BASKETBALL:UL EAGLES head coach Mark Keenan can look forward to a date with former charges 11890 Killester in the semi-finals of the Men's SuperLeague National Cup, after Eagles dumped holders UCD Marian out of the competition 72-62.
The Limerick side put recent defeats in the league behind them to end UCD’s hopes of retaining the National Cup with an assured display that was greatly helped by the arrival of American Robert Taylor at the club this week.
“It will be a huge game,” said Keenan. “There is a rivalry which has built up between the two sides in recent seasons and they have always been tough battles.”
11890 Killester earned their place in the last four after overcoming a determined Moycullen effort on a scoreline of 83-69. The westerners were on a par at half-time (42-42) but last season’s beaten cup finalists found their rhythm in the third quarter and eventually sealed their progress.
Bord Gáis Neptune escaped from their quarter-final clash away to Belfast Star with a one-point win and set up a semi-final with fierce rivals UCC Demons.
Ian McLoughlin proved the hero for the Cork giants, converting a late basket to swing the pendulum in their direction, when it looked like Star were the ones heading towards the semi-finals.
UCC Demons head coach Paul Kelleher is relishing a semi-final date with Bord Gáis Neptune after his side had a comfortable 89-74 win over DCU Saints.
“It’s going to bring back some great memories after the way recent games have gone and in particular the dramatic nature of the semi-final between the sides two years ago,” he said.
Women’s Super League National Cup holders DCU Mercy booked a semi-final date with 11890 Killester after a 78-60 win away to Waterford Wildcats.
Team Montenotte Hotel will face UL in the other semi-final after the sides recorded comfortable wins over Meteors and Singleton’s Super Valu Brunell.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)