Pyrobel Killester and FloMAX Liffey Celtics set for play-off showdown

Pyrobel Killester and FloMAX Liffey Celtics will face each other in a one-off play-off at the National Basketball Arena on Saturday night to decide who lifts the MissQuote.ie Super League title, after both sides finished with equal 17-3 records at the end of the regular season.

Pyrobel Killester won 85-70 at Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell, while FloMAX Liffey Celtics prevailed 96-76 at home to SETU Waterford Wildcats on Bank Holiday Monday.

Both teams knew a slip-up on the final day would likely be fatal to their title hopes.

Pyrobel Killester tipped off at 2pm in Cork, while FloMAX Liffey Celtics started their home game an hour later.

Killester did the business first up. They raced into an early 15-4 first-quarter lead and would hold a 40-21 advantage by half-time, their American duo of Jiselle Thomas and Keowa Walters to the fore, with 13 and 12 points respectively by the break.

Killester continued to dominate and stretched their advantage to 25 points, 62-37, going into final quarter. Brunell rallied in the fourth quarter to close the deficit, but Killester had enough of a buffer to see it out.

Thomas top-scored with 27 points for the victors, Walters finished with 22 points and 15 rebounds, while Claire Melia also doubled up with 13 points and 14 rebounds in a commanding performance.

Killester head coach Mark Grennell said: "Great performance to a player. I thought we were incredible in those opening three quarters. We then did really well to withstand the Brunell charge late on. We'll focus now on getting the bodies healthy for Saturday, in what should be a fantastic match-up."

After a tight opening quarter, with FloMAX Liffey Celtics ahead 25-21 against SETU Waterford Wildcats, the home side kicked on in the second