The game of the weekend in the Nivea Men’s SuperLeague is expected to be the meeting of Bord Gais Neptune and UL Eagles.
Neptune were relieved to come away with a win last weekend against Belfast Star and coach Mark Scannell believes this will be another huge test for his side.
“In my book UL Eagles are one of the strongest teams in the country and we will have to be very focused if we are to defeat them for the second time this season,” Scannell said.
“The first time we played them they had no American and now with Robert Taylor they have an experienced professional that will pose us problems if we fail to shut him down.”
The mood in the UL camp is one of caution as coach Mark Keenan, fresh from guiding his team into the national cup semi finals, is aware that Neptune are a serious team on their home court.
“We were relieved to get over UCD Marian in the national cup quarter final and now we have another huge test in taking on a very good Neptune side on their home court,” Keenan said.
“When we played them in the first game of the season back in October they outplayed us and this will be a good gauge for me to monitor our progress.”
UCD Marian are involved in a Dublin derby game with DCU Saints with coach Fran Ryan looking for his team to bounce back from the UL cup defeat and their league loss to 11890 Killester.
“Its very simple we did not play well enough and UL laid the foundation for their win with a good first half display and we were forced to play catch up in the second,” Ryan said.
Saints coach David Donnelly will be urging his team to show maturity that will help release their cup cobwebs.
“We went to Cork in a good frame of mind but had no excuses at the end of the game because we came up against a very good Demons side,” Donnelly said.
“It’s always a hard game at Belfield but I am confident my players will rise to the challenge and keep our winning league form intact.”
Moycullen host UCC Demons at the NUIG and coach Gerard Lyons believes his side will be ready for the in form Cork side.
“We were level at half time against 11890 Killester in the cup game last week and it was only lack of experience that proved our undoing in the second half,” Lyons said.
“Demons always play good open basketball but we have had a few close encounters with them over the years on our home court so hopefully we may get one over them in this game.”
For UCC Demons coach Paul Kelleher, fresh from their impressive cup win over DCU Saints, it will be another test for his improving side.
Kelleher said: “Moycullen have turned over big clubs this year and have had their best league campaign already.
“They have run us really close every time we played them and on their own court they are as tough as the best of them in this league. Luke Enos is a tough match up along with Cian Nihill and their back court."
11890 Killester will host Belfast Star who came so close to eliminating Bord Gais Neptune in the National Cup quarter final.
The Clontarf side under coach Darren O’Neill will be taking nothing for granted against his former club.
“We are well aware of the obstacle that Star present on Saturday,” said Killester coach Darren O’Neill. “With players of the calibre of Paul Cummins, Scott Summersgill and their new American Johnson, we expect a tough battle.”
The Star coach Danny Fulton was gutted after witnessing his team get caught napping in the closing seconds against Bord Gais Neptune as he gets ready to take his team to Dublin for the 11890 Killester clash.
“The Neptune defeat was tough but life goes on and we will have to get our act together and chalk up some league points but Killester are going well and it will be a tough test for us,” said Fulton.
The game of the weekend in the Nivea Womens SuperLeague will see the champions UL travel to Dublin to play DCU Mercy.
UL have not lost a game for over a year in the league and the DCU coach Mark Ingle is aware of the challenge that lies ahead of his team.
“UL have a superb team but luckily we are gradually getting into the groove and I am sure my team will be ready to test their credentials,” Ingle said.
UL coach James Weldon will welcome back star post player Michelle Fahy following her six-game absences and he is looking forward to this tricky encounter.
Weldon said: “When you face DCU you are guaranteed a game of high intensity and we will have to be at our best to secure the points.”
Team Montenotte travel to play 11890 Killester with coach Cormac O’Donoghue hoping his side continue with their recent rich vein of form.
“I can sense there is huge improvement in our team and although Killester are a tough side on their home court I would hope we will show our experience and of course secure the all important win,” O’Donoghue said.
