C&S UCC Demons could wrap up the men’s Premier League title with a win at home to UCD Marian on Sunday.
The Cork side have extended their unbeaten streak to 19 games - their 20th win would seal the club’s second ever league and cup double if Travelodge Swords Thunder slip up. Demons scored 106 points in just three quarters in the last round, but Colin O’Reilly still feels there’s more in his team.
“Each player has taken on increased leadership throughout the squad which has led to some great performances,” said the player coach. “Yet being selfish I still feel we have room to improve. We will always look for the extra percentage to improve our play.”
Swords Thunder are pinning this season’s hopes for silverware on the Champions Trophy, according to head coach Dave Baker.
The north Dubliners have only lost to Demons in league and cup but Baker concedes their best route to a trophy is the end of season competition featuring four Premier League sides and two clubs from the First Division.
“If we don’t set goals, it could take away from what we’ve achieved already this season,” says Baker. “We could cement second place with a win over Killester and that would be huge for us.” Swords play Killester on Friday night before a trip to Cork to face BFG Neptune on Sunday.
Neptune have given themselves an outside shot of a place in the Champion’s Trophy with wins over Templeogue and UL Eagles. Despite the upturn in form for Neptune, player coach Ger Noonan admits the odds are high. “Those were our first back-to-back wins in a long time. We’d need Templeogue and UCD Marian to lose so it’s out of our hands really.”
Templeogue slipped to sixth place in their bye-week and travel to Belfast Star on Sunday while DCU Saints host Dublin Inter.
DCU Mercy can secure their place in the Women’s Premier League play-offs this weekend. A win over Meteors at ColáisteIosagáin will guarantee them fourth place with a game to spare while Meteors would have to win and then beat Brunell on the last day of the season to sneak into top four.
Team Montenotte Hotel are looking to ‘dig deep and not be complacent’ away to Maxol WIT Wildcats on Saturday. The Glanmire side are already guaranteed first place, but Captain Claire Rockall maintains they’ll be switched on right through to the post-season. Wildcats are without American Olivia Applewhite while Co-Captain Sinead Deegan is also out with an ankle injury.
“We’ll still relish it playing the number one team in the country,” says Coach Br Phil Ryan. “You have to ply your trade against the best. We’ll have a cut off it.”
Killester can preserve their Women’s Premier League status with a win at Courtyard Liffey Celtics. Celtics are guaranteed a top two finish while Killester need a win from either of their last two games to leapfrog UL Huskies out of the relegation zone.
