Neptune betting on Gamble to deliver cup

BASKETBALL: The blue-riband event of Irish basketball takes place this weekend at the ESB Arena in Tallaght as 14 teams compete in the National Cup finals.

The main competition begins tonight with the women's semi-finals, while the men play tomorrow.

First up of the men's semi-finals is the David versus Goliath match-up between defending champions UCC Demons and Division 1 side Ballina.

The westerners are a new amalgamation of the two clubs in Mayo, one of which is no stranger to cup success having lifted the title in 1991 and 1996, and also losing the 2001 final.

The evergreen Liam McHale and Paul McStay were both part of these teams so they bring a wealth of experience to the court. McHale has also contested two All-Ireland football finals, losing both, which merely supplies the 38-year old with further motivation to finish his career on a high note.

Milo Brooks (standing 6ft 10ins) and Wayne Houston bring additional fire-power to the Ballina challenge.

The Demons are still well on course for the double, lying third in the southern conference, and with players of the calibre of Mark Michels, Torrey Butler and new signing DJ Harrison they should progress to Sunday's final.

Shane Coughlan, the star of last year, is a doubt due to a damaged cheekbone, while Brian Clernon is nursing an ankle injury.

Limerick will be seeking a second title in three years when they send a full-strength side out against Neptune. Randy Fletcher got the green light to play this week.

Limerick aren't the force they were, however, with only Matt Hall there from the class of 2002 and Neptune look set to make Sunday's final an all-Cork affair as they have beaten Limerick twice in the Superleague this season.

The duo of Kenny Gamble and Charron Watson will be expected to deliver Neptune's first title since 1992. Despite the fickleness of the league's foreign brigade, these two have been shutting teams out for three seasons now, averaging nearly 50 points per game between them, making them adopted sons of Cork.

It is very hard to see past the University of Limerick in the women's senior cup. Although there is quality sprinkled throughout their squad, Irish international Michelle Aspell is the dominant force.

They have not been beaten since November 2002 and with Maeve Guiney (knee) the only injury concern, they look set to record back-to-back titles.

Tomorrow's opponents Killester are hoping the return of Suzanne Maguire will benefit them in their mammoth challenge.

In the other semi-final, the Wildcats will struggle without American Nicole Conway, who has averaged 24 points and eight rebounds this year, against a St Paul's side looking to reach their first final.

Drimnagh and Glanmire will play out the junior women's final, while the junior men's semi-finals take place this afternoon. Shamrock Rovers face Killester, with UCC Demons looking to dominate the weekend as they face Castlebar for the other place in the final.

Meanwhile, National League player Anthony Jenkins and children from St Paul's National School in Greenhills, Dublin, launched the 2004 Kellogg's Frosties Basketball Schools Programme at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght yesterday.

Now in its fourth year, the programme provides expert tuition to over 20,000 schoolchildren. It offers a schools coaching programme to run across an entire term, giving the children access to leading coaches and top players in the sport.

According to Joe Naughton, co-ordinator of the programme, "The Kellogg's Frosties basketball camps are a fantastic opportunity for kids to learn the key skills of basketball from the wealth of talent we have in Irish basketball.

"The popularity of the game has increased hugely over recent years and with the rise of great players in Ireland, children are now putting it top of their list of favourite sports."