Limerick Celtics grab late win over Templeogue to boost playoff hopes in Domino’s Women’s Division One

Limerick Celtics jumped to third in the table ahead of playoff rivals Templeogue after coming back from being down 67-65 in the final minute to take home their ninth win of the season. Celtics took a two-point, 52-50 lead into the final quarter thanks to a half-court attempt from Amy Buckley on the buzzer.

Amy’s sister Laura, who is an U16 Irish international, managed to fill the void from American Sidney Richards after Richards fouled out in the final quarter. Laura scored two consecutive scores inside that led to and-1 attempts to put Celtics up 70-69. Katie Richards nailed a free-throw at the end to give Celtics the victory. For Templeogue, they are now in fourth spot, despite Sofia Paska’s 21-point, 16-rebound game, with a record of 8-5.

Limerick Sport Huskies picked up a 26-point victory over Moy Tolka Rovers on Saturday. The 87-61 win has Huskies joint-second with Limerick Celtics. Four Huskies players finished the game in double-digits with Shelby Harmeyer, Sophie Moore, Clara Gomez and Orlaith Woods all scoring 10+ points. Tolka started well with a 21-19 lead late in the first, but a 29-6 second quarter put Huskies firmly in control of the game.

Despite a very strong 22-point performance from Dane Bertolina, the loss for Tolka sees them now fall to sixth now with a record of 6-7, just one win short of fifth-placed Clunetech Kilkenny Stars.

Dane Bertolina was making shots from everywhere 👊

Big win for @TolkaNation last time out!#DominosWD1 | #IrishBasketball pic.twitter.com/IrHKK5BTeh

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) January 29, 2026

Cleveland Rockets remained at the summit of the Domino’s Women’s Division One with a 73-61 triumph over University of Galway Mystics. Alyssa Jimenez had her best league performance since arriving for Rockets with a 21-point, 11-rebound double-double. Emma Glavin scored 25 for Mystics in a tightly-contested game with the sides locked at 56-56, with eight minutes to go.

Rockets are still in first at 10-2, with a game in hand on the sides below them. For Mystics, they occupy the final playoff spot in eighth, but still in a precarious position just one win ahead of the bottom two teams in the table.

Clunetech Kilkenny Stars defeated Abbey Seals Dublin Lions 76-67 on Saturday to keep their hunt towards the home playoff spots going. Stars newest acquisition Kalyah Watson scored 16 points in the victory, where the lead changed hands on 15 separate occasions. Lions managed to edge ahead in the third quarter with Sinead Keane scoring free throws to give them a 53-50 advantage. But that was as good as it got for Lions in the second half.

The loss for Lions has them level with Dublin Raiders at the foot of the table with both sides having three wins in 13 games. With Stars, they are now 7-5 with an extra game in hand on Templeogue above them, who are just one win up on Kilkenny.

Dublin Raiders picked up a crucial win in the fight for the last playoff spot with a 79-62 victory over Swords Thunder in Coláiste Ráithín. Mikayla Woods ran the show for Raiders, scoring 30 points and getting 17 rebounds, including seven offensive boards. Kayce Vaile led the battle for Thunder with 28 points, along with 13 of her own boards.

Raiders are now one win away from Mystics in eighth. The loss for Swords sees them fall to 5-8 for the season, still remaining in seventh position.

In the Domino’s Men’s Division One, there was plenty of action with most teams in action twice this weekend. League leaders Drogheda Wolves kept their push going with two wins this weekend. They kicked off their bank holiday with a 95-78 triumph over Moy Tolka Rovers, and followed that up with a 111-65 win over Team Northwest on Sunday. Wolves American, Vernon Jackson, scored 18 against Tolka and then continued his fine form with a 29-point game against Northwest. Wolves are one game clear at the top of the table with a 13-3 record.

Limerick Sport Eagles also kept their push towards the summit going with two victories of their own, overcoming a stern test against Maigh Cuilinn 83-74 with Alex Carlisle scoring 27. Eagles also beat Titans last Thursday 81-74 with Carlisle and Ryan Leonard combining for 42 points. Eagles are now at 11 wins for the season, tied with Dublin Lions and Killarney in the fight for second place.

Ulster University had a mixed weekend, starting off with a seven-point 81-74 win over Team Northwest on Friday, thanks to a 21-point showing from Prince Ebwea. On Sunday, Templeogue managed to overcome Ulster University with a 78-65 victory. Jake Mullins led the way for Templeogue with 17 points to help Templeogue get back on track after they suffered a 79-56 loss to Dublin Lions on Saturday.

For Ulster, they are now at 9-7 and are level with Titans, who are in seventh. Team Northwest’s struggles continue as they suffered their 15^th and 16^th consecutive defeats this weekend. And finally with Templeogue, one win and one defeat means they are currently in 13^th, two wins short of their nearest competitors in Tipp Talons.

SPK Utility Trust Lakers kept their charge for the home playoff places flying with two big victories, starting with a 91-86 win over ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers on Saturday. Samuel Grant and Stephen Kelly combined for 52 points for Lakers, with Panthers duo Justice Iheme and Amiri Darrell Stewart scoring 63 between them, including 38 from Stewart. Lakers second win of the weekend came against Tipp Talons in a 91-85 triumph. Grant and Kelly’s strong showings were joined by a big game from Mark Sheehan, with three Lakers players scoring 70 points between them in the win.

The victories for Lakers mean they are still second with a 12-4 record, one game away from Wolves at the top, but also just one win ahead of Limerick Sport Eagles. For the Panthers, their sole game this weekend against Lakers means they are 8-6 and are sat in tenth spot, level with Tolka, however they have two games in hand following the postponement of their game against Killarney Cougars on Sunday.

Carrick Cruisers had a successful double gameweek with an 18-point triumph over Malahide on Friday. Braxton Benham and James Aboaba combined for 56 in a 102-84 win. Cruisers continued with their momentum as they edged Moy Tolka Rovers with a 72-71 win thanks to Benham scoring inside the final 30 seconds. Tyler Mutemasango led the way for Cruisers with an 18-point game.

The two victories, were Cruisers’ fourth and fifth consecutive wins in the Domino’s Men’s Division One. They are now fifth at 10-6 for the season, with just Maree in sixth level with them. Tolka’s two defeats this weekend means they are ninth with an even 8-8 record, one win behind the playoff places. Malahide’s loss against Cruisers was their sole fixture this gameweek and leaves them in 14^th, level with Killarney Cougars on three wins.

Killarney Cougars also had just one fixture this weekend due to their game against ND Audit Portlaoise Panthers being postponed on Sunday. Cougars game against Titans BC on Saturday ended in defeat with Titans running out 46-point winners. Umar Rachid led the way for Titans in one of the standout performances this weekend with 36 points.

The loss for Cougars leaves them at 3-12, however they have a game in hand now on Malahide in 14^th, who are also on three wins as mentioned earlier. For Titans, the big win against Cougars was followed by the defeat to Limerick Sport Eagles. This leaves them finely poised in seventh at 9-7.

Isaiah Taylor dropped an absolute bomb for Maree against Team North West 🤯💣

📸 Image Credit: galwaylocals#DominosMD1 | #IrishBasketball pic.twitter.com/AbaCnhMmin

— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) January 25, 2026

Tipp Talons also had a difficult run of results this weekend, starting off with a 114-70 defeat to Maree on Saturday. Isaiah Taylor followed up his 57-point performance last weekend with a 32-point game against Talons. Michael Pierre had 24 points, and Aleksandar Kovacevic added 23 for Talons. The loss was then followed by a 91-85 loss to SPK Utility Trust Lakers on Monday.

Maree’s win was their only game this weekend, leaving them at 10-4, level with Carrick Cruisers. For Talons, the two defeats were their ninth and tenth loss of the season and sees them sitting in 12^th in the table at 6-10.