BASKETBALL: All eyes are on the women's league this weekend with the title set to go to either the Wildcats or Tolka Rovers. Both clubs are level on 22 points ahead of tomorrow's concluding round of games but the pressure is almost entirely on the Wildcats.
They host the University of Limerick and must win to have any chance of defending their title. Limerick are well capable of knocking the Wildcats at the last hurdle, and that would almost certainly hand the title to Tolka who, bar a complete disaster, will beat Glanmire.
Should both teams win, however, the title goes to the Wildcats. They defeated Tolka twice this season and that would see them take the title for the seventh time in the last eight years.
Matters are far less clear-cut in the men's league. With five weeks left to play, Waterford are still leading the chase but Tralee, Limerick and Killester are all on their shoulders. Tralee, crucially, have a couple of games in hand. On Sunday they meet St Vincent's and a win would pull them a step closer to Waterford.
The leaders, who are without Robert Grant and Andrew Piper, face struggling Sligo tomorrow and should maintain their hold on the top for the time being.
Killester face a more difficult challenge in their meeting with Killarney while Limerick will drop further off the pace if they fail to get the points at home to Notre Dame tomorrow.
St Vincent's won't be an easy date for Tralee. The Dublin club enjoyed a massive win over Tolka Rovers last weekend and with Karl Donnelly back in the squad have been playing some of the best basketball of the season. Coach Mark Keenan has, however, lost the services of John Kelliher for the rest of the season because of a hand injury.
The Demons are still in the hunt for a place in the top-eight tournament next month but yet again are struggling with injuries ahead of their meeting with UCD Marian on Sunday. The latest worry is Mick Beckles, whose groin injury rules him out.
FIXTURES
MEN'S SUPERLEAGUE - Tomorrow: Limerick v Notre Dame, University Arena, 7.30; Waterford v Sligo, WIT, 7.30; Tolka Rovers v Star of the Sea, Tolka, 7.30; Tyrone v Neptune, Dungannon, 8.0; Killarney v Killester, NEC, 8.0; Sunday - Star of the Sea v Tyrone, Maysfield, 2.30; Demons v UCD Marian, Parochial Hall, 3.15; St Vincent's v Tralee, Glasnevin, 3.30.
WOMEN'S LEAGUE - Tomorrow: Killester v Meteors, IWA, 7.0; Wildcats v University of Limerick, Mercy, 7.0; Glanmire v Tolka Rovers, Little Island, 7.30.
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