Super League semi-final previews: Ballincollig and Killester still on course for doubles
KEY MAN: Latrell Jossell with possession for Ballincollig against Limerick Celtics in the Domino's Men's Superleague quarter-final at MTU Arena. Picture: Larry Cummins
Ballincollig's head coach Ciaran O'Sullivan believes his side have "no margin for error" if they're to make it back to the Domino's Men's Super League decider for the first time since lifting the title three years ago.
They welcome Griffith College Éanna to MTU Arena on Saturday afternoon with the prospect of a shot at a first top-flight double on the line, as they try and back up a memorable night at the National Basketball Arena in January which saw them crowned Pat Duffy National Cup champions.
The visitors will not be short of confidence though they are without Cork native and Irish international Seán Jenkins through injury. Éanna are playing in their third semi-final in four seasons and the nucleus of their 2024 winning side, Neil Lynch, James Gormley, Stefan Desnica and Kristijan Andabaka, remain key cogs in their current evolution.
Both their regular-season meetings were close encounters and while Ballincollig came out on the right side, the aggregate winning margin was only 10 points. Éanna's addition of Jaylyn Richardson late in the season has created a fresh matchup problem since the sides last clashed in February and when playing against the Village in the colours of St Vincent's, Richardson hit 36 points on 13/20 shooting, including 63% from the three-point line.
O'Sullivan is very wary of the Dubliners' depth and firepower.
"They've had an excellent campaign. They boast a great mix of youth and experience, with many members of their 2024 Super League winning team still in the squad and leading this group. No strangers to the big stage, they have been in outstanding form lately, winning five of their last six games since adding Jaylyn Richardson.
No side has consistently found an answer to combatting the trio of Latavious Mitchell, Josh Steel and Latrell Jossell. Of Ballincollig's five losses, two were in their opening games as the players adjusted to a new system, and two have been with one of Mitchell and Jossell missing.
That is the task facing Gareth Winders and Éanna from 4pm on Saturday. James Gormley will need to match Mitchell's prowess on the boards and Éanna's interior defence is going to have to be of a high level to allow their shooters a chance to build some scoreboard pressure on the home side.
Griffith College Éanna and Belfast Star in Saturday's second semi-final are bidding to overturn a developing trend in Irish basketball. Home sides are 10-0 in the playoffs since last season and only five teams have won a knockout game on the road in the last five seasons.
Statistics such as that will have little consequence to Killester head coach Jonny Grennell though the defending champions are 2-0 against Belfast Star.
“I don’t think the league games factor into either teams thing this weekend," said Grennell. "Star were only a couple of shots away from finishing first outright, so the margins are razor-thin. Neither team needs extra motivation on Saturday and whoever wins, will be deserving of their place in the final. It’ll be our toughest 40 minutes of the season to date for sure”.
It would appear Killester's starters are hitting top gear in the perfect moment. Josh Wilson, Paul Dick and Robert Braswell IV have all found their scoring touch in the last three games in particular - with the trio averaging over 55 points per game in that stretch.
Belfast Star have been on the wrong side of the injury bug since Christmas. Rapolas Buivydas has been playing through a leg issue and his contribution has been hindered by that, while the loss of the excellent Shane Bell for the season to a medical issue has meant a big mid-season adjustment for Adrian Fulton.
Shane Dezonie has settled in well though and brings a different threat at the point of attack to Bell, albeit both allow better looks for Conor and Aidan Quinn in their ability to get to the basket and draw help defenders. Four of Star's six losses have come on the road and though their record away from Newforge reads 7-4, five of those wins came against the bottom five teams in the Domino's Men's Super League.
It is fitting that the race for the Domino's Men's Super League has come down to the four teams that posted a winning record during the regular season, and three of the last four winners.
The Domino’s Men’s Division 1 semi-finals will also take place this Saturday, which sees Maree host Titans after Titans upset league leaders Dublin Lions in the quarter-finals. In the other semi-final, it is a rematch of the Domino’s MD1 National Cup final as Limerick Sport Eagles take on Drogheda Wolves.
Avoiding "wasted possessions" is the key if Killester are going to maintain their charge towards a third Domino's Women's Super League crown in succession on Saturday, according to head coach Mark Grennell.
The Orange and Black earned their place in the last four with an 11-point victory against McEvoy's Cavan Eagles but Grennell understands that they'll need to take things to another level against Trinity Meteors.
"We know the size of the task. They are a very good side, who have two good Americans and are led by one of the best Irish players in the league in Hazel Finn. They boast a top defence which means we will have to be sharp in what we do with the ball. We cannot afford to waste possessions.
The North Dubliners have been dealt a boost as Samantha Haiby looks like she’s returning to her best form following an absence due to injury. The former finals MVP scored 18 points, getting seven rebounds and adding five assists in the quarter-final win.
Trinity Meteors held on despite a late comeback last weekend from SETU Waterford Wildcats to progress with a 72-69 triumph.
FloMAX Liffey Celtics pulled off the upset of the weekend last Sunday, when they defeated second seed Utility Trust St. Pauls Killarney 71-65 in Aura Killarney. Their reward this weekend is a trip to the Mardyke Arena, hoping to pull off another shock when they face third seed UCC Glanmire.
Celtics head coach Hillary Netsiyanwa is excited about the prospect of another upset being on the cards.
"Mark Scannell has built a roster that complements each other really well. Aine (McKenna) and Claire (O’Sullivan) are still some of the best players in the league, and they have two of the most dangerous scorers in the country in Jewel (Watkins) and Viane (Cumber).
UCC Glanmire secured a closely-fought victory to advance to the semi-final stage, with an 82-78 win over local rivals Brunell last Saturday. Glanmire come into this game as one of the in-form sides in the Domino’s Women’s Super League, winning six of their last seven games.
Mark Scannell said: "The players have done everything asked of them and now, we go again against a tough Liffey Celtics team, who have finished the season really well and beat a very good Killarney team last Sunday."
In the Domino’s Women’s Division 1, there is another derby on display as Limerick Celtic host Limerick Sport Huskies on Saturday evening in a battle of second versus third for a chance to earn promotion in the Domino’s Women’s Division 1 final. The other semi-final sees league leaders Cleveland Rockets welcome Templeogue.
Ballincollig (1) v Griffith College Éanna (4), MTU Arena, 4pm; Killester (2) v Belfast Star (3), IWA Clontarf, 7.15pm.
Killester (1) v Trinity Meteors (4), IWA Clontarf, 5pm; UCC Glanmire (3) v FloMAX Liffey Celtics (8), Mardyke Arena, 7.30pm.
Maree BC (2 South) v Titans BC (4 South), Coláiste Bride, 7pm; Limerick Sport Eagles (1 South) v Drogheda Wolves (2 North), UL Arena,7.30pm.
Limerick Celtics (2) v Limerick Sport Huskies (3), Crescent College Dooradoyle, 6pm; Cleveland Rockets (1) v Templeogue BC (4), Lisburn Racquets Club, 6.30pm.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
