Top two meet in eagerly awaited women’s decider
KILLESTER and FloMax Liffey Celtics meet tonight (7.30pm) in the National Basketball Arena in an eagerly awaited playoff final for the women’s MissQuote SuperLeague after both sides finished joint top of the league.
This tie has the makings of being a real women’s classic with two quality teams and two coaches Mark Grennell and Karl Kilbride who grew up together in the north Dublin club.
Both coaches are being very coy and playing down their chances.
“This is a huge game for both sides and one that we thought was a likely outcome for the last few weeks, so now we are finally here and we can enjoy the moment,” Grennell said.
“It’s the first time in the ladies league, as far as I am aware, that a single playoff game has happened. We have great self belief in who we are and what we are capable of on any given day.
“Liffey are obviously an excellent team and if the previous games between us are anything to go by this will be an exciting game and a fantastic advertisement for women’s sport and basketball.”
Meanwhile, Kilbride has been playing down his side’s chances in tonight’s showpiece.
“Killester are obviously going in as the heavy favourites. They have so much firepower throughout. I see newspaper reports during the week talking about their superior line up, depth and better Americans.
“I guess we are just hoping to go out and keep it as close as we can and give a good account of ourselves.”
The InsureMyVan
Men’s League takes a different route with the season nearing it’s end. The top four sides in each conference enter the quarter finals, including conference winners Belfast Star and Maree.
Adrian Fulton’s Belfast Star had a disastrous last weekend against Griffith College Eanna, with the coach now preparing his side to take on UCC Demons.
“From a team with the best regular season record, we are now massive underdogs given the injury to Frenki Lilaj and the suspension of Tamyrik Fields. Strange how things can change so quickly but that’s sport,” he said.
Proud
“I have no doubt that our players will put in a performance on Sunday of which they can be proud. Whether it will be good enough to advance only time will tell.”
Maree, coached by Charlie Crowley, have a western derby against EJ Sligo.
He said: “Sligo have been in scorching form and have disposed of top class teams week in week out. We know that at this stage of the season we have to be performing at our best to be in with a shout of winning the games. We have done our best during the week to insure we are in fighting shape for tonight.”
In the other quarter finals, last season’s winners Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @ MTU face Killester and Griffith College Eanna host Garvey’s Tralee Warriors.