SuperLeague set for grandstand finish

The penultimate weekend of the Nivea For Men SuperLeague approaches and it's all to play for at the top of the North and South Conferences.

Tonight, Hoops entertain UCD Marian at 8.15pm at the National Basketball Arena.

Hoops must win their final two games and hope DART Killester lose their remaining three games to claim the Northern Conference title.

Marian are continuing to develop under coach Cormac Connor and there is great hope that the young team can finish on a high with victories in both of their remaining games.

DART Killester will have to wait until Sunday before they take to the court to place St Vincent’s at St Vincent's CBS for a 3.30pm showdown.

Mark Keenan will have Damien Sealy back for the game. "Damien Sealy has missed the last two games due to pressure of business, while John Quigley also missed the win against UCD Marian," said Keenan.

"It is a crucial game for us and one that we really must win. We were excellent against them at our place and awful in their place. The winning of the conference is in our own hands."

However, Keenan will have to do without Keith Anderson, who will be involved in Irish international training, while Johnny Grennell is nursing a slight hamstring tightness.

Friday sees the leaders of the Southern Conference, Abrakebabra Tigers, aiming to end their woeful losing run against local rivals Mustang Sally's St Paul's at the Tralee Sports Centre at 8pm.

Tigers will be looking to secure some breathing space after UCC Demons drew level on points with the Kerrymen last weekend.

Demons have a game more played than Tigers and, after losing every game they played in February, Tigers will need to turn the tables to ensure a Southern Conference title takes pride of place next to their 2007 National Cup.

St Paul's will be looking to consolidate third position so they can travel to Limerick looking to snatch the Southern Conference title.

They will have to watch out for Kieran Donaghy, however, as the Kerry football star may return this weekend following his suspension by the GAA last weekend.

It is the first part of a double-header between the local rivals, as they face each other again on Tuesday evening at Presentation Killarney with an 8.15pm tip-off.

UCC Demons will be monitoring the game closely as they lurk behind Tigers in the Southern Conference. They will play St Paul's on Sunday at 3.15pm in the Mardyke Arena and will be looking to keep the pressure on Tigers.

Limerick Lions are level on points with Mustang Sally's and will be hoping that Tigers do them a favour on Friday night. The Lions have a game more played than the Saints and will also be in action this weekend as they travel to Neptune for an 8.30pm tip-off.

The Lions have had two good wins in the last two weeks and will want to continue this run and get another win against their Cork rivals.

Coach Matt Hall is demanding a high-intensity game from his players and demanding full concentration.

Hall says: "I have been asking the players to play hard, do the basics of the game well and to push hard when they are on court. We have had good return in the last two weeks but both these games were at home.

"Neptune, away in Cork, it will be a very difficult assignment and it will take another full-blooded performance from us to have any chance of getting a win. We want to play well and if we do then a win will be a nice bonus."

Neptune have had mixed results recently and will be keen to get back to winning ways. It will be the first of two games this weekend for the Cork outfit, as they will travel to the Kingdom on Sunday and face Abrakebabra Tigers at the Tralee Sports Centre at 3pm.

Two big games take place on Saturday in the Northern Conference.

Belfast Star will host Merry Monk Ballina at Jordanstown at 7.15pm. It is a must-win game for both sides, with Merry Monk currently occupying the hot spot.

The two wins over Hoops and Star puts Ballina in a very strong position to make the play-offs. If Ballina win two of their final three games it will ensure the boys from the west a play-off spot, while three from three could even challenge for the conference title.

Coach Terry Kennedy is under no illusions as to the tough job ahead: "We were lucky at the weekend to pull off the two wins. When I found out that Ronan McGarrity and Paul Freeman would be unavailable for the weekend I was sure that was the season over.

"We are not the only team with dual stars on their squad and sometimes it’s tough but credit to the squad we have. Ronan McGarrity and Paul Freeman are two of the reasons we are fighting for a play-off position and I'm delighted they'll be available this weekend.

"Saturday night was a close game but it was experience that won us that one. Liam McHale and Deora Marsh pulled that one out of the bag for us but on Sunday I don't think Star could have any complaints.

"All the teams have a tough run-in but I believe Killester have already qualified for the play-offs. That leaves just two spots for four very good teams. Deora Marsh, Ronan McGarrity and Paul Freeman will travel to Belfast but I'm still waiting on confirmation from Liam McHale.

"It takes him a little longer to recover and with not having played competitively for over 15 months its testament to the big man for his displays last weekend."

Star will be looking to avenge last weekend's damaging defeat to Ballina. Ballina were the better side last weekend and Star will have to improve all aspects of their game if they want to avoid a third loss to Ballina this season.

Washington and Ross will have to watch the foul situation, as they were both on four fouls by half-time last Sunday. The Ulstermen will be at full strength for their tussle.

Meanwhile, there is no respite in the Women's SuperLeague as it journeys into its final weekend. The tussle between DCU Mercy and UL for the top spot has been fascinating all season and has gone right to the wire.

UL are currently top of the pile by a solitary point and victory on Saturday will confirm them as regular league Champions.

However, Saturday's encounter with DART Killester in the Oblate Hall at 6pm could prove to be a sticky situation for the Limerick side.

Mark Grennell's side regain some of their stars with Leah Westbrooks and Emer Brophy returning, but they will have to continue without captain Carmel Kissane.

If UL Aughinish were to lose on Saturday then DCU Mercy will need to beat Meteors on Sunday afternoon at 3.30pb in DCU. Although this will leave the sides level on points DCU will claim the league crown having notched up two victories over UL out of three this season.

Whoever wins the regular league this weekend they will know that they will face DART Killester in the semi-finals of the SuperLeague, which take place over St Patrick's weekend.

Bausch & Lomb Wildcats await the league runner-up in the semi-finals, having successfully secured third place in the league. Tony Hehir's side face Tolka Rovers this Sunday in Dublin at 4pm without Jillian Hayes. Their American, Crystal Costin, is struggling for fitness.

It will be the first of two games for the Wildcats as they face Team Montenotte Hotel on Tuesday in Little Island at 8.15pm.

Tolka Rovers also play twice this weekend and will take on Team Montenotte Hotel at the Tolka Rovers Sports Complex at 6.15pm. John Fitzgibbon is still without Marie Threrse O'Callaghan but may see the return of Naoise Doran, who is recovering from a fractured finger.