Killester looking to get back on track
DART Killester, who were mauled by Abrakebabra Tigers in their quarter final clash, will have to put it all behind them if they are to keep their NIVEA for Men SuperLeague challenge on course.
They face into two derby games this weekend. The first would normally be regarded as a formality but UCD could pose a serious challenge tomorrow night.
Last weekend they came away from the Mardyke Arena in Cork disappointed with their performance against Mardyke UCC Demons. Coach Mark Keenan insisted that the SuperLeague was now their target and they would be pulling out all the stops in pursuit of a place in the play-offs.
Coach Jerome Westbrooks had problems going into last weekend’s clash with Tralee and nothing has changed. John Quigley, Johnny Behan and Jonathan Grennell are still suffering from ‘flu and Damien Sealey is still nursing a hand injury, with none of them taking part in Tuesday night’s training session.
UCD are desperately seeking points at this stage as they currently lie third behind Killester with two games in hand while Roma St. Vincent’s are in second position.
And Sunday afternoon sees Roma St. Vincent’s at home to the Conference table toppers who can expect little sympathy at Glasnevin.
Joey Boylan’s side have put together a string of big performances in recent weeks - not least their big win over Limerick Lions in their cup clash last weekend - and are just itching for a crack at their arch rivals.
This team is one that Boylan has built himself and takes great pride in. His home grown players are playing out of their skin and the Americans are not letting him down either. Mike Trimmer scored 30 points on Monday against Limerick and had as many blocks.
Limerick will have to put their loss to Vincent’s behind them when they entertain Abrakebabra Tigers at the UL Arena tomorrow night. Tigers are riding the crest of the wave right now but it should be remembered that this young Limerick side are no easy pickings.
Coach Tom Hehir is adamant that we have not seen the best of them yet and once they get it together they can beat anyone.
They currently lie second behind the Tralee side and a win tomorrow night would boost confidence no end and they came close enough last time around to make it a reasonable possibility.
After their big win over Neptune in the Cup last Sunday Coach Mark Scannell wants to see his Gleneagle Lakers get into some sort of a run in advance of Cup weekend.
They have yet to win a game in the SuperLeague and they are home to Waterford Crystal tomorrow night in a rearranged game, while they travel to Limerick on Wednesday night to play Lions.
Mardyke UCC Demons are coasting at the moment and one would have to delve into the records to find the last time they were beaten.The odds are in their favour again this weekend when they play Waterford Crystal at The Mardyke Arena.
Not so long ago it would be easy to tip Merry Monk Ballina for the cup but all that is history now and they will be concentrating on the SuperLeague from here on in. They have released Laurence Young and Josh Lewis and brought in Elijah Warren from Detroit and Kevin Beard from Dalton, Ohio, so there will be big interest at the Ballina Sports Centre tomorrow night when they play Shamrock Rovers Hoops.
The women have been taking something of a backseat in recent times but that is all about to change as this weekend the quarter finals of their national cup will be decided. UL Aughinish, unbeaten for what seems an eternity, are the raging hot favourites to retain their title and they play XLR8 Autos Drimnagh at the Oblate Hall on Sunday afternoon for a place in the semi-finals.
There is an interesting game at St. Mary’s, Castleisland tomorrow night when Galwey Auctioneers Castleisland play one of last year’s semi-finalists, Mustang Sally’s St. Paul’s.
The Killarney side are boosted by the arrival of post player, Megan McGee, from the University of Colorado Springs but, while Castleisland will be the underdogs, anything can happen in this all Kerry clash.
Vienna Woods Glanmire entertain Mercy Coolock at Littleisland tomorrow night and a win here followed by a trip to the Cup final would work wonders for a club that has worked so hard under Sean O’Regan.
: NIVEA for Men SuperLeague: Limerick Lions v Abrakebabra Tigers, UL Arena, 7.30 p.m.; Gleneagle Lakers v Waterford Crystal, INEC, 8 p.m.; Merry Monk Ballina v Shamrock Rovers Hoops, Ballina SC. 8 p.m.; DART Killester v UCD, IWA Clontarf, 8 p.m.
: Galwey Auctioneers Castleisland v Mustang Sallys St. Paul’s, St. Mary’s, 8.15 pt.m; DART Killester v Peugeot Meteors, IWA, 6 p.m.; Vienna Woods Glanmire v Mercy Coolock, Littleisland, 7.30 p.m.
: Queens v Sligo All Stars, Belfast, 2.15 p.m.; Moycullen v Westaro Castlebar, NUIG, 4 p.m.
: UL Aughinish v Sligo All Stars, UL Arena, 2.30 p.m.; Portlaoise Pacers v Blarney Park Donoughmore, St. Mary’s, 6.30 p.m.
: Roma St. Vincent’s v DART Killester, St. Vincent’s CBS, 3.15 p.m.; Mardyke UCC Demons v Waterford Crystal, Mardyke Arena, 3.15 p.m.
: XLR8 Drimnagh Dinamos v Ul Aughinish, Oblate Hall, 3.30 p.m.
: Star of the Sea v Newport, Belfast, 3 p.m.
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