Irish basketball playoffs reach their L2M phase as big sweat begins

Ladder leaders like Ballincollig and Killester put it all on the line, as Neptune and Killorglin face off to avoid the dreaded drop

Disappointment: Samuel Henderson of Energywise Ireland Neptune shows his frustrqtion again  KCYMS Killorglin at Neptune Stadium. The sides meet again Sunday in a decisive derby. Pic: Larry Cummins

IN THE NBA, it's known as L2M, the last two minutes of a game when the terms and conditions of engagement changes. Time slows down when it matters most. 

Ditto the play-offs, when one bad night can put paid to a season of incremental progress, where one missed lay-up can cost the lot. 

Basketball Ireland's Superleague format offers little more than top seeding (and homecourt edge in fairness) to the regular season winners and so Ballincollig have to survive the same high-wire weekend as the rest of the play-off contenders this weekend despite their league-leading 17-2 campaign to date. The fact that it's Limerick Celtics in the play offs, the same side who seriously spooked 'Collig in a Cup semi OT fright night only adds to the sense of trepidation.

Head coach Ciaran O’Sullivan describes Limerick as “a serious threat with undeniable chemistry”. 

O'Sullivan, said: “Playoff basketball - that’s the goal from day one of pre-season, and it’s what keeps the fire burning all year. We’re thrilled to still be right in the hunt, playing high-stakes games as we head into late March.

“Our matchups with Limerick Celtics this year have been nothing short of intense and tightly contested. We know exactly what’s waiting for us this Saturday at MTU Arena. It’s going to be another battle, and it will likely come down to the finest of margins."

Killester managed to edge their way into a top-two finish, Belfast Star’s loss combined with the Dublin side’s win over EJ Sligo All-Stars secured the second seed in the table, which means they have a home quarter-final and a home semi-final, should they progress to that stage. They welcome St. Vincent’s to the IWA on Saturday evening. St. Vincent’s won’t have Michael Olson on the sidelines, he exited club prior to the playoffs, but Killester coach Jonathan Grennell remains wary of the threat posed this weekend in the Dublin derby.

Grennell said: “Losing Coach Olson won’t change our approach. He has built a very good team that will show up and play for him whether he is physically there or not. The playoffs always throw up some surprises and we are determined not to be one this weekend”.

Belfast Star fell from the summit of the table to third place in the space of two weeks, after losing their last two games of the regular season to Ballincollig and Killester. They host UCD Marian on Saturday after Marian also slipped to sixth after being overtaken by Garvey’s Tralee Warriors for fifth spot. 

Griffith College Éanna play Garvey’s Tralee Warriors in a rematch of their final game of the season where Éanna ran out 92-66 victors. Éanna have emerged as one of the in-form teams heading into the playoffs, winning four of the last five games. For Warriors, they have had a slightly tougher run-in for the end of the season, winning just one of their last four. 

And yet the most consequential game of the weekend mightn't have a Superleague title mention around it - the relegation play off between Neptune and Killorglin in UL on Sunday (3pm). Both picked up wins against playoff candidates in the final weekend to take it to a playoff, Killorglin had a gutsy victory over Limerick Celtics, whilst Neptune won a thrilling double overtime win over UCD Marian.

In the women's Superleague play offs, UCC Glanmire (13-5) host Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell (10-8) 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.

Said UCC Glammire head coach Mark Scannell: “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.”

Ladder leaders Killester and their head coach Mark Grennell reckon they have to be “locked in” to avoid wasting their regular season 14-4 record. They entertain eighth-placed 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.

Second seeds Utility Trust St. Paul’s Killarney welcome FloMAX Liffey Celtics on Sunday afternoo. 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.

Weekend schedule: SATURDAY: Men’s Super League playoffs: Ballincollig (1) v Limerick Celtics (8), MTU Arena, 4pm; Griffith College Éanna (4) v Garvey's Tralee Warriors (5), Coláiste Éanna, 7pm; Killester (2) v St. Vincent's (7), IWA Clontarf, 8.15pm.

Women’s Super League playoffs: Killester (1) v McEvoy’s Cavan Eagles (8), IWA Clontarf, 6pm; Trinity Meteors (4) v SETU Waterford Wildcats (5), Trinity Sports Centre, 5.30; UCC Glanmire (3) v Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell (6), Mardyke Arena, 7.30

Men’s Division One playoffs: Dublin Lions (1N) v Titans BC (4S), Coláiste Bride, 5.30; Maree (2S) v Carrick Cruisers (3N), Calasanctius College, 7pm; Limerick Sport Eagles (1S) v Moy Tolka Rovers (4N), UL Arena, 7pm; Drogheda Wolves (2N) v SPK Utility Trust Lakers (3S), Ballymakenny College, 7.30

Women’s Division One playoffs: Cleveland Rockets (1) v University of Galway Mystics (8), Lisburn Racquets Club, 6pm; Templeogue (4) v Moy Tolka Rovers (5), TUD Tallaght, 5pm; Limerick Celtics (2) v Swords Thunder (7), Crescent College, 5pm;  Limerick Sport Huskies (3) v Clunetech Kilkenny Stars (6), Limerick Educate Together, 4pm.

SUNDAY: Men’s Super League playoffs: Belfast Star (3) v UCD Marian (6), Newforge, 1pm; Men's Super League Relegation Playoff: Flexachem KCYMS v Energywise Ireland Neptune, UL Arena, 3pm.

Women’s Super League playoffs: Utility Trust St. Paul’s Killarney (2) v FloMAX Liffey Celtics (7), Aura Killarney, 3.45.