixth seeds after they enjoyed a 98-68 victory over Energywise Ireland Neptune in Mercy College, despite Tamyrik Fields chalking up a game-best 31 points for the Cork side.

The scoring was more spread for Sligo, with Robert Montgomery the most prolific of the four players on double figures for them, with 23 points and a huge 18 rebounds.

“We wanted to finish on a strong note and we knew, tonight, it would take a massive performance against a strong Neptune side” said Shane O’Meara, EJ Sligo All-Stars head coach.

“We got stuck in on defence and did a great job limiting their scoring to 34 in both the first half and second.

“We had to get close to our best from most of the team tonight. There were areas for improvement too, but if we can find more performances like tonight we’ll be a match for anyone” he insisted.

Belfast Star saw their hopes of reaching the playoffs snuffed out after they suffered a narrow 88-85 defeat at the hands of second seeds, Killester in Newforge Sports Complex.

Kason Harrell and Isiah Dasher combined for 46 points for the visitors as they prevailed against a Belfast outfit that still boasted six players in double digits, among them Maxmilllian Cooper (18) and Darweshi Hunter (17).

Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @MTU completed their regular season campaign with a 92-61 victory over Templeogue in the National Basketball Arena on Saturday night to ensure their place among the top eight.

It was a double double for both Todd Wolfe and Joshua Tomaic, the former racking up 29 points and 13 rebounds, along with seven assists for the visitors, while Tomaic added 18 points and 11 boards.

 

In Domino’s Men’s Division One, Maigh Cuilinn nailed down the final playoff spot up for grabs in the South Conference after they saw off Tipp Talons 86-76 in University of Galway Kingfisher on Saturday night.

Despite losing out 85-71 to Joels Dublin Lions in Coláiste Bríde in their final game of the regular season, Drogheda Wolves still clinched a playoff berth at the expense of North Conference rivals, Mater Private Malahide who went down 95-82 at home to ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers.

Limerick Celtics and Moy Tolka Rovers both broke the century mark on Saturday, the former running out 134-62 winners over Killarney Cougars in Crescent College, while Tolka carded a 105-85 success away to Team NorthWest in Foyle Arena.

Scotts Lakers Killarney ran out 97-85 winners over Limerick Sport Eagles in Killarney Sports & Leisure, while, in Friday night’s Domino’s Men’s Division One clash between Ulster University and Carrick Cruisers in Jordanstown Sports Village, it was the latter who edged an 87-85 triumph.

 

In Domino's Women’s Division One, Limerick Sport Huskies pipped neighbouring rivals Limerick Celtics to second place on their head-to-head record, as both teams picked up wins in their final regular season games.

Huskies emerged 74-47 victors from their clash with iSecure Swords Thunder in St. Munchin’s College, while Limerick Celtics choked off Moy Tolka Rovers’ last hopes of finishing among the top eight after they beat the Dublin side 93-55 in Crescent College.

That paved the way for Oblate Dynamos to secure the final playoff berth, despite their 64-48 reversal at the hands of Templeogue in Inchicore.

Table toppers, McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles completed their regular season on a perfect 16-0 record as they surmounted a tough challenge from Abbey Seals Dublin Lions 74-68 in Coláiste Bríde.