Neptune run likely to continue

Another victory for Neptune last weekend earned them a striking lead on the League table and with a home game against an off-form Limerick this weekend, they are likely to remain unbeaten for another week.

Burger King Limerick go into the weekend on the back of two tough defeats, and despite a full squad travelling to Neptune Stadium, they are struggling defensively and will hardly pull it off.

Gleneagle Lakers have a busy double header weekend, away to St Vincent's on Saturday and home to Waterford Crystal on Sunday. After coming so close to their first victory when they played Demons last week, Killarney will be hungry and will be out to record a win this weekend.

The absence of a bosman for Waterford and Killarney is leaving both teams struggling, following the departure of Patrick Fitzpatrick and Otis Duffy.

Waterford's seventh defeat this week indicate that the recent acquisition of Luke Dean is not having the desired impact on the squad and with the quarter-finals of the Cup looming, change may be necessary once again.

Waterford Crystal went down 67-86 against Notre Dame on Wednesday evening and to add to their woes, Derrick Lyons pulled a muscle in his back that kept him out of the game for the entire second half. In his probable absence this weekend, Waterford Crystal will be expected to sign a new player before the 12noon deadline on Friday.

In the absence of Joey Boylan, assistant Coach John Clancy is coaching St Vincent's this week. They have a full squad ahead of the weekend and will have a session with Coach Boylan before Saturday's game.

Dart Killester have replaced Howard Jackson ahead of their weekend clash against Demons. 6'8'' Clyde Ellis has just completed a contract in Korea, averaging 20-points and 15 rebounds.

Ellis formerly played with Manchester Giants under Coach Mark Ingle. Killester are struggling for numbers ahead of the weekend with John Behan involved in the U19 Cup and Jerome Westbrooks

and Ian Mason out of action through injury. Demons are back to a full squad with James Singleton returned from the USA. Billy Gilligan has been released from the club.

Demons have come out on top of some very tight games in recent weeks and with Coughlan back to full strength, they will be a tough match for Dart Killester this weekend.

Tralee have been bugged by injury in recent times, the latest casualty is Alan Keane who will be out for a number of weeks. Keane, who averages 32 minutes a game for Tralee, tore a chest muscle in the gym during the week.

Michael Quirke is back training this week, and coach Rus Bradburd is hoping to have him back on the squad for the UCD Marian game on Saturday. Marian have a full squad ahead of the weekend.

The first round of the Junior National Men's and Women's Cup will take place across the country this weekend. A new format has been introduced this year, with the top two teams coming out of each group to play quarter-finals in early January.

Junior Men title holders, St Vincent's drew the group of death, with Notre Dame and Dart Killester drawn together.

University of Limerick are title-holders of the Junior Women's Cup and have a tough opening game against St Paul's on Saturday. UL will find it tough to come out of their group this year, with Killester and Meteors in the same group.

Waterford Wildcats were also drawn into a tough group with Presentation Thurles, Tolka Rovers and Star of the Sea.

ESB Men's Superleague

Date Venue Time Home Away

30 Nov Jordanstown 19.15 Sx3 Star Tolka Rovers

30 Nov St Vincent's 19.30 Irish Travel Partner Saints Gleneagle Lakers

30 Nov Tralee SC 20.00 Frosties Tigers Hibernian UCD Marian

30 Nov Neptune 20.00 Neptune Burgerking Limerick

30 Nov IWA 20.00 Dart Killester Mardyke UCC Demons

1 Dec INEC 15.00 Gleneagle Lakers Waterford Crystal

Junior Men's Cup

Date Time Home Away

Glasnevin 30 Nov 10.00 Dart Killester Notre Dame

13.30 Athlone Dart Killester

15.15 St Vincent's St Paul's

17.00 Notre Dame Athlone

1 Dec 10.00 Winner Pool A Runner Up Pool B

11.45 Winner Pool B Runner Up Pool A

15.00 Winner Game 5 Winner Game 6

Sexton St CBS

30 Nov 11.00 Thomond Blue Demons

12.45 Iona Ballina Colts

16.15 Iona Blue Demons

18.00 Ballina Colts Thomond

1 Dec 11.00 Thomond Iona

12.45 Blue Demons Ballina Colts

The Mall, Longford

30 Nov 11.00 Longford Falcons Tyrone Towers

12.45 Castlebar Neptune

16.15 Neptune Tyrone Towers

18.00 Castlebar Longford Falcons

1 Dec 11.00 Tyrone Towers Castlebar

12.45 Longford Falcons Neptune

Nephin Road

30 Nov 12.30 St Declans 96ers St Brendans

14.15Star of the Sea Waterford Crystal

17.45 St Brendans Star of the Sea

19.30 Waterford Crystal St Declans 96ers

1 Dec 12.30 St Declans 96ers Star of the Sea

14.15 Waterford Crystal St Brendan's

Junior Women's Cup

Date Time Home Away

Waterford

30 Nov 11.00 Waterford Wildcats Longford Falcons

12.45 Comets Star of the Sea

14.30 Losers Game 1Tolka Rovers

16.15 Losers Game 2 Presentation Thurles

18.00 Tolka Rovers Winner Game 1

19.45 Presentation Thurles Winner Game 2

1 Dec 9.30 Winners Pool A Runners Up Pool B

11.15 Winners Pool B Runners Up Pool A

14.15 Winner Game 7 Winner Game 8

Killarney

30 Nov 11.00 St Pauls University of Limerick

14.30 Losers Game 1Killester

16.15 Tipperary Talons Meteors

18.00 Killester Winner Game 1

1 Dec 10.15 Winners Pool A Runners Up Pool B

12.00 Winners Pool B Runners Up Pool A

15.00 Winner Game 5 Winner Game 6

Castlebar

30 Nov 11.00 Pacers Drimnagh Dynamoes

14.30 Losers Game 1 Ballincollig

16.15 Cox's Rockets St Mary's

18.00 Ballincollig Winner Game 1

1 Dec 9.30 Winners Pool A Runners Up Pool B

11.15 Winners Pool B Runners Up Pool A

14.15 Winner Game 5 Winner Game 6

Glanmire

30 Nov 11.00 Glanmire St Colms

14.30 Losers Game 1Sligo All Stars

16.15 Castlebar Aces Queen Maeve Warriors

18.00 Winners Game 1Sligo All Stars

1 Dec 9.30 Winners Pool A Runners Up Pool B

11.15 Winners Pool B Runners Up Pool A

14.15 Winner Game 5 Winner Game 6

The top two teams in each group will go through to the quarter-finals which will be played on or before Jan 12 2003