It’s back to Super League action this weekend and there’s a big few days in store. A huge top of the table clash in Tralee will be one of the highlights of the weekend in the Men's SuperLeague, while a Dublin derby showdown between Templeogue and Éanna will certainly be one to keep an eye on for the other teams around the league.
Belfast Star v DCU Saints (Saturday, De La Salle, 6:30pm)
Belfast Star welcome DCU Saints to De La Salle this weekend in what could be a tricky clash for the hosts. Star lost their unbeaten run at home at the hands of Éanna in the Cup last weekend and it’s been a tough couple of weeks for the Belfast side, as they also lost out to Neptune on the road in their last league clash. They will be hoping to have a full healthy squad to face off against Saints this weekend. DCU meanwhile come in off a tough Cup loss to Neptune in Dublin last weekend and an extremely difficult one-point loss to Maree in the league the weekend previous. With Mike Bonaparte continuing to roll back the years inside for them, they will need him and Martins Provizors in top form in order to get a win in Belfast.
Keanes Supervalu Killorglin v Moycullen (Saturday, Killorglin SC, 7:15pm)
A big weekend lies in store for Moycullen this weekend as they travel to Kerry to face Killorglin. Moycullen sit close to the bottom of the table with three wins so far this season, and need a win in Kerry to keep them out of that bottom two. Killorglin, who hold a 5-5 record to date, will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways after dropping to UCD Marian in their last league game. They have proven to be a tough task at home for many teams and would be the favourites going into this Saturday’s game, particularly with Allan Thomas in such impressive form in recent weeks.
Maree v Abbey Seals Dublin Lions (Saturday, Calsanctius College, 7:30pm)
Bottom side Dublin Lions travel to Galway this weekend on the hunt for their first win of the season, but will find it a tough task indeed against a Maree side who are strong on their home court. Maree have three wins from 10 so far this season, but have been unlucky to lose out some very close games. They have had stand out performances from Darin Johnson and Eoin Rockall, but Lions have caused many teams problems with their three-point shooting and if Finn Hughes continues his impressive form of late, it should be a big battle. James Gormley will also be a tough match up for Maree, as he stands at just over seven foot and has been settling in well with Lions in recent weeks.
Garvey’s Tralee Warriors v Coughlan CandS Neptune, Tralee SC (Saturday, Tralee SC, 7:30pm)
A top of the table clash takes place in Kerry this weekend as joint league leaders, Tralee Warriors and Neptune go head-to-head. Neptune have a game in hand on the Kerry side, but both teams boast 21 points from their games to date. They both carry momentum into this clash following two bigs wins in their respective Cup quarter finals last weekend, but this game will be key for separating the leaders at the top of the table. Peter Hoffman and Kyle Hosford have been in impressive form for Neptune of late, but Tralee boast a depth that is envied by many sides around the league, and with Paul Dick leading the charge on their home court, it could prove to be a tough test for the visitors.
Griffith College Templeogue v DBS Éanna (Saturday, Nord Anglia International School, 7:45pm)
One of the other stand out games of the weekend is a big Dublin derby clash as joint league leaders, Éanna, travel across town to Templeogue. This is Templeogue’s second game of the weekend, having seen off the challenge of UCD Marian at home on Thursday evening to see their record at 6-4 and move them to second place on the table. Éanna meanwhile sit top of the table with Tralee and Neptune, and boast a 7-2 record to date. Stefan Zecevic has just picked up his second consecutive Player of the Month award and will be key for the visitors on the night if they are to get past a Templeogue side who are hoping to make it two wins from two this weekend.
UCD Marian v Pyrobel Killester (Sunday, UCD, 3pm)
Both UCD Marian and Killester are coming into this game off the back of tough losses – Marian following a loss to Templeogue on Thursday evening, while Killester were knocked out of the Cup last weekend by Tralee Warriors. This is set to be an extremely interesting clash, with UCD currently sitting in joint second place on the table, while Killester are just behind them in third. With both sides worrying about injuries in recent weeks, particularly at the point guard spot, it may be a case of whichever team has the healthier backcourt will have the upper hand.
Basketball Ireland Women’s Super League
It’s back to league action in the Women’s Super League this weekend as well with league leaders, DCU Mercy hoping to get back to winning ways after dropping their first game of the season to Maree in Galway two weekends ago. They face a tough top of the table clash though, and with some other big showdowns on around the league, this could prove to be a very interesting weekend indeed.
IT Carlow Basketball v Maree (Saturday, Barrow Centre-IT Carlow, 3:15pm)
Second placed Maree travel to Carlow this weekend hoping to continue their impressive league form of late when they face off against IT Carlow Basketball. Maree come in off the back of a huge win in the league two weekends ago, ending DCU Mercy’s unbeaten run in the league with a stunning home performance. They also have the benefit of having last weekend off so will be fresh and ready for this weekend’s battle. Carlow for their part lost out to DCU in their Cup quarter final last weekend, and will once more look to Kaitlyn Slagus – the league leader in rebounding – to try and help them across the line. Her match up with Carly McClendon inside is set to be a key one.
Marble City Hawks v Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics (Saturday, O Loughlins GAA, 5pm)
Bottom side Marble City Hawks welcome reigning league champions, Liffey Celtics, to Kilkenny on Saturday evening for what is set to be an interesting clash. Hawks continue without a win so far this season, and lost out their Cup quarter-final bout with Brunell last weekend by just seven points. They will be hoping to bring their second half performance from that clash and roll it out across all four quarters this coming weekend. Liffey meanwhile have the added benefit of having last weekend off, so will be coming into the clash fresh. They sit mid table with a 4-4 record so far this season and will be hoping they can do the business this weekend to move to 5-4.
Fr Mathews v Pyrobel Killester (Saturday, Fr Mathews Arena, 5pm)
A rematch of last weekend’s Cup quarter-final battle in Clontarf - which Killester won - this game is set to be an interesting one. Mathews are extremely tough in their home court and will be hunting to avenge last weekend’s loss. Grainne Dwyer left the game last weekend at the start of the fourth quarter due to injury and it looks like she may miss this weekend’s game too, which will be a big loss for the hosts. Killester were firing on all cylinders in their home court, but will need to continue their strong defensive display of last Saturday evening if they are to stop Mathews at home.
Maxol WIT Wildcats v Singleton SuperValu Brunell (Saturday, Mercy Gym, 7pm)
An interesting clash awaits in Waterford this weekend as third placed Wildcats welcomes Brunell to the Mercy gym. Brunell come into the game off the back of an important Cup quarter-final win over Hawks last weekend, while Wildcats will be hoping to get back to winning ways following a Cup defeat to Glanmire last week. The match-ups will be key in this game, with Brunell’s Treyanna Clay and Greta Tamasanskaite leading the charge for the Cork side, while Stephanie O’Shea, Abby Flynn and Debbie Ogayemi continue to be the stand outs for Wildcats.
DCU Mercy v Ambassador UCC Glanmire (Sunday, DCU, 2:30pm)
One of the games of the weekend across all leagues is the meeting of DCU Mercy and Glanmire on Sunday in Dublin. Mercy’s last outing in the league saw them lose their first game of the season to Maree in Galway. Glanmire meanwhile come into the game off the back of a seven-game winning streak and have stand out American, Shrita Parker, leading the league in points scoring, averaging over 23 points per game. The match ups around the court are going to be key, with Sarah Woods, Ashley Russell and Meredith Burkhall of DCU a handful for any defence, but with Parker driving Glanmire and Aine McKenna and Casey Grace on top form for the Cork side, this could come right down to the wire.
