KIERAN O’BRIEN will return to the nursery where he learned his trade tomorrow night when high-flying DART Killester put their unbeaten NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague record on the line at Neptune Stadium.

KIERAN O’BRIEN is expected to be back on court tomorrow night when DART Killester defend their unbeaten record against Belfast Star at the IWA gymnasium in Clontarf.

UCC DEMONS and DART Killester are not just top of their respective conferences in the NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague — both share unbeaten records and that will end after tomorrow night’s clash at the IWA gym in Clontarf where they cross paths for the first time this season.

The Nivea For Men’s Superleague reaches a pivotal stage this weekend with the battle of the unbeaten sides, DART Killester and UCC Demons, squaring up in Clontarf, while Abrakebabra Tigers will be looking for some respite at home to Hoops.

A miserable Bank Holiday for Abrakebabra Tigers continued on Monday as they slumped to an 81-67 defeat away to Limerick Lions.

A disastrous weekend for Abrakebabra Tigers ended with the departure of head coach Mark Bernsen following their surprise hammering at the hands of DCU Saints.

NEPTUNE will parade their new American signing for the first time when they travel to Belfast tomorrow to play Star in the Nivea for Men’s SuperLeague.

UCC Demons will be bidding to make it four wins from four when they host Hoops this Bank Holiday weekend, while DART Killester can make it a perfect start to the weekend away to winless Ulster Elks.

The Nivea For Men’s SuperLeague resumes this weekend with in-from UCC Demons making the trip to the capital to face DCU Saints, while DART Killester host Limerick Lions hoping to maintain their fine start to the season.

EXPECT passion to rule when UCC Demons entertain Cork City rivals, Neptune, in the first derby game of the season at the Mardyke Arena tonight (8pm).

One of the biggest rivalries in Irish sport takes place this Friday night with UCC Demons entertaining fierce Cork rivals Neptune at the Mardyke Arena in the Nivea For Men’s Superleague.

STEPHEN McCARTHY will parade his new-look Neptune side before the home fans when the new basketball season tips off in Cork tomorrow night.

KIERAN DONAGHY had his first full training session with defending champions Abrakebabra Tigers in Tralee on Tuesday but coach Mark Bernsen does not expect him to play a part in their opening Nivea for Men Superleague game at home to UCD Marian on Saturday night.

The Nivea For Men’s Superleague will be decided this weekend with Abrakebabra Tigers, DART Killester, Neptune and UCC Demons all vying for the biggest prize in Irish basketball.

Hoops are Belfast Star clash on Saturday with the winner guaranteed third place in Conference A and a place in the quarter-finals of this season’s Nivea For Men’s SuperLeague.

UCD DEMONS can copper-fasten their play-off hopes if they beat Limerick Lions in the NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague at the Mardyke Arena tonight on the back of what has been a great couple of weeks for the Cork club.

The Nivea For Men’s SuperLeague resumes after the drama of last weekend’s National Cup semi-final clashes, where Abrakebabra Tigers and DART Killester booked their place in the men’s final, while Team Montenotte Hotel Cork have a set-up a date with Waterford Wildcats.

THERE is nothing like a derby game to excite the imagination and when Cork’s neighbouring basketball clubs, UCC Demons and Neptune, meet the atmosphere is unique.

UCC DEMONS will have revenge on their minds against NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague favourites, Abrakebabra Tigers, at the Mardyke Arena tonight.

STEPHEN McCARTHY will add a new and exciting dimension to an illustrious basketball career when he leads Neptune into their critical SuperLeague game against Merry Monk Ballina as coach in Cork tomorrow night.

CHAMPIONS Abrakebabra Tigers will host Merry Monk Ballina at the Tralee Sports Centre in defence of the SuperLeague Cup title the weekend after next in what promises to be the game of the round.

The draw for the quarter-final stages of the SuperLeague Cup was made at the National Basketball Arena this morning.

Abrakebabra Tigers have claimed victory in the battle of the unbeaten sides with an impressive win away to Dublin giants DCU Saints on Saturday night.

REIGNING Nivea For Men’s SuperLeague champions DART Killester were stunned by Belfast Star at the weekend, while DCU Saints produced a fine comeback to beat a brave UCD/Marian yesterday to continue their excellent start to the season.

RONAN McGARRITY will be back in the starting five when Merry Monk Ballina travel to Neptune Stadium on Sunday to renew rivalry with Neptune in the NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague.

LIMERICK LIONS produced the shock result of the opening weekend of basketball’s men’s SuperLeague by pipping Merry Monk by a point in Ballina — and now their coach, Matt Hall, wants more of the same for the visit of DCU Saints to the UL Arena tomorrow night.

CHAMPIONS DART Killester got their defence of the title off to a winning start against UCD/Marian on Thursday night and were able to watch from the wings as the NIVEA for MEN’S SuperLeague got back into full swing over the weekend with significant victories for Abrakebabra Tigers, Limerick Lions, and Neptune.

The opening weekend of the Nivea For Men’s SuperLeague got off to a thrilling start with Limerick Lions snatching victory from the hands of Ballina, while Belfast Star came out on top in the Ulster derby with league newcomers University of Ulster.

RONAN McGARRITY will be accorded a hero’s welcome when he lines out for Merry Monk Ballina against Limerick Lions in their first SuperLeague game of the new season tomorrow night.

Reigning Nivea For Men’s SuperLeague champions DART Killester open the 2007/08 campaign with a trip to UCD Marian on Thursday night, while University of Ulster begin their stint in the top division on Sunday.

Merry Monk Ballina have booked their place in tomorrow’s SuperLeague semi-final after a closely run contest with National Cup Champions Abrakebabra Tigers at the UL Sports Arena this afternoon.

COACH Kevin Young says Shamrock Rovers Hoops will give high flying UCC Demons a big game when they meet tomorrow in the NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague semi-final clash at The Mardyke Arena.

ABRAKEBABRA Tigers claimed their second trophy of the season and what coach Dave Falvey hopes is the second leg of the treble, when they beat Mustang Sallys on Tuesday to clinch the Southern Conference and a place in the semi-finals of the NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague.

The final weekend of the Nivea For Men SuperLeague Northern and Southern Conferences has arrived.

The two Abrakebabra Tigers Kerry GAA football stars Kieran Donaghy and Micháel Quirke will line out for the Tralee side in their crucial Nivea For Men SuperLeague Southern Conference contest against local rivals Mustang Sally's St. Paul's tonight in the Tralee SC at 8pm.

The penultimate weekend of the Nivea For Men SuperLeague approaches and it's all to play for at the top of the North and South Conferences.

WITH a new air of excitement at the top of the conference tables, teams will be hoping to improve their positions this weekend in time for the Nivea for Men SuperLeague play-offs at the UL Arena on March 24 and 25.

ABRAKEBABRA TIGERS will renew rivalry with St. Vincent’s in the NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague clash at Tralee tomorrow night but they will be without Micheál Quirke who was the star when they beat the Dubliners in a thrilling cup semi-final a month ago.

IT may have done precious little to ease the disappointment of their cup final defeat two weeks earlier, but UCC Demons handed Abrakebabra Tigers a clear warning that their Nivea for Men SuperLeague ambitions could be under threat when they visited the Mardyke Arena yesterday afternoon.

Abrakebabra Tigers 85 UCC Demons 70

Abrakebabra Tigers are the 2007 Men's SuperLeague National Cup Champions after a stunning team display saw them wrestle the coveted trophy out of the grasp of UCC Demons at the National Basketball Arena this evening.

The SuperLeague’s Men’s and Women’s basketball finals take place this coming Sunday in the National Basketball Arena.

REIGNING champions UCC Demons and challengers Abrakebabra Tigers sharpened the competitive edge in advance of next Sunday’s National Cup final with solid NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague victories over the weekend.

KIERAN DONAGHY has decided to give the All-Star tour to Dubai a skip and make himself available for Irish basketball’s showpiece, on Sunday week, when Tralee’s Abrakebabra Tigers will be bidding to wrest the National Cup from UCC Demons.