BASKETBALL/ Weekend previews: Superleague action resumes this weekend with UCC Demons and Neptune playing in the Cork derby tonight. The Demons will be out for revenge for a defeat by their neighbours in the Southern Conference earlier in the season.
Neptune are on the back of a big win in Tralee, while Demons had a rather unchallenging cup tie against Queen's and will have to dig deep this weekend.
With both Killarney Lakers and Limerick finding recent form, the battle for the top-four play-off spots is beginning to heat up as the season reaches the halfway mark.
Limerick will be without Jamal Hunter, who picked up a leg injury in training earlier this week, for their bout with Tralee Tigers at the UL Arena tonight.
The Lakers are at home to Waterford on Sunday. Tony Atchison began training with Waterford this week, as Jeff Wiersma has departed. At six feet, Atchison is significantly shorter than Wiersma and could be a risky move for coach Michael Evans.
His renowned sharp-shooting ability will have to come to the fore.
On the back of three successive defeats, UCD Marian travel to Belfast at the weekend, to play Star of the Sea, in dire need of a victory. Kenny McFarland has struggled with his form since making the transition from Tolka Rovers but with the cup now out of the picture this season, Marian will be firmly focused on their league campaign.
Star will be another team re-focusing on the Superleague following their premature exit from the cup. Neither Gareth Maguire nor Adrian Fulton had too much court time last weekend, with Fulton struggling with flu, while Maguire has a finger injury.
In the other North Conference game this weekend, St Vincent's are at home to Killester in the all-Dublin affair. Vincent's emerged from their cup victory unscathed, with Eric Brown putting in a solid performance on his return from injury so expect some more of the same this Sunday.
FIXTURES
TODAY: Men's Superleague: Neptune v UCC Demons, Neptune, 8.0. TOMORROW: Men's Superleague: UCD Marian v Star of the Sea, UCD, 7.10; Limerick v Tralee Tigers, UL Arena, 7.30. Women's Superleague: Wildcats v Drimnagh, Mercy Convent, 7.30; Killester v Glanmire, IWA, 6.30; Meteors v Tolka Rovers, Naomh Olaf, 6.45; St Paul's v University of Limerick, Presentation, 7.30. SUNDAY: Men's Superleague: Killarney Lakers v Waterford, INEC, 3.0; St Vincent's v Killester, St Vincent's, 3.30.
