Killester’s unbeaten run on the line in derby clash
While it has always been one of the biggest rivalries in Irish basketball, the situation at the top adds an extra dimension to this renewal. Up to the bank holiday weekend, DCU Saints set the pace.
Both themselves and Killester boasted unbeaten records but some — especially UCC Demons — would claim that Killester were heading for a drubbing at the Parochial Hall when the game was abandoned due to condensation on the court, and the visitors were awarded the points.
DCU Saints had claimed some of the biggest scalps before their unbeaten run was stalled by UL Eagles.
That result means that Killester are now the only unbeaten side in the SuperLeague — last night’s game with UCD Marian was postponed — but their coach, Darren O’Neill, insists they can’t take anything for granted.
“When you play DCU Saints you always have to be prepared to dig deep as they play with a lot of intensity,” he said.
“I was pleased with how we disposed of Moycullen last weekend and we will need a similar performance to see off the Saints challenge.”
Coach David Donnelly made no secret of his disappointment with Saints’ performance after their eight-point loss to UL Eagles, which was something of a shock on recent form.
“I was looking at a different team that had won their previous five games and UL, to their credit, punished us,” he said.
That result might have been a shock to some but it was a fitting end to a fine weekend for Eagles, who had also beaten UCD Marian. Coach Mark Keenan will be hoping for more of the same when they travel to the Parochial Hall on Sunday seeking revenge for their home defeat at the hands of the Cork side two weeks ago.
The fact that Scott Kinevane and Stephen King are both doubtful may prove unsettling in the lead up while Demons coach, Paul Kelleher, who has been fine tuning his side, has a fully fit squad at his disposal.
The derby thriller between Bord Gais Neptune and UCC Demons is still being discussed in Cork basketball circles but Neptune coach, Mark Scannell, has watched his side slog through two disappointing defeats since that memorable night.
He was particularly dissatisfied after Neptune were demolished by DCU Saints last weekend and promised a different approach as they travel to the NUIG for their clash with Moycullen, who will be anxious to build on their first victory of the season over Star last weekend.
Neptune were being touted as championship favourites after winning their opening three games but Scannell is the first to admit that people were getting carried away.
“The reality is that we don’t have a divine right to win any game in this league,” he said. “The fact of the matter is that we have not been doing the business at either end of the court and we have to deal with that problem.”
The Women’s SuperLeague brings the joint leaders, Team Montenotte Hotel Cork and UL, together to decide who will top the table in a highlyanticipated encounter at Neptune tomorrow evening. Montenotte may have appeared sluggish in their win over Ulster Rockets last weekend yet they took care of business but UL, with Michelle Fahy and Rachael Vanderwal on form, will present a different test in this intriguing clash.
Nivea for Men Superleague: Moycullen v Bord Gais Neptune, NUIG Kingfisher, 4pm; UCD Marian v Belfast Star, UCD Sports Centre, 7.10pm; 11890 Killester v DCU Saints, IWA, Clontarf, 8pm.
Nivea Women’s SuperLeague: Waterford Wildcats v Liffey Celtics, Mercy Gym, 5pm; 11890 Killester v Oblate Dynamos, IWA, 6pm; Ulster Rockets v Singleton’s SuperValu Brunell, DLS Anderstown, 6.30pm; Team Montenotte Hotel v UL, Neptune Stadium, 7pm.
Basketball Ireland Men’s Division One: Matt O’Flaherty Chemist Titans v Team Left Bank Kilkenny, Renmore Community Centre, 7pm; Team Loftus Recycling Ballina v Team Meadowlands St Brendan’s, Ballina Sports & Leisure Centre, 7.30pm; Portlaoise v Blue Demons, St Mary’s Sports Hall, 7.30pm.
Basketball Ireland Women Division One: UL v Foireann na Gaillimhe, Castletroy College, 3pm; Team Tom McCarthy’s St Mary’s v Scruffy’s St Paul’s Killarney, Castleisland Community Centre, 7.45pm.
Basketball Ireland Under-20 Men’s National Cup: Maree v Donegal Town, Calasanctius College, 2pm.
Nivea for Men Superleague: UCC Demons v UL Eagles, Parochial Hall, 3.15pm; DCU Saints v Belfast Star, DCU Sports Complex, 4pm.
Nivea Women’s SuperLeague: DCU Mercy v Meteors, DCU Sports Complex, 2pm.
Basketball Ireland Men’s Division One: Neptune v CHM Ballon, Neptune Stadium, 2pm; Maree v Team Garvey’s St Mary’s, Calasanctius College, 3pm.
Basketball Ireland Women Division One: Britton Insurance Donegal Town v Meteors, Abbey Vocational School, 1pm.
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