National Cup’s first match will be a demon

MARDYKE UCC DEMONS, the defending champions, will meet Neptune, last season’s beaten finalists, in the first round of the National Cup at the Mardyke Arena on the weekend of 20-21 November.

As Demons and Neptune battled it out in last night’s crucial SuperLeague tie at the same venue the draw for the cup was made.

MDS Star, who have been bidding for years to lift the trophy, will be at home to Mark Scannell’s Gleneagle Lakers in their first round game.

High-flying Dart Killester will host Shamrock Rovers Hoops in a Dublin derby while UCD will host Limerick Lions, the champions three years ago.

Abrakebabra Tigers from Tralee will be at home to Merry Monk Ballina in what promises to be another exciting tie while Roma St Vincents will host Waterford Crystal at Glasnevin.

The winners of those ties will go straight into the quarter finals while the losers will be joined by two Regional League sides in a contest for the other positions.

The women’s champions, UL Aughinish, get a first round bye and so, too, do Vienna Woods Glanmire and Mustang Sally’s Killarney as Firhouse Notre Dame play Drimnagh and Mercy Coolock play Longford Falcons, Portlaoise Pacers meet Castleisland, DART Killester host former champions, Bausch & Lomb Wildcats and Meteors host Sligo All Stars.

Men’s Draw: Mardyke UCC Demons v Neptune; MDS Star v Gleneagle Lakers

Killarney; DART Killester v Shamrock Rovers Hoops; UCD v Limerick Lions; Abrakebabra Tigers v Merry Monk Ballina; Roma St Vincent’s v Waterford Crystal.

Women’s Draw: Firhouse Notre Dame v Drimnagh; UL Aughinish ­ bye; Vienna woods Glanmire ­ bye; Mercy Coolock v Longford Falcons; Portlaoise Pacers v Castleisland; Mustang Sally’s St Paul’s ­ bye; DART Killestr v Bausch & Lomb Wildcats; Meteors v Sligo All Stars.

The draw was made by Na Piarsaigh Captain, Mark Prendergast, with Colin O’Sullivan.