In-form Waterford look to advance

The attention switches to the ESB Cup quarter-finals this weekend. At stake is a place in the celebrated cup final weekend at the National Arena next January, and each of the eight clubs left will fancy their chances of getting there.

Part of their optimism comes from the fact that so many of the cup specialists didn't make it this far. Gone are holders Killester, annual favourites Notre Dame, and stubborn outsiders Ballina. What that guarantees, however, is an even more unpredictable set of quarter-finals.

Current league leaders Waterford are definitely the team in form and appear the best bet for progression. They must travel to Sligo tomorrow, a side whose form has been going in the opposite direction.

After a positive start, Sligo's run started to halt when Greg Burston broke his arm five weeks ago. Since his absence, Sligo have lost four from five games and though they hope to have Burston back tomorrow, a full strength Waterford appear unstoppable.

The meeting of Tralee and Neptune promises to be far more evenly contested. Tralee have not been defeated on home soil for more than a year; the last team to come out of Tralee victorious was Neptune.

Having never won a Cup title, Tralee remain hungry for victory but morale is running low after a double overtime defeat to Killester last week.

Four-time Cup winners Neptune have bigger problems: Kenny Gamble is doubtful with the flu, Colin O'Reilly is expected to be out for six weeks with a hand injury and Brian O'Neill picked up an ankle injury playing with North Monastery. Ger Heaphy is planning a comeback though, a previous winner of two cup medals.

Elsewhere, there is unlikely to be much separating the clash of Limerick and St Vincent's, while Tolka Rovers carry the greater confidence into their meeting with Star of the Sea.

In the women's cup, the only all ESB League clash is between Killester and Meteors next Tuesday. Division One title-holders Drimnagh Dynamoes will be giving Tolka Rovers a run for their money, while Firhouse Notre Dame will be travelling to University of Limerick. Firhouse defeated Glanmire for their place in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, the IBA has announced the appointment of Ger Tarrant as head coach to the senior women's national team.

Tarrant has a broad experience in basketball at all levels both as a player and as a coach. He debuted on the international scene, representing Ireland in November 1992 and is currently nearing completion of his term as coach with the junior national team.

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