With one week to go to the Hula Hoops National Cup finals, the attention of the country’s top teams returns to league action with all to play for in both the men’s and women’s Super Leagues.
Women’s Super League
IT Carlow Basketball v Fr Mathews (Saturday, Barrow Centre, 15.00)
After a break for both teams last weekend, IT Carlow welcome Fr Mathews to the Barrow Centre. Fr Mathews are just one game ahead of Liffey Celtics in the final playoff spot so cannot afford any slip up this weekend. With Grainne Dwyer back healthy for Mathews they should have enough to overcome Carlow on the road, however, games between these two teams have come right down to the wire in the past two seasons and with Kaitlyn Slagus and Alyssa Velles still in top form for the hosts, it should be another very interesting match up between these teams.
Marble City Hawks v Pyrobel Killester (Saturday, Watershed Complex, 17.00)
The league’s bottom team will welcome Cup finalists Killester to Kilkenny this weekend. Hawks have struggled offensively all year and with Killester riding the wave of excited energy after last weekend’s cup defeat of Glanmire, it’s hard to see past the Dubliners. Christa Reed and Aisling McCann combined almost outscored Hawks in the first meeting between the teams. Elaine Kennington will need more support under the boards and Katie Fox will need some support outside the perimeter if they are to match an extremely in-form and high-scoring Killester side. Slowing Reed and hoping Killester have one eye on the Cup final is Hawk’s best hope.
Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics v Maree (Saturday, Leixlip Amenities Centre, 19.00)
Liffey have had a difficult season to date but the return of Sorcha Tiernan from injury and Briana Green’s recent re-signing will bolster their playoff hopes. Maree have been the story of the season to date losing just three league games so far in their debut season. One of those games was early in the season at home to Liffey and they will be looking to extract revenge this weekend. Maree have grown in confidence and their recent addition of Dayna Finn back into their ranks gives them a dangerous offensive option for the remainder of the season. This should be a tight game and well worth a watch.
Maxol WIT Wildcats v DCU Mercy (Saturday, Mercy Gym Waterford, 19.00)
The other much-anticipated match up of the weekend will see the meeting of Maxol WIT Wildcats and DCU Mercy in Waterford. DCU Mercy will be hoping that the perfect tonic for a shock cup exit will be a win in this top of the table clash. Wildcats have had an excellent season to date and sit in joint second on just three losses. Wildcats led the first matchup between the teams at halftime before a strong second half performance by Mercy saw them win by seven. Sarah Woods led the way with 24 points and limiting her scoring will be a goal for Waterford. Brunell were able to do so last weekend in their shock upset of Mercy but that is easier said than done again for Wildcats. A win for Waterford could blow the league wide open.
Ambassador UCC Glanmire v Singleton Supervalu Brunell (Sunday, Mardyke Arena, 14.30)
After very different cup experiences last weekend, two of Cork’s teams will go head to head this weekend in the Mardyke Arena. Glanmire led for large parts of the game last weekend before Killester caught them. Shrita Parker looked unguardable but Tatum Neubert will have injury concerns after the knock she picked up last week. Brunell will have similar worries about their Irish international Danielle O’Leary but they are unlikely to risk her ahead of next weekend’s cup final. Despite not winning many games, Brunell have been troubling teams recently and last weekend may give them the momentum to kickstart their league campaign. If Treyanna Clay can maintain her form from last weekend, this could be another upset for Brunell.
Men’s Super League
Abbey Seals Dublin Lions v Coughlan C&S Neptune (Saturday, Colaiste Bhride, 17.30)
Lehmon Colbert and his Neptune team have been on the end of five consecutive defeats in a remarkable run of narrow losses. This weekend, they head to Dublin Lions where they face the only team in the league without a win yet this season. Neptune need to shoot better from the free throw line this weekend, but they should be able to pick up a road win as long as they can avoid a cup hangover which is a distinct possibility. Lions will fancy their chances in their home court, and will undoubtedly aim to get into their fast pace, high scoring game early.
DBS Éanna v Pyrobel Killester (Saturday, Colaiste Eanna, 19.00)
DBS Éanna will enter this weekend’s home game with Killester with a huge amount of confidence. The south Dubliners are heading to their first ever Cup final next weekend and their second half demolition of Tralee last weekend was very impressive. Stefan Zecevic already has one hand on the Player of the Year trophy and if he can keep up his form, it’s hard to see anyone beating Éanna in the league. Killester are on one of their longest losing streaks in recent memory, but the quality is still there to trouble teams. The return of Ciaran Roe makes Killester more difficult to beat and as we saw two weekend’s ago in Belfast, Killester will not go down without a fight. Can Darren McGovern keep his team focused on the league this weekend or will the cup distraction give Killester a chance to upset Éanna?
Keane’s Supervalu Killorglin v Griffith College Templeogue (Saturday, Killorglin Sports Centre, 19.15)
Just two wins off the top of the table, both Killorglin and Templeogue still have an outside chance at making a run at the league title. A loss this weekend for either would likely quash those hopes. Templeogue haven’t been in the best form in recent weeks, but last weekend’s cup semi final win was a gritty champions performance. Killorglin have been excellent in recent weeks with Rami Ghanem providing a potent backcourt with Allan Thomas and the team are particularly tough to beat in front of their home fans. This should be a great test for Templeogue ahead of the Cup final and the must-win nature of the game makes it must-watch basketball.
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors v DCU Saints (Saturday, Castleisland, 19.30)
Earlier in the season ,Tralee responded to a heavy defeat by Éanna with a 44-point away win over DCU. This weekend they are coming into the game on the back of a similar defeat and will be hoping for a similar bounce back. Andre Berry vs Martins Provizors could be a fascinating matchup but Tralee have a major advantage at the point guard spot and should have the depth to cause DCU huge issues. Michael Bonaparte can swing any game, but Tralee should have the size and depth to cause DCU huge issues.
Maree v Belfast Star (Saturday, Calsanctius College, 19.30)
Belfast Star have already picked up a win against Maree in Galway but they will need a big performance to do so again this weekend. Darin Johnson going head to head against Delaney Blaylock is about as good a matchup you will find in Ireland. Blaylock won the matchup in Belfast but if Johnson can challenge him this weekend it will give Maree huge confidence. Star have stormed to the top of the table over recent weeks and a win in a difficult environment in Galway will only bolster their title challenge.
Moycullen v UCD Marian (Saturday, Kingfisher Arena, 19.30)
Moycullen come into this game on the back of two wins in recent weeks that has seen them leap frog Killester out of the relegation spots. This week they host a UCD Marian team that have largely been flying under the radar this season. With just five losses, UCD are just behind the league leaders and they will be searching for a big road win to maintain the pressure on the top teams. Adding to the spice for this matchup is that four of the players playing will go head to head next weekend in the U20 National Cup Final. A win for either team this weekend will help them climb the league table and it should be a great game to watch.
