Neptune need to put troubled start in past

Basketball: Cristiano Sias left Neptune in some mess. The Italian coach arrived in Cork as coach for a new season, took a look around before promptly heading home. The club, with the season already a week old and a thrashing by rivals UCC Demons under their belt, start again this Saturday against Killester.

It also marks the first Superleague game at Greendale Community School in Kilbarrack, author Roddy Doyle's inspiration for some of his most entertaining characters.

It is a devilish introduction to Irish basketball for 29-year-old Neptune coach Ozell Wells. He brings new recruits Dajan Smith and Rob Brown along for the ride.

Wells, a graduate and former assistant coach at the University of Michigan, brings a 20-man squad to Dublin, plenty of whom can expect not to be on board by Monday morning.

Although Damien Sealy and Jerome Westbrooks are absent through injury, Killester will be expected to recover from last week's defeat to Ballina.

The Mayo club host Limerick and Star of the Sea on the weekend as they seek another impressive start to their Superleague campaign.

A string of victories would leave them nicely placed to host cup holders Tralee Tigers next week in the first round of the knockout competition.

The Tigers get their season under way on Saturday night against Shamrock Rovers Hoops with Eric Bush stepping into the player-coach role vacated by Chris Craig.

Like Craig, Bush has drafted a college team-mate from the University of Alabama, Chris Sockwell.

Australian Luke O'Hea returns for another year as the Bosman but Micheal Quirke is off the roster having redirected his focus to Gaelic football.

Elsewhere, St Vincent's host Killarney Lakers on Saturday night, while UCC Demons entertain UCD at the Mardyke Arena on Sunday afternoon.

Men's Superleague

Saturday

St Vincent's v Killarney Lakers, St Vincent's, 7.30; Tralee Tigers v Shamrock Rovers Hoops, Tralee SC, 8.0; Ballina v Limerick Lions, Ballina SC, 8.0; Killester v Neptune, Greendale CS, 8.0.

Sunday

UCC Demons v UCD, Mardyke Arena, 3.15; Ballina v Star of the Sea, Ballina SC, 3.30.

Women's Superleague

Saturday

Mercy Coolock v Drimnagh Dynamos, Mount Temple, 6.30; Meteors v Wildcats, St Olaf's, 6.45; Glanmire v St Paul's, Neptune, 7.30; Killester v UL Aughinish, Greendale CS, 6.0.