Notre Dame injuries hamper title ambition

It would be hard to find a worse start in the ESB Superleague last weekend than that experienced by Denny Notre Dame. Three key players were injured in a car crash on the way to Belfast to face title holders Star of the Sea, and when appeals to have the game postponed were turned down, the depleted side was punished with a crushing 106-72 defeat.

They'll be looking to put all that behind them at the National Basketball Arena this evening when they take on Dublin rivals St Vincent's, the live televised game on TG4's weekly programme IBA Beo (9.0).

A decision on whether the three injured players will be fit to start won't be made until closer to the tip-off. New signings Eric Blair and Tony McDonagh, along with Ciaran Dempsey, all suffered head, neck and back injuries though none of them were deemed serious. Player-coach Anthony Jenkins will be eager to have a full strength squad available if Notre Dame are to remain among the top contenders for the title.

St Vincent's started their run by dismantling the Sligo Dairies away from home on a score of 7659. Coach Joey Boylan has assembled one of the strongest Irish panels in the league although an uneven start last season probably cost them the title. It's a double bill weekend for Kerry Spring Water as they host Esat Telecom Demons in Killarney this evening and Hibernian UCD Marion tomorrow. Irish international John Teahon is doubtful for either game. Waterford Crystal travel to Sligo Dairies. An arm injury to Roscoe Patterson leaves a question over his fitness. In tomorrow's other games, Burger King Limerick travel to Dungannon. Both sides experienced opening defeats but the one point loss for Dungannon is likely to give them the greater motivation for a win. Clare Jets and Tolka Rovers are also out for their first points when they meet in Ennistymon.

Sunday's meeting between Killester and Neptune will attract particular interest as both sides are regarded as title contenders. Neptune had an ideal 81-68 opener over Clare Jets and new American signing John D'Orlando showed that he will be a huge threat from the three-point line by making four out of six. Killester also impressed with their Harvard graduate Dave Weaver shooting a joint weekend top-scoring total of 28 points. Elsewhere, title holders Star of the Sea are guaranteed a close affair when they travel to Cork to face Esat Telecom Demons.

The big encounter in the women's Superleague on Sunday has cast champions Avonmore Snowcream Wildcats against Sprite Cup holders Tolka Rovers. Killester face their second Dublin derby within a week when they host Meteors while Crusaders will be hoping for a better result against the University of Limerick than the demolition handed by the Wildcats last weekend.