Holders favoured by first-round draw

With the ESB League this weekend making way for the cup, there are, as always, increased pressures and prospects for more animated action among the 16 competing teams.

Notre Dame - currently top of the league table as the only unbeaten team so far this season - have made the cup their own in the last four years. Tomorrow they have their first game in a campaign they hope will bring their fifth successive cup when it comes down to finals weekend next January.

And of the eight first-round draws, Notre Dame couldn't have asked for any better. Their opposition, the Clare Jets, lost two coaches prior to the start of the league and have yet to win a game this season. A win for Notre Dame is a certainty.

Elsewhere, there are more attractive and unpredictable ties. The Saints, who last year seemed destined to pick up their first cup title in six years before Eric Blair's last-second basket sealed it for Notre Dame, have drawn Ballina - the only non-league side among the 16 teams.

That might sound like an easy draw, but when it comes to toppling the favourites, Ballina do it best. Winners back in 1996, the team is still driven by the long-serving Liam McHale, Anthony McHale, Paul McStay and Deora Marsh - who have a combined age of 149 years - and also have some young talent. With the exception of assistant coach Mark Keenan, the full Saints squad is fit. Miguel Tittmann, who only joined the team yesterday, has replaced Joe Kilroy, who played in last weekend's 104-88 defeat of Neptune.

The Demons, who finally got back to winning ways during the week, host Star of the Sea on Sunday. Having already suffered one defeat to the Belfast side this season, revenge will be on the agenda for Demons.

Title-holders Neptune are in the unusual position of coming into their meeting with UCD Marian after two consecutive league defeats. Last year, Neptune were sent crashing in the first round by Notre Dame and coach Gerry Fitzpatrick, who is determined to see his side go a lot further this year, will be looking for more consistent displays from his Americans, Charron Watson and Brian Finley.

Two other interesting clashes tomorrow see Tralee take on Killester and Waterford host Sligo. Tralee have made an impressive return to the league this season but with their star player Ricardo Leonard currently suffering with a hamstring injury, Killester may prove too much to handle.

Sligo picked up their first points last weekend thanks to an amazing return to form for Ivy-League veteran Scott McCarthy. But Waterford have been having their best start to the league in a number of years and should have the strength to progress.

There are also two games in the women's league this weekend, with Tolka Rovers hoping to get back to winning ways when hosting Killester on Sunday, while Meteors travel to University of Limerick tomorrow.