Preview: Killester keen to avoid upset in Domino’s Women’s Super League playoffs

Killester head coach Mark Grennell says his side “need to be locked in” to avoid an upset in the Domino’s Women’s Super League playoff quarter-finals against McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles. The defending champions enter the playoffs as the in-form team in the league, winning six of their last seven games, despite having injury issues with Samantha Haiby and Ieva Bagdanaviciene.

Killester head coach Mark Grennell is urging caution ahead of their game at the IWA, citing last season’s regular season table toppers SETU Waterford Wildcats getting knocked out at the quarter-final stage. 

Grennell said: “It should be a very exciting weekend. I think we have eight top teams in the league this year. We are keenly aware of what happened to Waterford at the hands of Killarney last year, so we need to be locked in. Cavan pose difficult match-ups for us, we need to make sure we get that right and control the pace of the game. Getting Sam (Haiby) firing again and bringing Michelle Clarke and Ieva (Bagdanaviciene) back in at full speed will be another challenge”.

Killester head coach Mark Grennell 

Eagles are trying to recapture some of the form they found earlier in the season that pushed them away from the bottom of the table and into playoff contention. John Stephens’ side stumbled towards the latter stages of the season, with their sole victory in their final five games coming against relegated side Catalyst Fr. Mathews.

Second seeds Utility Trust St. Paul’s Killarney welcome FloMAX Liffey Celtics on Sunday afternoon. Killarney ended their season in relatively fine form, facing the other three sides in the top four, winning two of the three games, only seeing defeat against UCC Glanmire in their penultimate regular season fixture.

FloMAX Liffey Celtics had a revival in the second half of the season to push their way into the playoffs. Celtics started the season with a record of 1-5, but losing just three of their remaining games to end the season at 10-8 and earn the seventh seed. A victory for either side sets up a semi-final berth against one of UCC Glanmire or Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell.

Denise Dunlea of Utility Trust St. Paul's Killarney, the second seeds host FloMAX Liffey Celtics on Sunday.

UCC Glanmire host Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell in a Cork derby at the Mardyke Arena. Brunell hold the bragging rights over third seed Glanmire, winning both games in the league so far this season. Brunell opened the season with a five-point win in Glanmire and then asserted dominance at home by winning 97-72 in a comprehensive victory.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s game, UCC Glammire head coach Mark Scannell said: “We are happy with how our team has evolved especially since the start of 2026. The goal all year was to make the playoffs and work hard for home court. We look forward to playing Brunell and the challenge that they present, but we know how dangerous they can be and local derbies are always unpredictable. It should be a great advert for women’s basketball in Cork and hopefully we can get a great crowd in and get some good luck in the result.”

There is a battle between Irish internationals on Saturday when Trinity Meteors and Hazel Finn take on the sisters Kate and Sarah Hickey of SETU Waterford Wildcats in Trinity on Saturday evening. Meteors managed to secure the final home court place in the Domino’s Women’s Super League table in the final weekend, beating Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers, whilst Wildcats and Brunell both saw defeat so Meteors could end the regular season in fourth.

Hazel Finn in action for Ireland in FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2027 Qualifiers game against Bosnia and Herzegovina. She will line out for Trinity Meteors against SETU Waterford Wildcats in Domino's Women's Super League playoff quarter-finals this weekend.

Both games between the sides were intensely close affairs, with Wildcats coming out on top in both games, winning 74-71 at home and a 68-66 win in the Trinity Sports Centre. Wildcats winning streak was halted in the final week of games, losing 77-73 to league leaders Killester, which was Wildcats first loss in five games.

All of the playoffs in the Domino’s Women’s Super League will be broadcast live and exclusively on BITV.

Fixtures

Domino’s Women’s Super League Playoff Quarter-Finals

Saturday, 21st March

 Killester (1) v McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles (8), IWA Clontarf, 1800

 Trinity Meteors (4) v SETU Waterford Wildcats (5), Trinity Sports Centre, 1730

UCC Glanmire (3) v Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell (6), Mardyke Arena, 1930 

Sunday, 22nd March

Utility Trust St. Paul’s Killarney (2) v FloMAX Liffey Celtics (7), Aura Killarney, 1545

Domino’s Women’s Division One Playoff Quarter-Finals

Saturday, 21st March

Cleveland Rockets (1) v University of Galway Mystics (8), Lisburn Racquets Club, 1800

Templeogue (4) v Moy Tolka Rovers (5), TUD Tallaght, 1700

Limerick Celtics (2) v Swords Thunder (7), Crescent College, 1700

Limerick Sport Huskies (3) v Clunetech Kilkenny Stars (6), Limerick Educate Together, 1600