BASKETBALL:BORD GÁIS Neptune face a tough challenge with the visit of a jubilant 11890 Killester in the latest series of the Nivea For Men's SuperLeague.
Killester’s last visit to Cork saw them book their place in this season’s National Cup final at the expense of UL Eagles but they will be conscious their last two outings in the league resulted in shock defeats to DCU Saints and Belfast Star respectively.
Neptune’s cause hasn’t been helped by the injury blow to Ian McLaughlin, who will miss the rest of the campaign.
“The news that Ian McLaughlin has been ruled out for the remainder of the season is a serious blow, but we are confident that the team will collectively rise up,” said Neptune head coach Pat Price. “We are eager to get back on the court and there is no better team to focus our mind than Killester.”
UCD Marian, who reached the National Cup final for the first time in their history last weekend, return to the realities of the league with a trip to Moycullen.
Despite their cup progress, UCD’s head coach Fran Ryan wants a better first-half return than what was achieved against Ulster Elks in their semi-final encounter.
“The question for UCD Marian this weekend is which team will turn up – the one that had 25 points in the first half on Sunday or the one that hit 55 points in the second half,” said Ryan.
Belfast Star have two games in the space of two days against UL Eagles and Ulster Elks respectively, while in-form duo DCU Saints and UCC Demons clash in Dublin.
UCC Demons are on the back of three successive league wins but head coach Paul Kelleher knows his side face a difficult assignment this weekend against a DCU Saints side on the back of two superb performances against 11890 Killester and UL Eagles in the league.
“We will have to handle the aggressiveness from Emmett Donnelly, and the massive scoring threat from Pat Crean, Martin Provizors and their bench scoring, which is always a threat,” said Kelleher. “Offensively we will need to be patient and poised if we are to have any chance.”
In the IrishSport.TV Women’s SuperLeague, Team Montenotte Hotel Cork make a trip to the capital to face Black Forge Oblate Dynamos, while beaten cup semi- finalists 11890 Killester and Waterford Wildcats meet in Clontarf.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday– Men – SuperLeague:Bord Gáis Neptune v 11890 Killester, Neptune Stadium, 7pm; Belfast Star v UL Eagles, De La Salle College, Anderstown, 7.15pm; Moycullen v UCD Marian, Kingfisher Club NUIG, 8pm. Division One: Neptune v CHM Ballon, Neptune Stadium, 4.30pm; Maree v Blue Demons, Calasanctius College, Oranmore, 7.45pm; Team Meadowlands St Brendan's v Titans, Mercy Mount Hawk Secondary School, 7.45pm; Team Loftus Recycling Ballina v Tolka Rovers, Ballina Sports Leisure Centre, 8pm; Portlaoise v Waterford, St Mary's Sports Hall, 8pm.
Women– SuperLeague:Black Forge Oblate Dynamos v Team Montonette Hotel Cork, Oblate Hall, 7pm; 11890 Killester v Waterford Wildcats, IWA Clontarf, 7pm. Division One: Thurles Knights v Meteors, Presentation Thurles, 4pm; Team Tom McCarthy's St Mary's v Foireann na Gaillimhe,Castleisland Community Centre, 6.45pm.
Sunday– Men – SuperLeague: Ulster Elks v Belfast Star, University of Ulster HPC, 2.30pm; DCU Saints v UCC Demons, St Vincent's Secondary School, 3.30pm. Division One: CHM Ballon v Team Garvey St Mary's, Palmerstown Sports Complex, 3.30pm.
Women's Division One: Brunell v UL, Parochial Hall, 2.45pm.
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