EXPECT fireworks when defending champions, DART Killester, and UCC Demons, who preceded them on the throne, tip-off in the final of the Men’s National Cup at the National Basketball Arena tomorrow.

UCC DEMONS and DART Killester were always favourites to get through to the final of the Men’s SuperLeague National Cup but after exhaustive efforts getting there, they’ll tread warily as they resume NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague duties.

LIMERICK LIONS will be without their coach, Sasa Punosevac, for the remainder of the season after their partnership ended by “mutual consent” at Christmas.

DCU SAINTS brought DART Killester’s unbeaten run to a dramatic end with a shock 91-88 overtime win in their Nivea for Men SuperLeague derby on Saturday night, before rounding off an exciting weekend with a win over the basement team, Ulster Elks, yesterday afternoon.

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.

DART KILLESTER are now the only unbeaten team in the NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague after beating title rivals UCC Demons 98-86 in the cross-conference game at the IWA, Clontarf, on Saturday night.

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.

UCC Demons coach, Douglas Leichner, was a happy man after his side came from behind in a spectacular finish to beat DCU Saints 86-82 and keep their NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague record straight.

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.

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.

THE shock of the season at the Mardyke Arena last night as UCC Demons lost to basement side Limerick Lions in the Nivea for Men 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.

IN TODAY’S uncertain world, there’s the comfort of three Christmas reliables — groaning credit cards, frustrated shoppers and the enjoyable mayhem of the annual basketball blitz in Castleisland.

TRALEE Tigers will be in a mean mood when Merry Monk Ballina arrive in Tralee this weekend bidding to strip the home side of the coveted National Cup they paraded through the town along with the Sam Maguire on St. Patrick’s Day.

UCC DEMONS notched up their most significant NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague win of the season when they beat Merry Monk Ballina 83-101 in their own backyard on the eve of the quarter finals of the National Cup.

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 arranged an emergency meeting ahead of tomorrow night’s SuperLeague clash with Merry Monk Ballina to consider the decision to deduct points from them following their recent game with Limerick Lions.

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.

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.

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 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.

LIAM McHALE is to make a long-awaited return to top-flight Irish basketball in a bid to aid Merry Monk Ballina’s challenge for SuperLeague glory.

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.

TRALEE coach Dave Falvey is looking to Mike Quirke for one more big game. His Demons counterpart Pat Price just wants his captain, Tim O’Halloran on the court for tomorrow’s Superleague Cup final — he’ll take his chances on O’Halloran’s back holding up.

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