Cork Basketball preview: Demons against Ballincollig and Glanmire v Brunell in spotlight

A huge weekend for Cork Basketball with a double-header series of games in the Men’s Super League with UCC Demons and Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig both having tough tests.

It will all begin on Friday night for UCC Demons when they travel to Galway for a clash with Maree.

Demons got back to winning ways last weekend with a superb away win at Eanna and they will be hoping to get this weekend off to a good start with another win on the road. American Elijah Tillman was disappointed with his display in the cup final but credit to him he bounced back with a game-high 26 points against Eanna.

The second Demons American Patrick Robinson who had a blistering December has seen his form dip in recent games. Unnecessary turnovers and poor shooting options are not helping his game and he will need to be sharper for the closing months of the season.

Playing Maree on their home court is always a difficult task but if Demons are not suffering from bus lag, they should secure the points.

On Sunday Demons welcome Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig to the Mardyke Arena where many of their former Team Britvic stars of the '80s will be in attendance.

Ballincollig also have a tough weekend that will begin on Saturday when they entertain National Cup champions and Super League leaders Killester. The Cork side didn’t have to come out of first gear last weekend against basement side Templeogue.

Spanish coach Antonio Lopez has seen progress but his side will need to be at their very best against a Killester side who are a tough match-up for every team.

SHARP

The Ballincollig American duo of Jake Wolfe and Quashawn Lane are very hardworking but they will need to be sharp in their clash with the Killester professionals Kason Harrell and Isiah Dasher.

Looking at Ballincollig this season the big games they have managed to win have come courtesy of solid defence and this will be key in this clash. Spanish Joshua Tomaic is capable of playing good defence and he will need at full throttle against a Killester side who are lightning quick in transition.

There is little doubt Ballincollig have the credentials to test Killester but they will need a season-best to gain maximum points.

Neptune will have to wait until Bank Holiday Monday when they travel to the capital for a clash against Eanna. In their last two league games, Neptune produced two buzzer-beating baskets against Killorglin and Ballincollig and coach Pat Price will be hoping their winning run continues.

New American signing Tamyrik Fields looked impressive in his debut against Ballincollig and a similar display will be needed against Eanna.

Roy Downey didn’t start in the win over Ballincollig, which was rather surprising, but the Irish international is sure to win his place back.

Eanna have the former Neptune underage star Sean Jenkins in their line-up and Neptune will be made work hard if they are to secure maximum points.

In the Women’s Super League, there is a Cork derby on Friday evening when The Address UCC Glanmire host Gurranabraher Credit Union Brunell at the Mardyke Arena.

Both sides have had disappointing seasons to date and Brunell will hoping that American Deaja Richardson is fit to play. Glanmire suffered a defeat last weekend to Waterford Wildcats while Brunell lost at Utility Trust St Paul’s in Killarney.

Fr Mathew’s were the third Cork team to lose last weekend when going down at Portlaoise Panthers and they have another tough test tomorrow when they host Trinity Meteors, recent winners over National Cup champions Liffey Celtics.