Ireland warmed up for their upcoming European qualifiers with a comprehensive 84-58 win over Luxembourg at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght tonight.

UCC DEMONS star Colin O’Reilly, the NIVEA for Men SuperLeague’s leading Irish scorer last season, has signed a professional basketball contract with ETP SW Essen in Germany.

IT MAY be the first game of the season, but when Neptune and Mardyke UCC Demons launch the new Nivea for Men SuperLeague at Neptune Stadium tonight (8pm), expect fireworks.

ABRAKEBABRA Tigers overwhelmed DART Killester - 111 to 88 - to send three Munster teams through to the semi-finals of the National Cup on what was a great weekend for basketball in the province.

ABRAKEBABRA Tigers are top of the pile in basketball’s Southern Conference — but watch out for Limerick Lions, who are on a high after their seven-point weekend victory over Mardyke UCC Demons in Cork.

NEPTUNE will bring no Cup baggage into tonight’s big ESB Superleague clash against deadly local rivals Mardyke UCC Demons, Gordon Fitzgerald insisted last night.

NEW arrival DJ Harrison could be the man to decide the destination of the ESB Cup next weekend when he lines out with Mardyke UCC Demons.

DEFENDING champions Neptune added to St Vincent’s woes by inflicting a second defeat of the weekend on them in Glasnevin as the new conference structure in Irish basketball went into its first series of crossover games.

TOM HEHIR, the Burger King Limerick Coach, faces a race against time in a bid to sign an American before tomorrow night’s ESB SuperLeague clash with Waterford Crystal at the University Arena.