BASKETBALL:UCD MARIAN can close the gap on Killester at the top of the Northern Conference when they face old rivals DCU Saints in the latest series of Nivea For Men's SuperLeague games.
The fixture represents one of the oldest rivalries in Irish basketball: the first major game between the sides took place in 1971.
UCD’s current charges are enjoying a great start to the season, claiming three wins out of four, but coach Fran Ryan believes the meeting with Saints is likely to be the toughest they have faced this season.
“Saints will be possibly our toughest opponents to date when one considers it is in their home court,” said Ryan.
“Their current win/loss record is misleading considering they have last year’s coach of the season in Vinny O’Keefe and one of the best players in the league in Emmet Donnelly.
“They have played the three toughest games of their season and all away from home, so no one can be sure how good they are this year.
“Also they made the championships semi-finals last year after a marvellous win against Neptune in Cork in the quarter-final.”
UL Eagles’ Welsh international Matt Hall believes a Neptune side featuring Michael Bonaparte will put their 100 per cent record under serious threat.
“We know it will be a different game than when we played them two weeks ago with Bonaparte now joining them, but hopefully we have progressed as well,” said Hall.
“The team is back to full strength and looking to improve in the coming weeks. Neptune on Saturday will be a good yardstick for us to see how far we have come so far.”
Elsewhere, Belfast Star’s hopes of a first win at home to UCC Demons haven’t been helped by the loss of Scott Summersgill through injury. Summersgill sustained the injury in training and is likely to be ruled out for up to three weeks.
Ulster Elks, buoyed by the return of Kevin Foley, who is averaging 31.33 points per game this season, will be looking to inflict more woe on a Moycullen side still seeking their first win of the season.
Meanwhile, in the IrishSport.TV Women’s SuperLeague, reigning champions Team Montenotte Hotel Cork entertain Black Forge Oblate Dynamos, while Meteors and Waterford Wildcats play hosts to DCU Mercy and 11890 Killester respectively.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday – Men’s SuperLeague: Neptune v UL Eagles, Neptune Stadium, 7pm; Moycullen v Ulster Elks, Kingfisher Club NUIG, 6pm. Men’s Division One: Titans v St Brendan’s, Renmore CC, 7pm; Waterford v Portlaoise, WIT Sports Hall, 7.30pm; Tolka v Ballina, Tolka Rover Sports Complex, 7.30pm. Women’s SuperLeague: Waterford Wildcats v Killester, Mercy Secondary School, 6pm; Team Montenotte Hotel Cork v Oblate Dynamos, Little Island Community Centre, 7pm. Women’s Division One: Foireann na Gaillimhe v Team Tom McCarthy’s St Marys, NUIG Kingfisher Centre, 3pm; UL v Brunell, UL Arena, 5pm.
Sunday – Men’s SuperLeague: Belfast Star v UCC Demons, De La Salle College, Andersonstown, 3pm; DCU Saints v UCD Marian, DCU Sports Complex, 3.30pm. Men’s Division One: Blue Demons v Maree, Mardyke Arena, 3.15pm; Ballon v Neptune, Palmerstown Sports Complex, 3.30pm. Women’s SuperLeague: Meteors v DCU Mercy, Coláiste Eoin/Íosagáin, 3pm. Women’s Division One: Meteors v Thurles Knights, Coláiste Íosagáin, 1pm.
