UCD Marian will be without influential forward Preston Ross for Sunday’s clash with Travelodge Swords Thunder at the National Basketball Arena. The American picked up an ankle injury in Saturday’s cup win over BFG Neptune and is hopeful of recovery before the return leg on December 6th. Point Guard Barry Drumm is also on the treatment table but Ioannis Liapakis remains confident. “A losing bonus point isn’t enough for us,” said the Head Coach. “Thunder look like a team who could challenge Killester or Demons but we’re targeting a win.” The game is the second part of a Double header to be streamed live on TG4’s website. Belfast Star take on DCU Saints in the early tip off. Both sides are targeting a first win in at the National Stadium this season.
Templeogue go into this weekend with an outside shot of climbing from ninth to fourth in the Men’s Premier League table but they’ll need to bag two wins in 24 hours. First up is a Dublin Inter side without a league win in six weeks and without a head coach since the sudden departure of Todd James. Saturday’s game presents a greater challenge as leaders C&S UCC Demons make the trip to the Oblate Hall.
“It’s a big weekend for us,” says leading scorer Jason Killeen. “We’ve been hitting our stride lately and if you’re not up for playing a team like Demons, then you shouldn’t be in this league. Friday’s game against Inter will be a physical match up so we’ll have to be very mindful of them.”
UL Eagles host Killester in Sunday’s other fixture. The UL camp is in good spirits after a successful cup weekend but their win over Dublin Inter came at a cost. ‘Losing Matthew Hall to a knee problem on top of Eoin Quigley’s injury recurrence was a blow to us,” explained Eagles captain Neil Campbell. “But players like Andrew Dawson and Jamie McAuliffe have shown that the younger members of our squad can really step it up when needs be.”
Points up for grabs in Women’s Premier League action this weekend will affect both ends of the table. Maxol WIT Wildcats and UL Huskies will look to get clear of a relegation battle when they face off in Waterford. The sides clashed in Cup action at the weekend with Huskies claiming the bragging rights. Elsewhere Meteors could overtake Courtyard Liffey Celtics in second place if they can get a win in Leixlip. Meteors were humbled by DCU Mercy in the cup but Christine Ganser says focus is firmly back on the league. “We’re not looking at anything else except the game ahead of us. We will see what happens from there.”
SSE Renewables Moycullen and C&S Blue Demons will fight it out on Saturday for the right to lead the Men’s First Division. Current leaders Maree are on a bye-week. Tolka Rovers and Eanna contest a Dublin derby on Griffith Avenue while Team Left Bank Kilkenny will look to continue their run of form when they host JM&L Auctioneers Titans at the Watershed.
In the Women’s First Division, NUIG Mystics are targeting a first win of the season at home to Team Denjoe’s American Style of Castleisland. The winners of Garvey’s Tralee Imperials and Oblate Dynamos will occupy the automatic promotion spot for the next week at least.
There are also U-20 National Cup Semi-Final spots up for grabs this weekend. St. Mary’s Castleisland host Brunell in the Women’s National Cup on Friday while on Saturday Belfast Star make the long trip to Tralee to take on St. Brendan’s.
Saturday 22 November 2014
Women’s Division One
NUIG Mystics v Team Denjoes American Style, NUIG 13:30
Garveys Tralee Imperials v Oblate Dynamos, Mercy Mounthawk, Kerry 19:00
UPCOMING FIXTURES:
Friday 21 November 2014
Men’s Premier League
Templeogue v Dublin Inter, Oblate Hall, Dublin 20:30
U20 Women’s National Cup
St Mary’s Castleisland v Brunell Ladies BC, Castleisland Community Centre 20:00
Saturday 22 November 2014
Men’s Premier League
Templeogue v C&S UCC Demons, Oblate Hall, Dublin 19:00
Women’s Premier League
Maxol WIT Wildcats v UL Huskies, Mercy SS Waterford 19:00
Courtyard Liffey Celtics v Meteors, Leixlip Amenities Centre, Kildare 19:30
Men’s Division One
SSE Renewables Moycullen v C&S Blue Demons, NUIG Kingfisher 17:30
Team Left Bank Kilkenny v JM&L Auctioneers Titans, Watershed Sports Complex, Kilkenny 18:00
Tolka Rovers BC v Eanna, Tolka Rovers SC, Dublin 19:30
Women’s Division One
NUIG Mystics v Team Denjoes American Style, NUIG 13:30
Garveys Tralee Imperials vOblate Dynamos, Mercy Mounthawk, Kerry 19:00
U20 Men’s National Cup
St Brendans Tralee v Belfast Star Moyderwell, Tralee 16:45
Sunday 23 November 2014
Men’s Premier League
DCU Saints v Belfast Star, National Basketball Arena, Dublin 14:00
UL Eagles v Killester, UL Sport Arena, Limerick 15:30
UCD Marian v Travelodge Swords Thunder, National Basketball Arena, Dublin 16:00
