Neptune pull Tigers' tails

BASKETBALL: As the cup results proved this weekend, form means nothing in knockout competition. The Tralee Tigers, undefeated all season, best exemplified this by crashing out at the first hurdle against a resurgent Neptune on a 84-75 scoreline.

Elsewhere, the Killarney Lakers recorded their first victory in the cup for seven years when they outclassed Shamrock Rovers Hoops 103-77.

UCD Marian were unable to reverse their league defeat of last week, going down 84-92 to Killester.

St Vincent's put an end to Star of the Sea's cup dreams, defeating the Belfast men 68-81. Vincent's edged into a 43-41 lead at the break and a superb defensive third quarter from Emmet Donnelly and Jermaine Turner proved vital.

None of the non-Superleague teams were able to make any inroads against the foreign talent that dominates the top tier of the game. UCC Demons had little problem overthrowing Queen's, while Waterford beat Moycullen.

However, their will be a Division One side in today's quarter-final draw as the Ballina Braves defeated Corinthians 114-86. The next round will be significant for the Mayo club, as having already finished eighth in the national ranking tournament, a strong showing against one of the top sides in the country can only help their pending application to the Superleague for the start of next season.

In the Senior Women's Cup, Sligo Warriors failed to travel for their game against St Paul's due to fog, although Killester managed the journey west, defeating the Sligo All Stars 88-32.

Tolka Rovers' woes continue as their women were the only Superleague team to exit the competition, going down 44-80, against Glanmire. Meanwhile, there were victories for Meteors, University of Limerick and Drimnagh Dynamos.

The open draw for the quarter-finals of the Men's Cup, to be played on the first weekend in January, will take place in the ESB Arena today at 3 p.m. The women's competition is on a seeding basis and it has already been drawn.

Woman's Cup: quarter-finals - (to be played on the weekend of January 3rd and 4th): Glanmire v University of Limerick; Killester v Meteors; St Paul's/Donoughmore v Drimnagh; Dynamos Galway v Wildcats.

Women's National Cup - Sligo All Stars 32, Killester 88; Mercy Coolock 54, Meteors 83; Firhouse Notre Dame 37, University of Limerick 88; Wildcats 53, Longford Falcons 40; Glanmire 80, Tolka Rovers 44; Drimnagh Dynamos 90, Donoughmore 33.

Men's National Cup - Neptune 84, Tralee Tigers 75; UCD Marian 84, Killester 92; Moycullen 57, Waterford 104; Star of the Sea 68, St Vincent's 81; Corinthians 86, Ballina 114; Killarney Lakers 103, Shamrock Rovers 77; UCC Demons 109, Queen's 70.