Team Montenotte Hotel coach Mark Scannell admits the upcoming Women’s National Cup Final will be playing on their minds as they return to league action this weekend.
The Glanmire side are at home to Maxol WIT Wildcats in a league fixture sandwiched between their National Cup semi-final win over DCU Mercy and the upcoming Cup decider against Killester on 24 January.
“Honestly, we will have the Killester game at the back of our mind but you can’t ignore an improving team like Wildcats,” said Scannell.
“There would be a worry about injuries and peaking at the right time but oddly enough Killester and Wildcats are similar in their defensive set up, so we’ll definitely be able to use the game.”
Courtyard Liffey Celtics face a very different challenge as they take on DCU Mercy in their first competitive outing in five weeks. The Leixlip women haven’t played since going top of the league before Christmas.
Coach Vinny O’Keeffe is hoping his charges will inflict more misery on DCU Mercy after the Dubliner’s Cup exit. “DCU are quick, athletic and on the back of two weeks of competitive basketball. This is a big test of where we are.”
In the Men’s Premier League, Killester are in action against Meteors while UL Huskies host Singleton SuperValu Brunell in a double header at the UL Arena which includes Men’s Premier League side UL Eagles.
Eagles have been licking their wounds since the Cup defeat at the weekend and are looking to end the League’s worst losing streak when they host fellow strugglers DCU Saints.
Conor Grace could make his Premier League debut for Templeogue when they host UCD Marian at the Oblate Hall. The Irish International had a number of setbacks on his return from injury but could make an appearance if given the all clear at the squad’s final training session of the week.
Killester play BFG Neptune while on Sunday, Belfast Star make the long trip to Cork to play C&S UCC Demons.
Fixtures
Saturday 17 January
Men's Premier League
Templeogue v UCD Marian, Oblate Hall, Dublin 19:00
Killester v BFG Neptune, IWA Clontarf, Dublin 20:00
UL Eagles v DCU Saints, UL Sport Arena, Limerick 20:00
Women's Premier League
UL Huskies v Singleton Supervalu Brunell, UL Sport Arena, Limerick, 17:00
Team Montenotte Hotel v Maxol WIT Wildcats, Upper Glanmire Sports Centre, Cork 17:00
Killester v Meteors, IWA Clontarf, Dublin, 18:00
Courtyard Liffey Celtics v DCU Mercy, Leixlip Amenities Centre, Kildare 19:30
Sunday 18 January 2015
Men's Premier League
C&S UCC Demons v Belfast Star, Mardyke Arena, Cork 15:15
