Courtyard Liffey Celtics are hoping that they’ve laid down a marker of things to come in recent weeks, as they go hunting for their fourth win in a row this coming weekend when they face an in-form Portlaoise Panthers in the Women’s Super League.
The Kildare side bounced back extremely well from their Cup final defeat to Ambassador UCC Glanmire back in January, overcoming NUIG Mystics, Glanmire and Pyrobel Killester in the weeks since that day in the National Basketball Arena, and Head Coach Mark Byrne is hoping that they can keep that run going this weekend.
“Sometimes, you learn more and develop more from defeats,” he stated. “We're really happy with three wins from three since the disappointment of that Cup final defeat. We have Portlaoise next and they are going really well at the moment so we're expecting a tough game against them this weekend.”
Indeed, there’s some close clashes expected throughout the Women’s Super League this weekend as the competition for final table standings heats up and the pressure is on Liffey Celtics to keep winning, as DCU Mercy are just behind them in third place. Mark Ingle’s charges have a tough task ahead of them this weekend though, as they welcome League leaders Glanmire to DCU, but there’s no doubt Mercy will be aiming to come out the right side of this result and games between these two teams have certainly always proven to be thrillers.
Elsewhere, bottom of the table Meteors welcoming Maxol WIT Wildcats to Stillorgan, while Pyrobel Killester travel to Cork to face Singleton SuperValu Brunell on Sunday afternoon.
In the Men’s Super League meanwhile, all eyes will be on KUBS this weekend as they face Pyrobel Killester once more in the League in a game that’s set to be an absolute cracker following on from KUBS’ shock two-point win (74-76) over Killester in Clontarf last Thursday. Playing at home this weekend, KUBS – who also ran League leaders Templeogue extremely close last Sunday afternoon – will be hoping they can do enough to secure back-to-back wins against a Killester team that will undoubtedly be hoping to avenge last week’s defeat. Tip off in Greendale is 8pm on Saturday evening.
Another interesting clash pits third place UCD Marian against fourth place Garvey’s Tralee Warriors at 7pm in UCD on Saturday evening, while Belfast Star will welcome DCU Saints, Griffith Swords Thunder will be hoping to take the points from their tie with SSE Airtricity Moycullen and UCC Demons go head-to-head with Commercial.ie Éanna in Cork on Sunday.
It’s a clash of top versus bottom in Oblate Hall on Saturday evening meanwhile, as Templeogue face off to Radisson Blu UL Eagles.
“We can’t look any further ahead then UL this weekend,” said Head Coach Mark Keenan. “We have that slender game advantage over Swords [in second place], so we have to just take it one game at a time now and try to keep that advantage.”
Saturday 25th February 2017
Basketball Ireland Men’s Super League:
Griffith Swords Thunder v SSE Airtricity Moycullen, ALSAA-Dublin, 18:00;
UCD Marian v Garvey’s Tralee Warriors, UCD, 19:00;
Belfast Star v DCU Saints, Methodist College, 19:00;
Templeogue v Radisson Blu UL Eagles, Oblate Hall Inchicore, 19:30;
KUBS BC v Pyrobel Killester, Carroll Arena, 20:00;
Basketball Ireland Women’s Super League:
Meteors v Maxol WIT Wildcats, Colaiste Iosagain, 16:00;
Courtyard Liffey Celtics v Portlaoise Panthers, Leixlip Centre, 19:30;
Basketball Ireland Men’s Division 1:
ITC Basketball v Maree, Barrow Centre-IT Carlow, 15:30;
Kestrels v EJ Sligo All-Stars, Colaiste Iosagain, 18:00;
Team Kilkenny v LYIT Donegal, Watershed Sports Complex, 18:30;
BFG Neptune v Titans, Neptune Stadium, 19:00;
Keane’s Supervalu Killorglin v Dublin Lions, Killorglin Sports Centre, 19:15;
Fr Mathews v Ulster University Elks, Douglas Community College, 20:00;
Basketball Ireland Women’s Division 1:
ITC Basketball v Ulster Rockets, Barrow Centre-IT Carlow, 13:30;
Fr Mathews v Ulster University Elks, Douglas Community College, 17:45;
Marble City Hawks v UL Huskies, O Loughlin Gaels Gym, 19:00;
Sunday 26th February 2017
Basketball Ireland Men’s Super League:
UCC Demons v Commercial.ie Eanna, Mardyke Arena-Cork, 15:00;
Basketball Ireland Women’s Super League:
Singleton SuperValu Brunell v Pyrobel Killester, Parochial Hall, 14:45;
DCU Mercy v Ambassador UCC Glanmire, DCU Complex, 15:30;
Basketball Ireland Men’s Division 1:
BFG Neptune v Ulster University Elks, Neptune Stadium, 15:00;
