BurgerKing set to bask in limelight again

BASKETBALL can be a funny old game. A couple of months ago, BurgerKing Limerick, then the reigning Cup champions, were more or less dismissed as a force in the ESB SuperLeague but, while they have no chance of lifting that trophy, they are once again the centre of attention and they are loving it.

This weekend they travel North to play Sx3 Star and if they are to win that game then Neptune should be assured of their 11th SuperLeague title.

"And with a bit of luck we could be the ones up there challenging for that title," coach Tom Hehir said last evening.

"We had a disastrous start to the season, what with our Americans and a lack of consistency in our game. But that is all behind us now. We have the championship here in Limerick in a couple of weeks time and we are looking forward to doing something in that competition."

If the first half of the season was a nightmare then the second half has been a dream come true for the coach who has watched his youngs guns blossom.

"I lost six players from last year and before the season began we were already in deep trouble. When Neptune came down here to play us last week we were without Greg Duffy and Mike Hickey and Paul Freeman was nursing an ankle injury so we were probably in a worse state than Neptune.

"We make the long journey to Belfast at the weekend and the outcome of that game is probably of more benefit to Neptune than it is to us but those guys want to win and that is what I like about them right now.

"Winning is a habit and I am very excited about the manner in which those players have come through in just a season players like Paul Freeman who is getting better and better and Neil Campbell who has been playing some outstanding basketball in the last few weeks."

If they can beat Star and Killester in their remaining games, they will finish fifth, which would put them in a nice position in the draw for the Championship which will bring the top eight teams in the country together at the University Arena in Limerick. They way they are playing right now, BurgerKing may, after all, end up with some silverware on the sideboard.

Star's shock defeat at the hands of Tolka Rovers has proved costly and Neptune capitalised when they went clear at the top by beating Frosties Tigers on Wednesday night. They travel to Waterford to play Crystal on Wednesday night, with their final game against Irish Travel Partner Saints the following weekend.

Coach Rus Bradburd has been forced to release Chris Davis while Alan Keane will miss the remainder of the season with an ankle injury. He will play Mike Trimmer and Roscoe Patterson against St Vincent's this weekend.

In the Women's SuperLeague, Tolka Rovers must beat KiIllester and Scruffy's St Paul's if they are to claim a place in the national championships but they will struggle without the services of Niamh Martin, Molly Watson, Nicola Farrell and Claire Furlong this weekend.