Nivea for Men's Superleague preview

The Nivea For Men’s SuperLeague returns this weekend with the meeting of Dublin rivals HOOPS and Killester getting things underway on Friday night at the National Basketball Arena.

Newcomers Moycullen make their debut in the top flight at home to UL Eagles, while Ulster Elks host Belfast Star in an all Ulster affair on Sunday.

This season sees a major development with the news that the amount of US players on the court has been restricted to just one this season. This should allow an opportunity for Irish and EU players to gain more prominence on the court this season.

We have already seen the evidence of this with the movement of some high profile players around the league and indeed the most notable being the return of Conor Grace from playing professionally in Europe to join Neptune.

Killester were denied success in both cup and league at the final hurdle last season but it is something they are hoping to put right this time round, starting with the game away to HOOPS.

‘We are still feeling the disappointment of losing the two finals (both occasions to UCC Demons) last season but it has given us extra motivation to put things right in this campaign,’ said Killester Head Coach Mark Keenan.

‘We have had an indifferent pre-season due to players work commitments and we have also suffered a number of injury blows,’ he added. ‘Kieran O’Brien is out until Christmas with a knee problem, while Eoin McDermott is out for the season.’

Paddy Kelly and Michael Westbrooks were involved with Ireland during their European qualifiers and their extra work during the summer should stand to them according to Keenan.

‘It’s great for those two guys to be involved in the Irish set-up and to get the opportunity to play against some really top level opposition across Europe,’ added Keenan. ‘It should make the early stages of the season a little easier for them as they have already had a strong level of competition.’

For HOOPS, it is an opportunity to erase the disappointment of failing to reach the all important Play-Off stages last season.

‘We just want to have consistency in our game,’ said Head Coach Ahmad Smith, who returns to the helm for a second season.

‘Consistency was not something we managed last season and it proved very costly in the end.

‘Killester will be one of the favourites this season particularly with the US players down to one. They have some of the best Irish players around but we hope we can upset them on Friday and get our own season off to a bright start.’

HOOPS have been busy during the summer, recruiting the likes of former Irish underage internationals Nemanja Vukanic and Michael Higgins, while the club have received a major boost with the return of Ciaran White to the squad.

Moycullen commence their first season in the Nivea For Men’s Superleague with a tough clash at home to a new look UL Eagles.

The Galway side have made the step up to the top league and will do so in confident mood after claiming the Men’s Senior Cup last season.

The vastly experienced Enda Byrt will take charge and he has already been busy acquiring new talent. Simon Harris, a US collegiate star from North Carolina, is expected to make an impression this season after spending four years in a conference which has unearthed countless NBA stars.

Another player set to boost Moycullen’s hopes is Point Guard Michael Dowd. Dowd returns to the club where he enjoyed a successful underage career after two years playing in the Nivea For Men’s Superleague for Saturday’s opponents UL Eagles.

UL Eagles will be confident of making an impact this season after managing to capture Tony Hehir from Bausch & Lomb Wildcats. Hehir will have plenty of strength in depth with American Glen Wong set for the club.

‘It’s going to be a tricky opener with Moycullen being the newcomers but overall I can’t wait to get started,’ said Hehir. ‘I believe we have some good players at our disposal with the likes of Glen but we also have good Irish players at our disposal.

‘UL managed to get to the Play-Off’s last season and hopefully we can reach that stage again this time round.’

Meanwhile, Ulster Elks’ Irish international Ian O’Boyle is relishing the start of the new season and a home opener against local rivals Belfast Star.

Elks are expected to make a real impression this season after the club managed to sign Paul Cummins, Barry Drumm, Kevin Foley and Dave Neal (USA) during a busy summer.

‘I think this could be a good year for us particularly with the sort of player we have brought in pre-season,’ said O’Boyle. ‘It’s a great game to start off with and it will tell us a little bit more about where we are as a team.

‘We want to improve on last year, we want to be contenders and show that we can compete for the top trophies in the country.’

Belfast Star proved more than able opponents last season but will have to cope without the likes of Chris Butler (who left for France) and Kevin Foley, who opted to join Ulster Elks.

However, Danny Fulton will be hoping his home grown talent can help push them for a play-off place.

The Basketball Ireland Women’s SuperLeague resumes on the weekend of October 17.