Cork derby in Domino's Women's Super League as playoff race heats up

UCC Glanmire head coach Mark Scannel says his team “will have to play much better” if they’re to get a result in the Cork derby at Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell in the Domino’s Women’s Super League on Sunday.

UCC Glanmire edged McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles 94-85 last time out and after starting the season 2-3, they’ve won their last four on the bounce. With both sides intensely locked at 6-3 for the season, Brunell’s winning streak was halted by a 73-67 defeat to Utility Trust St. Paul’s Killarney last weekend.

UCC Glanmire head coach Mark Scannell said: “It is a very busy Christmas period. Trying to juggle training, being able to give the girls some downtime and prepare for a big game like Brunell. We had a good run of games up to our game against Cavan and a performance came that wasn’t at the level I would expect, especially on defence. We will have to play much better on Sunday if we are to get a result in the Parochial Hall”.

Leaders Killester will be looking to hold off the pack when they host an in-form FloMAX Liffey Celtics at IWA on Saturday. After losing their opening four fixtures, Liffey have since gone 4-1 in the league and find themselves at 4-5, in seventh place. Killester are flying at the peak of the table with an 8-1 record and a player like Samantha Haiby averaging almost 25 points per game, along with a 40-point game two weeks ago.

Utility Trust St. Paul’s Killarney snapped a two-game losing streak with a 73-67 win over Brunell last time out, leaving them with a 6-3 record. This weekend, they will face a SETU Waterford Wildcats that had appeared to have found some form until they saw defeat last weekend at the hands of Killester. One place separates the sides in the table with Killarney in fifth and Waterford in sixth.

Trinity Meteors will be another of the sides looking to close in on the top of the table, when they travel to Virginia Show Centre to face McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles. Meteors rebounded from recent losses against fellow playoff hopefuls Brunell and UCC Glanmire, by winning 71-60 at Portlaoise Panthers last time out, to get them back on track. The promoted Eagles meanwhile have lost their last three league games.

It’s an interesting battle at the bottom of the table as the 0-9 Catalyst Fr. Mathews head to Laois to take on Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers, who are at 1-8. Panthers sole victory came in week one against Fr. Mathews. Despite having the league leader in points with Laila Blair, Fr. Mathews have endured a sobering time in the Domino’s Women’s Super League so far this season, with just three of their games this season being decided by single digits, including the two-point loss to Portlaoise.

Domino’s Women’s Super League

Saturday 27^th December

Killester v FloMAX Liffey Celtics, IWA, 5pm

Sunday 28^th December

Utility Trust St. Pauls Killarney v SETU Waterford Wildcats, Aura, 1pm

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell v UCC Glanmire, GCU Arena Parochial Hall, 2pm

Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers v Catalyst Fr. Mathews, St. Mary’s Hall, 3pm

Monday 29^th December

McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles v Trinity Meteors, Virginia Show Centre, 5pm

Domino’s Women’s Division One

Saturday 27^th December

Dublin Raiders v Templeogue, Coláiste Raithin, 5.15pm

Sunday 28^th December

Moy Tolka Rovers v Abbey Seals Dublin Lions, Tolka Rovers Sports Complex, 1.30pm

Swords Thunder v Cleveland Rockets, AlSAA, 3pm

University of Galway Mystics v Clunetech Kilkenny Stars, 3pm

Limerick Celtics v Limerick Sport Huskies, Cresent College, 7pm