Preview: Demons glad to “have control of their own destiny” ahead of Celtics tie in Domino’s Men’s Super League

UCC Demons are currently holding the advantage in the race for the final playoff spot as they prepare for two big games this week. Kicking off the weekend, Demons travel across Cork to face rivals Ballincollig, then they host Limerick Celtics on Sunday in a matchup between two sides fighting for the final playoff place. Demons head coach Daniel O’Mahony is confident that his side has hit good form at the perfect time.

When asked about Demons, O’Mahony replied “ We as always, are taking it game by game. We are lucky enough to have control of our own destiny and not be reliant on other’s results. So if we can keep improving and building on last week, it is the right time of year to peak”.

Speaking about Limerick Celtics, he added “ Yeah it is so important to win the games vs teams close or have similar record. Limerick have beaten us twice already, so we know we are up against a tough task”.

Celtics enjoyed a mixed weekend last time out, losing to St. Vincent’s and picking up a vital win over UCD Marian. Both Demons and Celtics are locked at seven wins, but Celtics hold the advantage currently after a 90-72 triumph earlier in the season. Both sides will be watching over their shoulder, with EJ Sligo All-Stars also on seven wins, but having played a game extra on both teams.

After Thursday’s meeting with Demons, Ballincollig will host EJ Sligo All-Stars on Saturday, looking to close in on the top two of Belfast Star and Killester. Ballincollig picked up a big win over Garvey’s Tralee Warriors in a National Cup rematch. Ballincollig’s game in hand against Demons could see them draw level with Killester in second on 14 wins. Player/Head coach Ciaran O’Sullivan is wary about the threats possessed by both opponents this weekend.

Speaking ahead of the weekend, O’Sullivan said “Both Demons and Sligo were impressive last weekend and will arrive at MTU carrying strong momentum. Demons are playing as well as anyone in the league right now, having won four of their last five games, all against playoff-calibre opposition. For us, with four games left, the focus is clear, finish as high up the table as possible while staying fully prepared and dialled in for each matchup”.

EJ Sligo All-Stars have moved two games away from the relegation spot after two big wins last weekend over Flexachem KCYMS and Neptune. The Killorglin game especially went down to the wire with the difference being a missed free-throw from Killorglin’s Jeffery Okeke.

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League leaders Belfast Star travel to Dublin this weekend, as they prepare to face UCD Marian on Saturday. Star let one slip last weekend, suffering a 25-point loss to Éanna. They managed to recover quickly to pick up a closely-contested victory over St. Vincent’s on Sunday. They hold a one-win advantage over Killester in second, but a slip-up this weekend could see them dragged into a three-team race, should both Killester and Ballincollig pick up wins.

For Marian, victory is essential in the race for the top-four, with them one win away from Éanna in fourth and having played an extra game means they face a long fight back if they want to secure a home playoff game. They will also be keeping an eye on St. Vincent’s, who are sharing fifth spot on nine wins.

Energywise Ireland Neptune will be aiming to come away from the bottom of the table when they host St. Vincent’s on Saturday. Neptune are now one win off of Killorglin, who are at 6-12 for the season. Losing back to back games has hampered their survival attempt to this point, but will be hoping to turn their fortunes around in the final four games they have in order to survive.

St. Vincent’s have struggled for form in recent weeks, losing four of their last five games in the Domino’s Men’s Super League. After overcoming Limerick Celtics inside the final minute last Friday, Vincent’s came up short against Belfast Star to fall to 9-10 for the season.

Killester will be looking to join Belfast Star on 15 wins this weekend when welcome Garvey’s Tralee Warriors to the IWA. Having won four games on the bounce, Killester have pulled away from teams below them to occupy the second home-court playoff spot in the table.

For Warriors, they are in seventh, on eight wins and with two games in hand on the teams around them. One win in the last five games has seen their position in the table lose grip. They will be hoping not to fall into a fight for the last playoff spot in the last remaining games in the season.

Flexachem KCYMS face a huge weekend, taking on Griffith College Éanna as Killorglin hope to take a leap towards after one win and one defeat last weekend. A win for Killorglin could potentially give them confidence for a late playoff push. However a defeat this weekend could bring them closer to the drop.

For Éanna, they still control their fate in terms of a home quarter-final, as they have a game in hand on the teams below them. They sit in fourth on ten wins, hoping to extend the gap to two games on both Marian and Vincent’s below them in the table.

All games this weekend in the Domino’s Men’s Super League will be broadcast live on BITV.