Killester close in on Domino’s Super League double as both men and women’s teams reach respective finals

The prospect of a Domino’s Super League double remains very much alive for Killester this season after both their men and women’s teams booked further passage through to their respective finals on Saturday night. While the Killester men downed defending champions, Griffith College Éanna 101-90 in Clontarf, the club’s women returned home from Leixlip celebrating a 92-85 success over FloMAX Liffey Celtics in their last-four fixture. That victory sets the 2024 winners up for a date with Utility Trust St. Paul’s in this season’s decider after the Killarney side edged a 67-64 triumph over Trinity Meteors in their penultimate-round encounter in Coláiste Eanna. UCC Demons secured a date with Garvey’s Tralee Warriors in the last four of Domino’s Men’s Super League after they ran out 110-91 winners over Energywise Ireland Neptune in Sunday’s quarter-final replay at Mardyke Arena.

Killester booked themselves a place in the 2024/25 Domino’s Men’s Super League final at the expense of defending champions, Griffith College Éanna after they won out 101-90 in Saturday night’s last-four clash in Clontarf.

Looking to avenge the heartbreak of their loss to Éanna in last year’s Super League title decider, the Pat Duffy National Cup winners prevailed this time around, as Isiah Dasher and Baptiste Chazelas both carded double doubles with a combined for 42 points and 20 rebounds, while Kason Harrell added a further 22 to the scoreboard for the hosts.

James Gormley put up 18 on the night for Éanna, with Mark Reynolds and Stefan Desnica weighing in with a further 15 apiece, but it was not to be for the visitors, as Killester held firm in the second half, defending the nine-point cushion they had carved out by the interval.

“It was a really great night for basketball” remarked Jonny Grennell, Killester head coach. “Both teams played really well and the atmosphere was absolutely electric.

“Éanna are champions for a reason and they really forced us to reach a level that we haven’t reached since the cup final.

“We were lucky enough to finish on the right side of it this time, and we now have another job in the final against whoever that may be, where I’m sure we’re going to have to play even better again” he insisted.

Their opponents in this year’s final will not be determined until later this week as Number One seeds UCC Demons and Energywise Ireland Neptune must do battle again in a quarter-final replay at Mardyke Arena on Sunday evening for the right to take on take on Garvey’s Tralee Warriors in the other semi-final.

UCC Demons set up a date with Garvey’s Tralee Warriors in the last four of the Domino’s Men’s Super League playoffs after they ran out 110-91 winners over Cork rivals, Energywise Ireland Neptune in Sunday’s quarter-final replay at Mardyke Arena.

A scoring error in their initial encounter the previous week, meant that the two sides had to go head-to-head again, and it was Demons who finally secured further passage, despite Chancellor Hunter amassing a game-high 43 points for the visitors.

Indeed, the Number One seeds secured a convincing win that was fuelled largely by the combined 75 points served up by Patrick Robinson, Elijah Tillman and David Lehane.

“I’m delighted with how the lads responded” remarked UCC Demons head coach, Daniel O’Mahony.

“This week’s preparation was like no other, but the fellas, from 1 to 11, and all coaching staff just stuck to basketball, but we can improve again” he insisted.

 

The prospect of a Domino’s Super League double remains very much alive for Killester as their women’s team successfully negotiated a tough challenge from FloMAX Liffey Celtics, emerging 92-85 winners in Leixlip Amenities Centre on Saturday night to set up a date with Utility Trust St. Paul’s in this season’s showpiece.

Samantha Haiby went off for the defending champions in this enthralling semi-final, recording a triple double as she amassed a game-high 32 points, with 10 rebounds and 11 assists to boot.

 Samantha Haiby of Killester in action in the Domino's Women's Super League.

There were also significant contributions of 16 points apiece from Ieva Bagdanaviciene and Hannah Thornton, as the Dublin side exacted some measure of revenge over their Kildare rivals who had unhinged them in this season’s Paudie O’Connor National Cup Final back in January.

Sorcha Tiernan did her utmost to keep Celtics’ challenge lit on Saturday, the Ireland senior international, herself, putting up 30 points and nine assists, but even that impressive haul could not help keep the homeside’s quest for a double on the rails.

“I thought that was a titanic battle” said Killester head coach, Mark Grennell after Saturday’s victory. “Liffey played a great game and never went away. We felt we had to win the rebounding battle tonight and I believe we did that well.

“We knew we would have to be special to go in there and beat them, and thankfully everyone stepped up to the mark.

“We did have stand-out players, in terms of stats, but this was one for the collective tonight. Everyone played their role” he stressed.

Now standing in the way of back-to-back Super League titles for Mark Grennell’s side, are a Utility Trust St. Paul’s outfit growing massively in confidence with every hurdle they successfully negotiate.

The Domino's Women's Super League final is 🔒'd in!

Killester will meet Utility Trust St. Paul's at the National Basketball Arena 🛣️#DominosWSL pic.twitter.com/xl1iugkC7J

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) March 29, 2025

The Killarney side may have just managed to clinch the last available spot in the playoffs on the closing day of the regular season, but they have certainly made the most of the opportunity, following up on last week’s three-point victory away to Number One seeds, SETU Waterford Wildcats with an equally tight 67-64 success against Trinity Meteors in Saturday night’s semi-final in Coláiste Éanna.

Down by seven points with just over two minutes played in the fourth, St. Paul’s worked their way back for the win, thanks to some timely buckets down the stretch by Lorraine Scanlon that took her game tally to 10, while Callie Cavanaugh served up 18.

Both players combined with Mathilde Diop to win a total of 35 boards in what was key to seeing them take down a Trinity side that was seriously bolstered by the 42-point total that Grace Prenter and Emma Merriweather put up for them.

“It’s all about the players who never gave up” insisted James Fleming, St. Paul’s head coach.

“We dug deep. The hurt of past losses have probably driven us on. Callie Cavanaugh was brilliant, and our Irish players are as good as what’s around.

“It’s a historic day for Killarney basketball. The great Caoimhin ‘Shaq’ O’Donoghue was definitely looking down on us” he said.

 

In Domino’s Men’s Division One, ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers prevailed 97-94 in a titanic battle with Moy Tolka Rovers in St. Mary’s Hall on Saturday night to book themselves a place in this season’s final.

They will face off against President’s National Cup holders, Limerick Celtics after the South Conference winners held firm to see off Ulster University 73-65 in their respective semi-final in Crescent College on Sunday afternoon.

They will face off against either Limerick Celtics or Ulster University who meet in the other semi-final in Crescent College on Sunday afternoon.

 

The match-up for the 2024/25 Domino’s Women’s Division One final has been confirmed after Number One seeds, McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles came through a tough challenge from Cleveland Rockets, winning out 79-69 in Virginia Sports Centre on Saturday evening to set up a title clash with Limerick Celtics who won through in overtime 85-80 in their derby against Limerick Sport Huskies in St. Munchin’s College.