DCU Mercy are one game away from winning the Women’s Super League following a hard fought 82-72 win over Singleton’s Supervalu Brunell.

Karl Kilbride wanted the boards to open up and the ground to swallow him this time four years ago as the last seconds of the National Cup decider faded towards an inevitable and, for his Killester side, devastating end.

It was Mark Foley, Tim O’Halloran’s assistant, who threw the the idea there first.

Singleton’s Supervalu Brunell produced a ‘Houdini’ performance to dump championship favourites DCU Mercy out of the Paudie O’Connor Women’s National Cup with a stunning semi-final win at the Neptune Stadium.

It's 10 years they’ve had it like this now: the Cup weekend back in Cork and a festival of hoops moving between the grand houses of the game, known to the locals as The Hall, the Mardyke and The Shed, though the rest of the country would know the latter more commonly as the Neptune Stadium.

Maree ended DCU Mercy’s unbeaten record in the Women’s Super League with a stunning 72-70 win at Calasanctius College.

DCU Saints, aided by the terrific Michael Bonaparte, produced a Super League masterclass to end Eanna’s unbeaten run

C & S Neptune are staring Division 1 basketball in the face after their 96-81 home defeat to Keane’s Supervalu Killorglin left them in deep relegation trouble. In a game where the Kerry side dominated from start to finish a 25-point game high contribution from Daniel Jokubaitis paved the way for Killorglin’s impressive display.

A new name will adorn the Women’s National Cup in a fortnight after Liffey Celtic powered past champions DCU Mercy to join first-time finalists Brunell in the blue riband on January 27

Ambassador UCC Glanmire face Liffey Celtics in the Women’s Super League final as the curtain comes down on the basketball season at the Waterford IT tomorrow night.

A hectic weekend of basketball action begins tomorrow with the St Patrick’s Day Men’s SuperLeague final at the National Arena.

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors suffered a heartbreaking 97-88 defeat to Templeogue last night.

Another huge weekend in the Men’s Super League as all the leading contenders are in action, with the leading pair, Garvey’s Tralee Warriors and UCD Marian, going head-to-head at Belfield.

DCU Mercy 72 Ambassador UCC Glanmire 71: “Good game sense in the last few minutes,” reckoned DCU Mercy coach Mark Ingle.

DCU Mercy 72 UCC Ambassador Glanmire 71

Black Amber Templeogue were crowned Hula Hoops National Cup champions with a 68-62 point win over UCD Marian at the National Basketball Arena this evening.

Whether big mileage has finally caught up with five-in-a-row chasing Glanmire is one of the seductive sub-plot for tomorrow’s Women’s Cup final at the National Arena. And whether there’s a handover of power to DCU Mercy in the offing or not, writes Tony Leen.

Singleton’s Supervalu Brunell will have it all to do tonight against reigning U20 Women’s champions DCU Mercy in the cup decider at the National Basketball Arena.

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors produced the performance of the weekend in the Men’s Super League.

When Glanmire lost four key members of their Super League squad in the off-season, many predicted a meltdown of their club.

Tralee Warriors produced the shock of the weekend in the Men’s Super League, defeating UCD Marian on a night to remember at the Tralee Sports complex. 

Team Montenotte coach Mark Scannell has warned his side against complacency ahead of tomorrow night’s Women’s Premier League play-off semi-final with Killester at the Upper Glanmire Sports complex.

Collegiate freshman at Quinnipiac University, Edel Thornton is one of five overseas inclusions in Mark Scannell’s provisional Senior Women’s squad for Ireland’s re-entry into international tournament play after a six-year hiatus.

Swords Thunder produced magnificent basketball to defeat Templeogue 80-69 in a rehearsal of the Men’s National Cup final at the National Arena on January 30.

 

Singleton’s Supervalu Brunell have their sights on a first ever women’s Premier league final when they travel to play DCU Mercy on Sunday’s semi-final second leg.

Colin O’Reilly, the player-coach to C&S UCC Demons, is calling on his players to remain focused on completing the grand slam as they prepare to play UL Eagles in the Men’s Premier league at the UL Arena tomorrow.

Conor Meany of UCD Marian produced a season best for an Irish player in the Men’s Premier League when amassing 40 points in his team’s shock 97-86 win over Travelodge Swords Thunder.

Templeogue should consolidate fourth place in the Men’s Premier league when they travel to Mountview for a clash with Dublin Inter.

Basketball: Men’s Premier league leaders C & S UCC Demons will face the acid test tomorrow when they play second placed Travelodge Swords Thunder in a game that could well decide the destination of the title.

Wherever she goes, it seems he has to follow, writes Kieran Shannon.

After the excitement of National Cup, it’s back to Premier league action this weekend, with Belfast Star and Travelodge Swords Thunder topping the bill.

Basketball: Women’s National Cup

Team Montenotte 62 DCU Mercy 53

Bord Gáis Neptune had to come from behind to deny Belfast Star 75-72 in a pulsating Men’s Premier League game yesterday.

UL Eagles may have been shocked by DCU Saints in the Champions Trophy semi-final on Friday night but their ladies team have a chance to exact some revenge as they qualified for Nivea Women’s SuperLeague final against DCU Mercy.

A superb performance from UL Eagles star guard Rob Taylor helped his team to a crucial win in their top of the table Nivea For Men’s SuperLeague clash with UCC Demons.

UL Huskies and Team Montenotte Cork will contest the Women’s SuperLeague National Cup final following their impressive wins over WIT Wildcats and DCU Mercy at Neptune Stadium.

UL continue to show just why they have become the dominant force in Irish basketball — their men’s and women’s teams are both defending league and cup champions and at the weekend they showed why by handing out 20- and 44-point beatings, respectively, to their cup rivals.

THE expected pairing for the Women’s SuperLeague National Cup final came together at the weekend when the raging hot favourites, UL, defeated former champions Montenotte Hotel Cork 71-59, and defending champions DCU Mercy, coasted to a 68-30 win over 11890 Killester in the other semi-final.

REVENGE will be on the minds of two clubs this weekend in the Nivea for Men SuperLeague.

IT IS the meeting of last season’s men’s Superleague finalists, but it’s not a defining clash in terms of this campaign, Killester coach Darren O’Neill has insisted ahead of Sunday’s trip to Neptune Stadium in Cork.

AFTER a period in the doldrums, Bord Gais Neptune find themselves back in familiar territory following their 90-88 semi-final victory over UL Eagles that qualifies them for a showdown with champions, 11890 Killester, in next weekend’s NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague final at headquarters.