It’s as much a part of Cork sporting folklore as Flower Lodge or Páirc Ui Chaoimh, as the Mardyke or Turner’s Cross. But the storied basketball crucible that is the northside’s Parochial Hall will fall silent next month when the National Cup semi-finals are played out on Leeside.

John Coughlan previews the weekend’s basketball action.

C&S UCC Demons’ Ciarán O’Sullivan insists focus won’t be straying beyond this weekend’s Premier League opener against Cork rivals Neptune to a potentially mouth-watering November clash against Killester in round one of the men’s National Cup.

UCC DEMONS travel to Dublin this weekend in defence of their Men’s National Cup on the back of two SuperLeague defeats but that statistic will have no bearing on what promises to be an intriguing final.