Tralee have the firepower to progress to decider

BASKETBALL/Cup semi-finals and finals: As always the ESB Cup finals weekend is no occasion for making any great predictions but this year it is at least certain that the senior men's winners will make some history. None of the four clubs that has made it this far has won the title before.

If pressed for a further prediction, then Waterford would probably start out as favourites, based simply on their league form and enduring desire to finally claim the men's cup honours.

This is the third successive year that Waterford come to the National Arena in Tallaght searching for the ultimate prize. The first obstacle in that quest comes in tonight's semi-final when they take on Belfast club Star of the Sea, who were twice league champions in recent years but never before cup specialists.

The league form of the two sides couldn't be more contrasting. While Waterford enjoy a four-point lead at the top (thus on course for a rare double), Star are struggling second from the bottom with just three wins from 14 games. With a full squad and growing confidence, it would be a major surprise if Waterford slip up here.

Tomorrow's second semi-final between Limerick and Tralee is harder to call: Neither club has got this far before and they are tied for second on the league table. Tralee, however, appear to have the greater firepower to progress, especially if the likes of Jermaine Turner, Kenny McFarland and Barnaby Craddock reach top flight.

The women's semi-finals are notable for the absence of Waterford's Wildcats - three-time winners in the past four years. Breaking that run were Tolka Rovers in 1999 and they are now primed to regain the honour.

Tolka meet the University of Limerick in tomorrow's second semi-final and although the Dublin club fell to the same opposition in the league last December, their overall form is far more consistent and the least of their ambitions will be to contest Sunday's final.

Having already sent the Wildcat's tumbling, Mercy Coolock won't be short of confidence in tonight's first semi-final against Dublin neighbours Killester. As the only division one side left, however, Mercy are facing a major challenge in what is their first year in the senior cup.

Squeezed in between all this action will be the men's senior international with Bosnia (at the NBA tomorrow, 3.0). The fifth game in Ireland's European Championship semi-final round, it promises to be one the closest in the six-team group.

CUP FINALS SCHEDULE

Tonight - Women's semi-final: Mercy Coolock v Killester (NBA, 6.45); Men's semi-final: Waterford v Star of the Sea (NBA, 8.45).

Tomorrow - Junior women semi-finals: Presentation Thurles v St Paul's, Killarney (Oblates, 10.0), University of Limerick v Meteors (Oblates, 12.0); Junior men semi-finals: Notre Dame v Waterford (UCD, 10.0), St Vincent's v Killester (UCD, 12.0); Women's semi-final: University of Limerick v Tolka Rovers (NBA, 6.45); Men's semi-final: Tralee Tigers v Limerick (NBA, 8.45).

Sunday - Junior women's final (10.0), Junior men's final (12.0), Men's final (4.0), Women's final (6.0), all at the NBA.