St Pauls Takes Solo Lead in Irish Women's Basketball Super League

In Ireland, decisive outcomes are shaping the regular basketball season. In the women's Super League, a crucial clash took place between the previous co-leaders. Utility Trust St Pauls, by defeating Killester away, moved into sole possession of first place in the table. Both teams had shared the lead since Christmas. The away victory gives the team coached by James Fleming full control over their destiny in the final two matches of the season. This is a pivotal moment in the fight for a more favorable seeding ahead of the upcoming playoffs. Irish club basketball has a pyramid structure with several league levels. At the top is the Super League, which constitutes the highest division, below which operate lower divisions such as the National League Division 1. The system of promotion and relegation between leagues is a key element of the season, and the fight to avoid relegation can often be just as thrilling as the race for the national championship. In recent years, competition in the league has increased significantly. In the Men's Super League, the situation at the very top seems stable. Belfast Star maintained its leader position after an 84:80 victory over UCD Marian. The team's new acquisition, Shane Dezonie, who scored 24 points, played a key role in this triumph. However, the match was nerve-wracking for the hosts, as Ireland national team player Rapolas Buivydas was earlier ejected from the court due to fouls. Meanwhile, St Pauls Lakers, also a club from Killarney, suffered its second consecutive defeat, losing to Templeogue. While participation in the playoffs seems almost certain, their second-place position in the table, which guarantees the privilege of hosting a quarterfinal match, is seriously threatened. Maree, which still has four games to play, could overtake them.Super League (Men) Match Results from Feb 22-23, 2026: 1. Belfast Star — Victory 84:80; 2. St Pauls Lakers — Loss to Templeogue; 8. Neptune — Loss 114:121 At the other end of the men's table, a dramatic fight for survival is unfolding. Club Neptune, after a 114:121 home loss to St Vincent's, finds itself in a very difficult situation. This match was considered absolutely essential to win in the team's survival plan. 114:121 — The score of Neptune's match against St Vincent's, which deepened the club's relegation troublesNeptune still has two full games to play, plus the completion of a suspended match against Eanna. Currently, survival is no longer in their own hands, meaning they must rely on the failures of their direct rivals in the table. In the National League Division 1, the second competitive level, Killarney Cougars lost to Carrick Cruisers. Despite this, the Cougars currently occupy third place in the table, keeping them in contention for promotion to the top tier in the final phase of the season. Decisive matches will be played within the next week, after which the playoffs for the Irish championship will begin.Upcoming Events in Irish Basketball: February 28, 2026 — Final regular season matches of the Super League; March 7, 2026 — Start of Super League playoffs