Fr Mathew's need to beat Brunell otherwise relegation from the SuperLeague is confirmed

Catalyst Fr Mathew’s participation in the Domino’s Women’s Super League could end tomorrow at the Fr Mathew’s Arena if they fail to defeat local rivals Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell.

It will be a huge disappointment for the hard-working committee at the club but looking at them last weekend in their defeat to Career Decisions UCC Glanmire they look a side completely out of their depth.

So where did it all go wrong for Fr Mathew’s?

The answer is simple they hadn’t enough of quality players coming through the club underage programme and in end they have paid the price.

Many pundits have pointed out that the club won the Women’s NICC National Cup back in January and shouldn’t be in relegation trouble.

The answer is simple as there is a big difference between NICC basketball and the Super League level as in truth there are miles apart.

Looking back on the season the warning signs surfaced on October 4 2025 when they lost at home to Portlaoise Panthers 71-69.

Panthers are second from the bottom of the table and the only two games they have won all season have been against Mathew’s.

At the start of the season the Mathew’s American pairing were Laila Blair and Lexie Givens but the latter returned to the States before Christmas for a family funeral and never returned.

After Shannon Brady filled the void for a number of weeks Stacie Jones was signed but it made little difference as the team were in meltdown long before her arrival.

Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell released American Maddie Cluse last week before their game against Portlaoise Panthers that they won 82-65 with only one professional.

The one guarantee is that Brunell will have a new American on court for this game as they bid to turn their season around with a late surge up the table.

Captain Edel Thornton gave an exhibition in their win over Portlaoise Panthers finishing with a game high 31 points.

The Brunell hierarchy cannot be happy with how this season panned out because in truth their professionals failed to make a bigger impression in this league.

Fellow American Brailyn Joseph avoided the cut but her 14 points in 29 minutes of basketball against one of the poorest teams in the league doesn’t make pretty reading.

When you dissect the Brunell season the main stats that jump out are the low contributions from some of their Irish players.

Granted these players are amateurs but this squad have a lot more depth than the majority of teams in the league but they have failed to ignite for the majority of the campaign.

Career Decisions UCC Glanmire are a strange outfit to predict as when their American pairing of Viane Cumber and Jewel Watkins are on song they are capable of matching the majority of teams in this championship.

Tomorrow Glanmire travel to play a Trinity Meteors side whose best form is on their home court in the capital.

Glanmire are currently third in the table with a home game guaranteed in the play offs but coach Mark Scannell will want to finish the season with a winning run of games.