Rival rebels aim to alter fortunes

BasketballThere's a real season-launch feel to tonight's all-rebel affair in the Mardyke Arena.

With both Cork sides, UCC Demons and Neptune, coming off the back of consecutive defeats both now find themselves at the wrong end of the southern conference table.

Time to swing the campaign into gear then. Easier said than done, especially for Neptune who are in a rebuilding period after releasing Kenny Gamble last week and, to make matters worse, Charron Watson is sitting in the stands, injured.

Ron Clark has been signed from the Killarney Lakers to help fill the void.

The most significant event of the evening takes place at half- time, when an on-court draw for this year's 2005 Cup takes place.

Tomorrow, the top two in the southern section, the Tralee Tigers and Limerick, draw swords in Tralee.

The home team and defending champions will be keen to end the impressive run of the Limerick upstarts, who have won four of their last five outings. That outcome seems likely as Corry Little has returned to America due to health problems.

In the northern conference, Ballina travel to Belfast in an attempt to rediscover the winning formula against Star of the Sea.

Marathon man Ronan McGarrity will play and then return home to line out for Ballina Stephenites in the county football final against Knockmore.

Killester will attempt to put some daylight between themselves and the rest with victory over Dublin rivals St Vincent's. The only cross-conference game is also tomorrow as Waterford host UCD.

FIXTURES

Tonight: Men's Superleague: UCC Demons v Neptune, Mardyke Arena, 8.15.

Saturday: Men's Superleague: Waterford v UCD, Waterford IT, 7.30; Tralee Tigers v Limerick, Tralee SC, 8.0; Star of the Sea v Ballina, UU Jordanstown, 7.15. Women's Superleague: Coolock v Killester, Mercy Beaumont, 6.30; Meteors v Drimnagh Dynamos, Naomh Olaf's, 6.45; Glanmire v UL Aughinish, Littleisland, 7.30; St Pauls v Waterford Wildcats, Presentation, 7.30.

Sunday: Men's Superleague: St Vincent's v Killester, St Vincent's, 3.15.

Wednesday: Men's Superleague: Neptune v Killarney Lakers, Neptune Stadium, 8.30.