Basketball: Weekend Preview

The Southern Conference of the NIVEA for Men SuperLeague hosts an intriguing clash between Limerick Lions and Mardyke UCC Demons in Cork tomorrow night.

In October, Limerick overcame Demons in a thrilling game when they hit a basket with less than a second on the clock to take the points.

Demons will be keen to avenge that defeat, and with both teams in great form recently, this game is set to be another thriller.

Limerick coach Tom Hehir has to plan without shooting guard Neil Campbell, but will be hoping that his team will maintain the form that has seen them move to second in the Southern Conference.

Mardyke UCC Demons, after four narrow defeats in the League, have turned their season around winning their last four games in a row, including a win over bottom side, Gleneagle Lakers on Wednesday night.

Shane Coughlan missed that game through illness, a stomach bug that also affected Glen Worley, Colin O’Reilly and Damien Matacz.

Coach Pat Price will hope that his team have recovered from both illness and Wednesday’s exertions sufficiently to challenge Limerick, as a win would put them right back in the hunt for a play-off position.

Arguably one of the biggest games of the weekend sees second play third in the Northern Conference in a Dublin Derby, as UCD take on Roma St Vincent’s on Saturday night.

UCD are coming off four League wins, and although they went down to Limerick in the Cup, their confidence is high. With no injury worries they will hope to secure their grip on second place in the Conference.

Abrakebabra Tigers, fresh from their demolition of DART Killester last weekend, play Neptune at home on Saturday.

Tigers already beat Neptune in the corresponding fixture in Cork, and with a full team available, and still unbeaten at home, will be hoping for more of the same.

Neptune’s form has improved since the two teams last played however, and lining out for the Leesiders is Ricardo Leonard, who won a SuperLeague medal with Tigers last year.

Elsewhere, Merry Monk Ballina host MDS Star, who comprehensively defeated them four weeks ago.

Waterford Crystal, disappointed after their defeat to Limerick last weekend, travel to Dublin to take on Shamrock Rovers Hoops on Friday night.

Meanwhile in the Women’s SuperLeague Carmel Kissane makes a welcome return to the DART Killester ladies following her broken foot.

The Kerry girl has been a huge loss to the squad and Maeve Coleman is delighted to have her back for Sunday’s visit to XLR8 Autos Drimnagh.

Peugeot Meteors are without long term injuries Sinead Harvey and Eileen Bradley as they travel to Mercy Coolock on Saturday, while Bausch & Lomb Wildcats face Vienna Woods Glanmire.

In a busy weekend of basketball, there is a full programmes of games in the Men’s and Women’s Division One, while the quarter finals of the Junior National Cup also get underway with seven games around the country.