Five Cork basketball clubs at home in packed weekend of Super League action

Five out of the six Cork teams competing in the Men’s and Women’s Super League are at home this weekend to allow the local basketball fraternity be spoiled for choice.

In the Men’s Super League probably the top game will take place at the MTU on Saturday when Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig @ MTU host Dublin side Eanna at the MTU with a scheduled 4pm tip-off.

Ballincoillig will be happy they came away from Belfast last weekend with a cup win over Ulster University but this game could be a trickier assignment despite having a home-court advantage. Eanna, whose squad is mainly made up of Americans and Europeans, can be tough opponents on any given day and the Ballincollig player-coach Ciaran O’Sullivan will be well aware of their various scoring threats.

The good news for the home fans is their former American star Andre Nation will be making his home debut after playing in their cup win and contributing 19 points.

Make no mistake if Nation can stay injury-free he could well make a huge impression in this league and this is the perfect game for him to knock some more cobwebs off. He is a serious player and could well be the key that will make Ballincollig a top team to compete with in both the league and cup competitions.

The former Neptune ace Sean Jenkins is part of the Eanna squad and he will be happy back playing on Leeside where his basketball career began.

A tough game to call but if you want a good afternoon of quality basketball the MTU would be a wise choice.

Energywise Ireland Neptune are also involved in an interesting clash when they host Templeogue at the Neptune Stadium (6.30pm). Neptune got back to winning ways with a solid display in the second half that saw off a talented Killester side in their cup quarter-final clash.

Many heroes for Neptune particularly American Derek Murphy who really impressed in his debut for the Blackpool club. Murphy does his work quietly and helped his team big time in defence and on the boards.

Jordan Blount rightfully ended up as Man of the Match as his second-half display dragged his team over the line and his team will be expecting more of the same.

The only negative in the Neptune win was their game management coming down the stretch as they were nearly pipped at the post with Killester getting two good looks to win or level the game.

Templeogue under the Irish Senior Men’s coach Mark Keenan are a solid team with the former Demons American Zoe Tyson doing well at the club since getting released. Lorcan Murphy is a born warrior and Neil Randolph is capable of hurting Neptune if allowed clear looks at the hoop.

The third Cork team UCC Demons fresh from their superb cup win over Belfast Star will be back on old stomping ground on Sunday when they host Killester at the Parochial Hall.

The Dublin side were reeling following their cup defeat to Neptune and coach Johnny Grennell will be hoping for a better display from his troops.

Demons' new signing Da’Kaquann Davis has been a revelation since getting signed to replace the injured Seventh Woods. Word is rife that Woods is still not ready to play following his hamstring injury and it looks like Demons will have the same American pairing in Davis and D’Andre Johnson for this game.

Killester will be a tough test for Demons and this game could well go to the wire.

Also playing at the Parochial Hall on Sunday are Women’s Super League leaders Gurranbraher Credit Union Brunell who host Waterford Wildcats with a scheduled 1pm tip-off.

Brunell under coach Liam Culloty are going great guns this season as they also have a National Cup semi-final looming against Killester.

Captain Edel Thornton is in the form of her life and with Americans Jayla Johnson and Kyaja Williams looking a serious combination they should have too much firepower for their Deise opponents.

Fr Mathew’s have a rehearsal of their cup quarter-final win when they host Ulster University at the Fr Mathew’s Arena on Saturday with a scheduled 5pm tip-off. American Ariel Johnson showed her class last week when Mathew’s needed inspiration and with Grainne Dwyer playing solid basketball it should be a repeat win for the Cork side.

The Address UCC Glanmire should get back to winning ways when they travel to play Portlaoise Panthers.