Cork derby takes centre stage this evening while big weekend in store in MSL as six teams are tied at the top

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Cork derby takes centre stage this evening while big weekend in store in MSL as six teams are tied at the top

An extremely in-form Ambassador UCC Glanmire are in
action this evening as they travel up the road to neighbours, Singleton
SuperValu Brunell for a mid week derby in the Women’s Super League.

Glanmire have been the ones to watch in recent
weeks, with their Americans firing on all cylinders and stalwarts Aine McKenna
and Casey Grace consistently producing for Mark Scannell’s side. Brunell have a
new signing in Treyanna Clay though and she’s settled into the league quickly,
already featuring in the top scorers for her team to make this Cork derby one
to watch. Brunell face into a second game later in the weekend, when they
welcome IT Carlow Basketball to Cork, while Glanmire will travel to Kilkenny to
face Marble City Hawks.

Indeed, it’s a big decider week all around, as many
of the top teams face each other in what could prove to be a crucial round of
fixtures. League leaders DCU Mercy travel across town to neighbours Pyrobel
Killester in what is set to be a massive battle between first and second place
in the league. The sides have split the wins in their past four league meetings,
while this weekend’s battle has the added element of former Killester players
Hannah Thornton and Maeve Phelan returning back to Clontarf for the first time
since their move across town. With Killester in sharpshooting form in their
home gym, this is set to be a tough test for the unbeaten DCU side – who
haven’t won in Clontarf in the league since March 2017 - but head coach Mark
Ingle is looking forward to the challenge: “We are very excited to play
Killester this Saturday in the IWA. Not only is it first versus second in the
league, but it’s also a local derby game where the players know each other very
well. Killester's two American players pose a different type of defensive
challenge for us, but we will try and impose our game on them from the start
and it should be a great game."

Killester boss Karl Kilbride added: “Our games
against DCU are always exciting affairs. The local derby always brings a big
crowd and it will hopefully do the same on Saturday night. They’ve been
excellent all year and consistently one of the best defensive teams in the
league. Rebounding will probably be the difference in the game this weekend.”

Elsewhere, Fr Mathews and Maree – who are also in
joint second place with Killester - will go head-to-head in Galway in a big
battle. Maree come into the game off the back off a narrow loss to Killester in
Dublin last weekend and will be hoping to get back to winning ways against
Mathews at home this weekend. Mathews meanwhile have some momentum coming into
the game after winning out over Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics last weekend
in Kildare, and will be looking to the danger trio of Shannon Brady, Grainne
Dwyer and Chantell Alford to help them lockdown Maree’s fast and pacey game. An
interesting match up is also in store in Leixlip meanwhile, as Liffey Celtics
host Maxol WIT Wildcats. Both teams are tied in joint third position on the
table, and are both coming into the game off the back of losses last weekend.
Celtics, who have been without the services of Sorcha Tiernan, have three
losses to their name to date, while Wildcats also come in on the same record,
and have had a tough few weeks without Cathy Kavanagh. Young Irish
international Debbie Ogayemi has been the big talking point for Wildcats
though, and closing her and Stephanie O’Shea down will be a key focus for
Celtics.

This weekend is a crucial one in the Men’s Super
League as well, with six teams currently tied at the top of the league to
ensure this weekend’s games will be key. Belfast Star have a big home game this
Saturday evening when they welcome Abbey Seals Dublin Lions to De La Salle.
Lions are still chasing their first win of the league this season, but haven’t
been too far off the mark in recent weeks. Star meanwhile have been in super
form recently, winning well at home against UCD Marian before winning out
against DBS Éanna in Dublin last weekend. Speaking of Éanna, they travel across
town to face Marian in what is set to be a very interesting derby clash. Éanna
come into the game off the back of two consecutive losses and will be hoping to
bounce back with a key win over Marian this weekend. UCD Marian meanwhile come
in off the back of a tricky win over Dublin Lions last weekend, and will be
hoping to improve on that performance in this Saturday’s clash.

Elsewhere, a big challenge awaits Pyrobel Killester
in Kerry this Saturday evening, as they travel to face Keane’s SuperValu
Killorglin. Killorglin come into the game with their tails up following a big
derby win over Garvey’s Tralee Warriors last weekend, and will be hoping to
carry that momentum into this weekend’s clash and aiming for another big home
performance to get them over the line. Tralee meanwhile are on the road to
Galway where they face Maree in a tough clash. Maree took a big win at home over
Griffith College Templeogue two weeks’ ago, but lost out on the road last
weekend to Killester in Clontarf. DCU Saints host Coughlan C&S Neptune in a
key game for both sides, while Templeogue are in action in Galway once more
this weekend, as they face off against Moycullen.

Basketball
Ireland Fixtures: November 13-17th

Wednesday
13th November 2019

Basketball
Ireland Women’s Super League:

Singleton SuperValu Brunell v Ambassador UCC
Glanmire, Parochial Hall, 20:15;

Friday
15th November 2019

Basketball
Ireland Women’s Division One:

Trinity Meteors v Swords Thunder, Trinity, 19:30;

NUIG Mystics v Limerick Celtics, Ballinfoile CC,
19:45;

Saturday
16th November 2019

Basketball
Ireland Men’s Super League:

Belfast Star v Abbey Seals Dublin Lions, De La
Salle, 18:30;

UCD Marian v DBS Eanna, UCD, 19:00;