BASKETBALL:KILLESTER'S 100 per cent start to the Nivea For Men's SuperLeague will face its toughest examination tomorrow night when they host Southern Conference leaders UL Eagles in Clontarf.
The Dubliners inflicted four defeats on the Eagles last season, including claiming the league title at their expense in March, but head coach Mark Keenan believes his opponents have made vast improvements.
“UL are a much stronger team this year,” said Keenan. “They have made their intentions very clear with their signings in the off season.
“Coach Mark Bernsen has assembled a great squad. In light of last year’s results between us we will be big targets for them. We will need to be in top form to come away with a win. We are looking forward to this challenge.”
Killester will be without the influential Paddy Kelly (broken collar bone) and Kieran O’Brien (work commitments), while UL Eagles boast a full quota.
“Our defensive effort was very good against Neptune last week and we will have to repeat that kind of effort against Killester to get anything out of the game,” said Eagles coach Mark Bernsen.
“This is our first formal meeting this season and if we can get into the right mindset we will have a chance of getting a win.”
UCD Marian will be without Paddy Young and Conor James as they prepare to face a Neptune side wounded after last weekend’s National Cup exit to Eagles.
Elsewhere, Irish star Cian Nihill misses Moycullen’s trip to Belfast Star, while DCU Saints will be looking to extend their three-game winning run at home to Ulster Elks.
Meanwhile, in the Women’s SuperLeague, champions Team Montenotte Hotel Cork take on UL in a mouth-watering contest on Sunday, while tomorrow DCU Mercy make the trip to Waterford Wildcats and Killester have an all-Dublin affair with Oblate Dynamos.
“It is an early-season game, though, and regardless of Sunday’s outcome there is a very long way to go,” said Montenotte head coach Mark Scannell on the prospect of facing UL.
“We are going to be competitive and I also believe you must win your home games and make home advantage count.”
UL will be without Rachel Vanderwal (foot) and Rheanne McNulty (ankle) for this weekend’s hugely anticipated trip to Leeside, while Natalie Taylor is ineligible.
FIXTURES: Saturday: Men's SuperLeague– Bord Gáis Neptune v UCD Marian, Neptune Stadium, 7pm; Belfast Star v Moycullen, De La Salle College, Andersonstown, 7.15pm; Killester v UL Eagles, IWA Clontarf, 8.15pm;
Women's SuperLeague– Waterford Wildcats v DCU Mercy, Mercy Secondary School, 6pm; Killester v Black Forge Oblate Dynamos, IWA Clontarf, 6pm
Men's Division One– Maree v Titans, Calasanctius College, Oranmore, 7.45pm; Team Garvey St Mary's v Blue Demons, Castleisland CC, 7.45pm; Ballina v Waterford, Ballina Sports Leisure Centre, 7.30pm; Neptune v Tolka, Neptune Stadium, 4.30pm; Portlaoise v Ballon, St Mary's Sports Hall, 8pm.
Women's Division One– Foireann na Gaillimhe v UL, Calasanctius College, Oranmore, 4.30pm.
Sunday: Men's SuperLeague– DCU Saints v Ulster Elks, DCU Sports Complex, 3.30pm. Women's SuperLeague– Team Montenotte Hotel Cork v UL, Neptune Stadium, 2.30pm. Women's Division One– Meteors v Brunell, Coláiste Íosagáin, 1pm; Liffey Celtics v Team Tom McCarthy's St Mary's, Leixlip Amenities Centre, 4pm.
