Neptune turn their attention to Eagles

BASKETBALL:BORD GÁIS Neptune return to league action against UL Eagles this weekend following their dramatic National Cup victory last time out.

The Cork team set-up a mouth- watering cup semi-final clash with UCC Demons after edging out Belfast Star by a solitary point, courtesy of Ian McLoughlin’s late basket.

“We were lucky and probably didn’t deserve to win,” said Neptune coach Mark Scannell. “We were nervous going into that game and it certainly showed.

“We have to put any cup thoughts to one side now,” he added. “We have a tough schedule with UL, Belfast Star and UCC Demons all on the horizon in the league. I put UL Eagles down as potential champions at the start of the season and my view hasn’t changed on that.

“I genuinely feel if we can beat UL we have a real chance of winning the Southern Conference. There is not going to be much between the likes of UL, UCC Demons and ourselves. It could come down to the head to heads, so we will need to win the home games.”

The meeting of UCD Marian and DCU Saints tomorrow night will see two sides desperate to return to winning ways following their National Cup exits, while UCC Demons travel to Moycullen.

In the Nivea Women’s SuperLeague, the DCU Sports Complex on Sunday will host a potential cracker as second place DCU Mercy take on leaders UL.

SATURDAY– Men's Superleague: UCD Marian v DCU Saints, UCD Sports Centre, 7.10pm; Moycullen v UCC Demons, Calasanctius Oranmore, 7.30; 11890 Killester v Belfast Star, IWA, 8pm. Women's SuperLeague: Waterford Wildcats v Oblate Dynamos, Mercy Gym, 5pm; 11890 Killester v Team Montenotte Hotel, IWA, 6pm; Liffey Celtics v Meteors, Leixlip Amenities Centre, 7.30pm.

SUNDAY– Men's Superleague: Bord Gáis Neptune v UL Eagles, Neptune Stadium, 3pm. Women's SuperLeague: Brunell v Ulster Rockets, Parochial Hall, 2.45pm; DCU Mercy v UL, DCU Sports Complex, 3.30pm.