Domino's Women's Super League Week Two Preview

Defending Domino’s Women’s Super League champions Trinity Meteors will take on Utility Trust St. Paul’s in Killarney in gameweek two, as Anthony Dodson sets out on maintaining his perfect start.

VSC Cavan Eagles have claimed top spot of the Domino’s WSL, following their high-scoring win against Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers, as head coach John Stephens believes this week’s opponents FloMAX Liffey Celtics are ‘favourites’ this year. 

Limerick Celtics and Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell will face off in Crescent College, SETU Waterford Wildcats will host reigning Domino’s WSL National Cup champions and Career Decisions UCC Glanmire and Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers seek their first win of the season on Sunday. 

VSC Cavan Eagles v FloMAX Liffey Celtics, Saturday 15:00 

VSC Cavan Eagles sit atop of the Domino’s WSL following their round one 66-88 win against Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers. Kilah Freelon took her National League debut in her stride, getting 31 points and 19 rebounds, while her fellow signing Darrione Rogers racked up 25 points. Ellie and Emma Glavin got their first Cavan Eagles minutes under John Stephens, with Casey Mulvey also back in action for the Cavan side. 

“Portlaoise Panthers were tough last weekend so it was great to get that road win on the first weekend,” said Stephens. “Liffey Celtics this weekend will be another tough one. They are well coached, and with several current and former senior internationals, they must be one of the favourites this year. We are looking forward to the challenge all the same.” 

FloMAX Liffey Celtics took down Limerick Celtics in their opening contest, as Nya Epps, Lynn Tunnah, Katie Williamson and Sorcha Tiernan ran riot at the Leixlip Amenities Centre. Their final quarter display proved their Domino’s WSL experience, as they outscored Limerick Celtics by 18-8. FloMAX Liffey Celtics got the better of VSC Cavan Eagles on two occasions last year, winning 73-76 and 82-75.

Utility Trust St. Paul’s v Trinity Meteors, Saturday 16:00

Trinity Meteors opened their Domino’s WSL campaign with a narrow win against Career Decisions UCC Glanmire, and will travel cross-country to take on Utility Trust St. Paul’s in round two. Both sides defended their home courts in the 25/26 season, with Trinity Meteors winning the first game 63-53 and Utility Trust St. Paul’s taking game two 65-55. 

James Fleming led St. Paul’s to a victory against Killester in week one, as Angelina Robles and Paula Reus Piza got their first taste of National League basketball. The returning Maisie Burnham racked up 14 points, with Rheanne O’Shea and Leah McMahon getting ten points each. 

Hazel Finn secured a dramatic Trinity Meteors win last weekend, when she won the game with only seven seconds left on the clock at Coláiste Iosagáin. Morgan Lenahan returned to Anthony Dodsons side to help them over the line, as Aisling Moran picked up 16 points en route to the final whistle.  

Limerick Celtics v Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell, Saturday 17:00 

Limerick Celtics and Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell look to get back on the horse after opening weekend losses for the two Munster teams. Limerick Celtics signings Jeni Levine and Treasure Thompson opened their Domino’s WSL accounts with some big scoring, getting 24 and 19 points respectively. 

'Our opening game against Liffey Celtics was a great start, but it probably wasn’t the result we wanted. We had control of our gameplan for the first three quarters, but Liffey showed their experience by slowing us down and taking away options that we had all game,” said Limerick Celtics head coach Jordan Hehir. “Brunell will be another tough test for us this week, they’ve got speed up and down the court to match us, but it’s just about working on what went wrong last week and getting more competitive as the league goes on.” 

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell had a tough start under Keith Daly, as they were defeated by SETU Waterford Wildcats in Cork. Kayce Vaile made her jump to the Domino’s WSL by getting 14 points and nine rebounds on her Brunell debut, while Edel Thornton notched 21 points. 

SETU Waterford Wildcats v Killester, Saturday 17:30 

Killester seemed to be SETU Waterford Wildcats bogey team last season, as Killester went two for two against the Déise side. Killester’s 63-82 win on the road gave them the early season bragging rights, and a 77-73 victory in the final stages of the regular season gave them the 100% record over the Wildcats. 

SETU Waterford Wildcats had a successful Munster derby win in round one against Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell, where a number of players pushed the team over the line. Irish international Sarah Hickey tipped off her Domino’s WSL season with a 29-point game and Jillian Hayes’ latest signing Brooklyn Gray hit the 30-point mark with ten rebounds.

Killester took a home court loss last weekend, falling short to Utility Trust St. Paul's in Clontarf. Kennedy Townsend looked unstoppable in the first half, racking up 18 points and 10 rebounds, as Leilani Turner and Isabellah Middleton chipped away at the scoring to end their games on 11 and 10 points respectively. Mark Grennell will look to make things right at Mercy College and continue his flying form against SETU Waterford Wildcats. 

Career Decision’s UCC Glanmire v Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers, Sunday 13:30 

Last year's Domino’s WSL finalists Career Decisions UCC Glanmire were defeated by Trinity Meteors in round one, as Midlands Park Portlaoise Panthers also fell short to VSC Cavan Eagles. Last season, UCC Glanmire put on a show against Portlaoise Panthers, beating them 112-56 in the Mardyke Arena. Mark Scannell’s team secured the second win in St. Mary’s Hall when they beat the Laois side 58-77. 

The latest signings in Cork, Emani Jenkins and Tae Jordan, combined for 46 points in their National League debut, proving to be crucial cogs in Scannell's machine. Irish international Emer Dunne also claimed ten points and seven rebounds, which was only bested once last year, when she recorded 13 points against Midlands Portlaoise Panthers.

Portlaoise Panthers showed promising spells in week one, as they scored 23 points in one quarter against VSC Cavan Eagles. The return of Alyssa Marie Velles has been a gift for Ger Jago, as she tallied 23 points in week one, while homegrown talent Shauna Dooley racked up 11 points in only 15 minutes.