National Championships Bound for UL

The top eight teams from the men’s Superleague and the top four from the women’s are destined for the University of Limerick this weekend to participate in the National Championships, the grand finale of the basketball calendar.

The men’s competition takes on a new, knockout format this year, replacing the former round-robin.

There was very little between the men’s teams all season, with each of the eight shining on different occasions during the year. Newly crowned Superleague Champions, Neptune, are in action against Dart Killester in the first game of the men’s competition. Having collected the league title last weekend, Neptune are likely to have a busy week of celebrations and may not be up to their usual form. However, they are training this week and have their victorious squad in full for the weekend. Killester made a late signing of Chris Davis last week, replacing Rodney Gidney for the BurgerKing Limerick clash. Davis should have little difficulty settling in with his former teammates and will lineout for Killester again this weekend. The Dublin team could struggle at this competition without Paddy Kelly and despite being the underdogs of the competition, will put up a good fight.

Notre Dame and Demons are back in action this weekend, and following a superb Demons performance last Sunday, Notre Dame could be making an early exit from the competition. Demons are fighting fit ahead of the weekend and just about ready for a second trophy this season. Brian Clernon has been unable to play since the Cup weekend and is hoping to play a part in the final weekend. Despite being in contention for the title until the closing weeks of the Superleague, Notre Dame had a disappointing end to the season and will be hungry for redemption this weekend and are yet to take the National Championships title.

Hibernian UCD Marian narrowly missed out on a place in the play-offs last year and with a full squad this weekend, could deliver enough to take home the silverware. Marian have a full squad ahead of the weekend, as do St Vincent’s, with this game likely to be the highlight of the day.

Sx3 Star make the trip from Belfast to take on hosts BurgerKing Limerick in the final game. Star will have to pick themselves back up from their devastating loss of the Superleague title, to have a last crack at 2003 glory. It will be a tough encounter against the on-form Limerick men, but should Star come out of the first round, it could well be third time lucky for the Belfast men.

In the women’s competition, St Paul’s have been training hard and are hoping to round off a very successful first season at Superleague level with a title. The Wildcats are fairly depleted ahead of the weekend, with Miriam Liston involved in the varsity football this weekend, and Lindsay Dunne and Catriona White carrying injuries. White is recovering from an operation on her hand following an injury picked up against Killester some weeks back.

With home advantage, UL will be seeking their third title to round off a very successful season. Both Deirdre Leahy and Aine Staunton will be absent through injury, while Sinead Leahy will miss Saturday, but will be available should they qualify for the final on Sunday.

Meteors will have a tough game against the Cup and League Champions, but they upset the form by taking the title in 2001. Amy Donnelly, Catherine O’Sullivan and Sinead Harvey are all struggling with injury, but are hoping to play this weekend.