MERRY MONK BALLINA put the finishing touches to what has been a good first half season with a 94-80 victory over troubled UCD Marian on Saturday night and this keeps them alongside HOOPS at the top of the table.

UCC DEMONS will welcome the extra few days to prepare for their crucial NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague clash with Abrakebabra Tigers in Tralee, which has been rescheduled for Wednesday night.

THE first cross-conference weekend in the NIVEA for Men SuperLeague season was disastrous for the teams from the South, who will be hoping to pick up the pieces when their paths cross again this weekend.

UCC DEMONS are gearing up for a double dose of Kerry this weekend, as they entertain Superleague rivals Abrakababra Tigers (Tralee) tonight and then travel to Killarney to face Mustang Sally’s tomorrow.

WHAT a difference a year can make. Twelve months ago, the teams from the Southern Conference were dominating the NIVEA for Men Superleague but, after taking a hammering over the cross-conference weekend, a lot of them are heading into the first round of the cup this weekend with one eye on the back door.

This weekend is the final weekend of the regular season in the Women’s SuperLeague. The top six have been decided, but this weekend teams will be playing for place.

NEPTUNE, coming off last weekend’s long overdue win, will be looking for more of the same at Neptune Stadium tomorrow night when they play UCD in the NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague.

DEFENDING champions DART Killester and UL Aughinish, the side dethroned 12 months ago, will renew rivalry in the final of the Women’s SuperLeague Cup on Sunday week.

LIMERICK Lions could be playing UCC Demons in a top of the table clash at The Mardyke Arena on Monday afternoon - that’s if they beat Gleneagle Lakers at UL Arena tomorrow night.

LIMERICK Lions hammered out a sensational 94-83 victory over UCC Demons as defending champions Abrakebabra Tigers kept their title hopes intact with a two point victory over Merry Monk Ballina when the SuperLeague Men’s National Cup got underway at the weekend.

IT’S the game basketball has been talking about for weeks - the clash of the two best sides in the country as unbeaten DART Killester make the trip to Tralee to meet the Abrakebabra Tigers in the Nivea for Men SuperLeague tomorrow night.

COACHES Pat Price and Jim Nugent insist they are putting points before passion when Mardyke UCC Demons and Neptune clash in tonight’s Cork derby SuperLeague game at The Mardyke Arena (8.15pm).

Brendan Mooney