Holders chasing cup record

Few domestic competitions can guarantee more heat and fever than basketball's National Cup. And few competitions are more difficult to predict.

Notre Dame have made Cup victories a routine over the past four years, and this weekend at the National Arena in Tallaght seek a record fifth successive title - a feat unprecedented in any other Irish Cup competition.

Over the next three days, however, form can quickly go out the window. Spirit is the driving force, not the league record, and especially not the Cup record. Notre Dame may come in as favourites, but each of the three other teams are capable of ousting them.

Killester are the first obstacle facing Notre Dame in the tomorrow's second semi-final. Currently leading the ESB League, and beaten just four times this season, Killester will not fear their Dublin rivals. They are also on a quest for their first piece of silverware since Jerome Westbrooks led them to Cup victory in 1987.

But when it comes to Cup success no man has better experience than Notre Dame's player-coach Anthony Jenkins. "Our aim this weekend is just to do the things we know we can do," he says. "And we're confident we can do that. It's always a nervous situation with the knockout stages but we don't feel any extra pressure. In some ways it's a routine for us."

Jenkins has winner's medals from Notre Dame's four previous Cup victories and the South Carolina native is in his fifth season as team coach. If any player is key to their chances it is Jenkins but Brandon Hughes is set to provide him with significant scoring back-up.

Ballina take the court this evening in the first semi-final, and no club has a greater abundance of spirit. Still inspired by Liam McHale, Anthony McHale, Paul McStay and Deora Marsh, the non-league club have cut a ruthless path to this stage, killing off the Saints and the Demons on route. Those four were also involved in the 1991 and 1996 Cup winning sides.

Standing in their way are Waterford, currently mid-table in the league and yet to win the Cup. Led by Eric Blair - who played with Notre Dame last season - they should have a full squad available.

In the women's semi-finals, the Wildcats are on course for a third title in four years. League form can be more of an indicator in this competition, and the Wildcats look to have that title wrapped up this year.

Facing them this evening is the University of Limerick, who have yet to score a victory over the Waterford club. But with former Wildcats standout Michelle Aspell now in their lineup, they have an outside shot at making Sunday's final.

Tolka Rovers and the Meteors clash for the second consecutive year in the other semi-final. Meteors gave the Wildcats the tightest of races for the title last year and are boosted by the return from injury of Neassa O'Keeffe and Sinead Harvey.

The news is not so good in the Tolka Rovers camp. Coach Maeve Coleman has a host of key players on the doubtful list, including Lorraine O'Brien (knee injury) and Sharon Kelly, Angie McNally and Michelle Canavan (all recent flu victims). But with their league title slipping, Tolka will be boiled up to get something out of the season.

The two junior finals should see Notre Dame defend the men's title - also coached by Jenkins - and the Wildcats defend the women's. Whether they are part of a senior double, however, is far more difficult to ascertain.