BASKETBALL:THE 2011-12 National League season was launched this week with the opening Nivea For Men's SuperLeague and Nivea Women's SuperLeague fixtures set to begin tomorrow night.
The pre-season was dominated by the news that Mark Keenan surprisingly departed 11890 Killester after leading them to the title last season and to the treble the previous year. However, he was snapped up by this season’s title hopefuls UL Eagles. The club have also signed Limerick native Jason Killeen, who spent the last decade in the US and across a number of top clubs in Europe.
Neptune have been busy. Mark Scannell has replaced Pat Price at the helm. He has been joined by American Ron Thompson, a 6ft 8ins post player who previously played in Finland.
Killester face a testing campaign particularly with four key players not involved this term. Last season’s player-of-the-year Paddy Kelly has taken a year out along with John Behan, while Issac Westbrooks and Michael Goj have joined Thunder, who represent the Dublin Business School. The departures haven’t been enough to deter newly-appointed head coach Darren O’Neill, who is set to face his former charges Belfast Star on Saturday evening.
UCC Demons host Moycullen on Sunday, while National Cup-holders UCD Marian will take on capital rivals DCU Saints.
The Nivea Women’s SuperLeague has 10 teams confirmed to participate, an improvement of the seven from last campaign. Liffey Celtics (Kildare), Ulster Rockets (Belfast) and Supervalu Singleton’s Brunnell (Cork) have all opted to make the step up and will be looking to challenge UL, who claimed their first league title since 2007 last March. UL will be without impressive New Zealander Natalie Taylor but will have last season’s player-of-the-year Rachel Vanderwal.
Team Montenotte Hotel Cork welcome back Niamh Dwyer, who has named England’s top-flight player of the year last term, while DCU Mercy have signed Rebecca O’Keeffe from Tolka Rovers.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday– Men's Superleague: Killester v Belfast Star, IWA, 8.0; Bord Gais Neptune v UL Eagles, Neptune Stadium, 7.0. Women's SuperLeague: Liffey Celtics v Singleton's Super Valu Brunell, Leixlip Amenities Centre, 4.0; Killester v Ulster Rockets, IWA, 6.0; Team Montenotte Hotel v Oblate Dynamos, Neptune Stadium, 5.0.
Sunday– Men's SuperLeague: UCC Demons v Moycullen, Parochial Hall, 3.15; DCU Saints v UCD Marian, DCU Sports Complex, 4.0. Women's SuperLeague: DCU Mercy v Waterford Wildcats, DCU Sports Complex, 2.0; UL Basketball Club v Meteors (Dublin), UL Arena, 3.0.
