Basketball: If Setanta, TG4 or RTÉ were to start televising the men's Superleague their first port of call this weekend would surely be Ballina tomorrow night as the southern conference leaders Tralee Tigers visit the struggling Mayo men.
Ballina may be languishing mid-table in the southern conference but a recent return to some form, coupled with the Tigers losing three key players evens things up for Seán McHale's team. Also, they would be keen to avenge the recent cup defeat to the Tigers.
The Tigers welcome back John Teehan but they take the court without Roscoe Patterson, who is in America. Kerry footballer Michael Quirke is collecting his All-Ireland medal, while team-mate Kieran Donaghy is playing for his club Austin Stacks.
The cameras could also take the short trip up to Marino on Sunday where two waking giants, St Vincent's and UCC Demons, cross swords. St Vincent's have won their last five games, averaging 101 points, and feature one the stars of the season in Paul Tonkovich, while the Demons are also on a hot streak, winning five of their last six to keep in touch with Cork rivals Neptune and second placed Limerick.
The Demons' best Irish player, Shane Coughlan, is likely to be absent through illness, with David Murphy starting.
Killester could do without the spotlight in the coming weeks but will be glad to face yet another struggling side this weekend as they attempt to rebuild their squad. They travel to Jordanstown to face Star of the Sea without John Quigley but Karwin McLemore will make his debut.
Star have dropped to second from bottom in the northern conference, and suffered a surprise defeat to Shamrock Rovers Hoops in the cup.
Limerick Lions suffered an unexpected defeat to Ballina last weekend, but their play-off ambitions will stay well on track if they overcome Rovers on Sunday. The Hoops first travel to Cork to face Neptune tomorrow in the third round of the cup. Joey Haastrup returned to training last Monday after a long lay off, and looks likely to feature at some stage over the weekend. The other cup match sees UCD head to Waterford on Sunday.
Saturday: Men's Superleague: Star of the Sea v Killester, UU Jordanstown, 7.15; Ballina v Tralee Tigers, Ballina SC, 8.0. Men's National Cup; Third round - Neptune v Shamrock Rovers Hoops, Neptune, 7.30. Women's Superleague: - Waterford Wildcats v Killester, Mercy Waterford, 4.30. Sunday: Men's Superleague - St Vincent's v UCC Demons, St Vincent's CBS, 3.15; Limerick v Shamrock Rovers Hoops, UL Arena, 3.15. Men's National Cup; Third round - Waterford v UCD, Waterford IT, 3.15. Women's Superleague - Drimnagh v Mercy Coolock, Oblate Hall, 3.30.
