Shawn Atupem chipped in with scores of 23 and 29 points as UCC Demons secured the Southern Conference title and a home venue for the play-offs with back-to-back wins over Belfast Star in the Nivea for Men’s SuperLeague in Belfast at the weekend.

11890 Killester required over-time before emerging victorious over Bord Gais Neptune by the narrowest of margins, 97-96, in the Nivea for Men SuperLeague clash at the IWA in Clontarf on Saturday evening.

With both National Cups on display at UL it was back to league action at the weekend as DCU Saints consolidated their top spot in the Nivea for Men SuperLeague Northern Division with a 82-63 win over Belfast Star.

CORK rivals, UCC Demons and NEH Neptune, will play at each end of the country this weekend but they will be drawn together in a fierce battle for second place in the Southern Conference as the Nivea for Men SuperLeague goes into the final series before the play-offs.

ULSTER ELKS may be propping up the Northern Division table but they brought off the shock of the weekend when they beat UL Eagles 91-89 in a dramatic Nivea for Men SuperLeague clash after taking the game into overtime.

UL EAGLES will be fancied to reinforce their position at the top of the Southern Conference when they travel to Belfast to play Ulster Elks this weekend while Neptune bid to keep the pressure on SuperLeague champions, UCC Demons, for the prime second spot.

AFTER their thrilling derby game on Friday night at The Mardyke Arena, UCC Demons and National Event Hire Neptune go their separate ways this weekend with the NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague champions heading to Jordanstown and Neptune make their first trip to Moycullen.

SOME old faces will be missing from the scene with the addition of some promising newcomers when the basketball’s Nivea for Men’s SuperLeague gets underway tonight.

A chronic heroin addict who watched several family members suffer drug-related deaths has been given a seven-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for robberies, escaping from custody and discharging a firearm.

Ireland 58 Switzerland 86

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

JUSTICE Minister Micheál McDowell says that “putting a new layer between me and the gardaí would not increase accountability”.

Castletroy College 5

The Irish Junior men face Israel tomorrow evening in their opening game of the European Championships challenge round (tip-off 5pm).

The Irish Junior men face Israel tomorrow evening in their opening game of the European Championships challenge round (tip-off 5pm).