BASKETBALL: The Tralee Tigers and Killarney Lakers made it a Kerry one-two in the Southern Conference as the regular season drew to a close over the weekend.
Tralee were already established as the league's main force but it has been their neighbour's late push into a home play-off spot that has been the most impressive. Killarney, who have lost two games since Christmas, beat Limerick 125-98 with Dejan Smith shooting 41 points.
Neptune's loss, 100-98, to bottom club Waterford means the defending Superleague champions finish fourth and are out.
Cup champions, the UCC Demons, managed to stutter into the play-offs after a 10-point defeat over Tralee. Kieran Donaghy and Brandon Mason were at the forefront for the country's most improved team this year.
In the Northern Conference, Star of the Sea finally clinched second place with victory over St Vincent's (80-72). John Leahy impressed with 25 points, while Pat Campolieta claimed 24 points. This win secures Star home court advantage, with UCD Marian finishing in third. Shamrock Rovers played their final home game in Mountmellick, the nearest approved gym, because the ESB Arena was unavailable, but it was Killester who ran out comfortable winners by 102-82.
Next weekend the Lakers will host UCD Marian with Star playing the Demons in Belfast. The winners of these games travel to Cork the following weekend for the play-offs.
The women's Superleague playoffs began last week with the Waterford Wildcats beating Killester. The Drimnagh Dynamos are also in the semi-final of the play-offs after beating Glanmire 79-69. Drimnagh now face the unbeaten University of Limerick, while the Wildcats to travel to Killarney to play St Paul's.
