BASKETBALL:NEWCOMERS MOYCULLEN face a busy weekend in the Nivea For Men's SuperLeague with two games in the space of two days against Killester and Neptune respectively, while UCC Demons face a potentially tricky clash away to Ulster Elks.
UL Eagles will be hoping their winning run continues away to UCD/Marian, with DCU Saints and Belfast also set to clash on Sunday.
Killester have made a perfect start to the season with four consecutive wins but guard Pete Madsen is wary of a Moycullen side who have impressed despite their losing run.
“They have yet to record a win but for a new side in the league they have been pushing teams extremely close,” said Madsen. “They only suffered a 10-point loss away to Demons which is no disgrace for a side coming up from Division One.
“All they need is that first win and I’m sure they will settle into their stride and start to pick up results,” he added.
Meanwhile, Neptune, who were on the wrong end of a thrilling derby clash away to UCC Demons last weekend, will be hoping to keep close tabs on Moycullen’s US star Simon Harris.
“Moycullen are a very organised side under Enda Byrt, and they are a better team than their record suggests,” said Neptune head coach Pat Price. “Simon Harris had his best game of the year on Sunday versus Belfast Star, and we’ll have to keep both him and Cian Nihill in check.
“With eight of our first 10 matches on the road, we are getting to know each other fairly well,” added Price. “Our performance last weekend was very encouraging. We shot the ball very well, and made the extra pass that led to so many great hoops.”
Meanwhile, in the IrishSport.TV Women’s SuperLeague, Team Montenotte Hotel Cork host newcomers Sligo All Stars, while DCU Mercy will welcome Meteors to the DCU Sports Centre.
Tolka Rovers face a tough trip away to UL with Killester set to entertain Bausch Lomb Waterford Wildcats in Clontarf.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday: Men’s SuperLeague – Moycullen v Killester, Kingfisher, NUIG Galway, 6.0; Ulster Elks V UCC Demons, University of Ulster HPC, 6.0. Division One – Titans v Queens, Renmore, 4.0; Waterford v Team Meadowlands St Brendan’s, Waterford IT Sports Hall, 7.30; CHM/Ballon v Team Loftus Ballina, Palmerstown Sports Complex, 7.30; Team Garvey’s St Mary’s v Maree, Castleisland Community Centre, 7.45; Tolka Rovers v Subway Portlaoise, Tolka Rovers SC, 8.0.
Women’s SuperLeague – Killester v Waterford Wildcats, IWA Clontarf, 6.0; Team Montenotte Hotel Cork v Sligo All-Stars, Little Island Sports Complex, 7.0; UL v Tolka Rovers, UL Arena, 7.0.
Division One – Glanmire v Team Kilkenny, Little Island Sports Complex, 4.45; UL v St Paul’s, UL Arena, 5.0.
Sunday: Men’s SuperLeague – UCD Marian v UL Eagles, UCD Sports Centre, 3.0; Moycullen v Neptune, Kingfisher, NUIG Galway, 3.0; DCU Saints v Belfast Star, DCU Sports Complex, 4.0.
Women’s SuperLeague – DCU Mercy v Meteors, DCU Sports Complex, 2.0.
Division One – Brunell v Thurles Knights, Parochial Hall, Cork, 2.30; Oblate Dynamos v Ulster Rockets, Oblate Hall, 3.0.
