BASKETBALL:DCU SAINTS will be hoping to inflict more misery on one of the Men's Superleague title challengers this weekend when they host Southern Conference leaders UL Eagles.
The Saints produced the shock of the previous weekend, ending Killester’s unbeaten run after an 88-81 win at the DCU Sports Complex. “The confidence has been restored with the big win against Killester and it was a much needed boost ahead of another tough game,” said DCU’s Emmet Donnelly.
“UL Eagles are a very strong team with a wealth of talent so we’ll have to produce a similar performance to have a chance of overturning them.
“On our day we can beat anyone as we have shown but we’re looking to improve our consistency as the play-offs approach. Saturday is an opportunity to do just that.”
Belfast Star are the latest team to test title favourites Killester but head coach Danny Fulton believes it is unlikely the Dubliners will slip up twice in one week.
“Killester are excellent but I thought they might lose one game – it’s tough to win them all,” said Fulton. “Sadly for us that was last week against DCU Saints. They’ll be even more determined this week to play well, especially with their National Cup semi-final coming up. We played them without an American so I hope we get closer to them this time.”
Elsewhere, UCD Marian host Ulster Elks in a dress rehearsal of their National Cup semi-final clash, while UCC Demons will be favourites to overcome Moycullen.
In the Women’s Superleague, DCU face UL for the third time this season, unbeaten Killester take on unbeaten Team Montenotte and Meteors have two games in two days against Waterford Wildcats and Dynamos.
FIXTURES
SATURDAY: Men – Superleague: DCU Saints v UL Eagles, DCU Sports Complex, 3pm; UCD Marian v Ulster Elks, UCD Sports Centre, 7pm; 11890 Killester v Belfast Star, IWA Clontarf, 8pm. Division One: Neptune v Titans, Neptune Stadium, 7pm; Team Loftus Recycling Ballina v Team Meadowlands St Brendan's, Ballina Leisure Centre, 7.30pm; Tolka Rovers v Team Garvey's St Mary's, Tolka Rovers SC, 7.30pm; Maree v Waterford, Calasanctius College, 7.45pm. Women – Superleague: Waterford Wildcats v Meteors, Mercy Secondary School, 6pm; DCU Mercy v UL, DCU Sports Complex, 6pm; Team Montenotte Hotel Cork v 11890 Killester, Neptune Stadium, 4.45pm. Division One: UL v Thurles Knights, PESS Building UL, 4pm; Foireann na Gaillimhe v Liffey Celtics, Calasanctius College, 4.30pm.
SUNDAY: Men – Superleague: UCC Demons v Moycullen, Mardyke Arena, 3.15pm. Division One: Blue Demons v CHM Ballon, Mardyke Arena, 1pm.
Women: SuperLeague: Meteors v Black Forge Oblate Dynamos, Coláiste Eoin/Iosagain, 3pm. Division One: Meteors v Team Tom McCarthy's St Mary's, Coláiste Eoin/Iosagáin, 1pm.
Wednesday – Women’s Superleague: DCU v Meteors, DCU Sports Complex, 8.30pm.
